Phoenix Inspired Red Archer Pin

It's been a long while since I last posted an Instructable. I've been figuring out how to balance my hobbies and studies a lot more recently.

And while I was doing that, I got inspired to create a bow-and-arrow-shaped clothespin that reminded me of my favorite characters from a video game.

This Instructable might be a bit tricky for someone who doesn't have as much experience with wirework because of the many intricate shapes used to create it, but it's very possible to do with a bit of practice.

Let's go to the making!

You'll need:

• Paper
• Pencil
• Ruler
• 0.8mm wide Copper wire
• 0.3mm wide Copper wire
• 0.4mm wide red glass beads
• 0.2mm wide red glass beads
• Round-nose pliers
• Flat-nose pliers
• Wire cutters
• Thin necklace chain (preferably copper to match the rest of the pin, but I only had a more golden color at that moment)

First, we need something to base our project on. I recommend sketching out this template (hint: more notes on the measurements when you click on the picture!)

Now for the actual making!

To start making the bow, take the thicker wire and make a little loop by wrapping it around one end of the round-nosed pliers. Use the same pliers to make the rounded bumps of the bow, and end it off with another little loop. Snip off the excess with your wire cutters.

An extra tip: whenever you need to make a sharp turn (such as the ones in between each bump in the bow), you can use the flat-nose pliers to squash a rounded turn into a sharper, more jagged one.

To make one of these giant S-shaped swirls, we need to make another little loop like before. Then, use your fingers and the template to shape the S, and cut off the extra wire.

Then, all we have to do is repeat the process to make the second S-shape!

Since these decorative bits are quite unique, and since it's so important that they fit, I highly recommend using the sketch as a reference here especially!

We need a decorative horseshoe shape to fit between our two S-shapes. Make a little loop with the round-nose pliers again, bend a soft curve, and end it off with another little loop.

Next, we need a small lotus shape. Start with one loop using your round-nose pliers for the middle petal. Continue using the wire down the left and bend a second loop for the second petal, like in the picture. Lastly, use the wire to create a third loop for the final petal on the right.

And of course, a bow needs a string.

Use the round nose pliers to bend a little loop. Then, use the flat-nose pliers to make a straight, sturdy line. End it off with another little loop, cutting off the extra wire.

First, we'll start with the winged end of the arrow. Wrap a small loop around your round-nosed pliers again. Create a sharp dip with the flat-nosed pliers. Hold the wire against the template to bend out the rounded shape of the underside of the wing. Use the flat-nosed pliers to create the sharp tip of the wing, then bend the curved shape on the top of the wing using the template again. Then, use the flat-nose pliers to make a long, straight line for the rest of the arrow and snip off the end. Now we have one fluffly phoenix wing!

Next, we'll need the point of the arrow. Bend a sharp diamond-like or leaf-like shape using the flat-nose pliers, starting from the bottom point and ending at the same bottom point of the diamond (or leaf) shape. Continue by creating a coil shape by wrapping the wire around the tip of the round-nose pliers. Snip off the excess.

Since the arrow is supposed to fit into this coil after you fasten the project onto your clothes, you want to make sure that the arrow fits snuggly into the coil. Use the flat-nose pliers to squish and tighten the coils into the right size if it's too loose.

To create the second half of the arrow, create another wing the same way you did with the first. If you made it to face the same way as the first wing, just flip it over after you're done making it (you wouldn't want to make two wings that face the same way!)

Next, we need a decorative leaf-like shape. Holding the wire over the template, bend a reverse S-shape downwards with your round-nose pliers, the sharp tip at the bottom with your flat-nose ones, and a final loop shape in the center with your round-nose pliers. Snip off the extra wire, and that's it for all the arrow parts!

Now, we wrap!

Take one S-shape and start wrapping it to the bow with the 0.3mm wire, starting from the far end and going up near the middle as shown, snipping the wire off when you're done. Wrap the S-shape to the bow in the middle of the bow where they connect, cutting off the extra wire. Repeat with the second S-shape.

Next, we need to connect the horseshoe shape to the bow. Fit the curve of the upside-down horseshoe under the curve in the bow's middle, and wrap them together where they meet.

To connect the lotus to the bow, sit it on the top of the bow's middle curve. Then, take a bit of the wire and wrap the left petal to the bow's left curve where the two pieces meet. Then, do the same with the right petal and the bow's right curve.

To connect the bowstring to the bow, take the thin wire again. Thread it through the loop of the bowstring on one side and then through the loop of the bow itself above it, wrapping through both about 3-4 times. Repeat this with the other side.

First, let's connect both halves of the arrow. Take the thin wire and wrap the two wings together where they meet as shown, snipping off the excess. Then, wrap the tip of the bottom leaf-like shape to the arrow's shaft for extra security, wrapping the left side to it 2-3 times, and then the right.

Now for the beads! Add one of the wider firey red beads and thread thin wire through it. Then, using each end, wrap it between one of the curves in the S-shape as shown. Repeat this with the second side!

We need a bead for the arrow. Add another one of the wider firey red beads and thread thin wire through it. Then, wrap each end about 2-3 times around the top of each wing.

We need to add 2 of the smaller beads under each of the smaller curves on the bow's top. Thread one of the smaller red beads through a bit of wire, and wrap each end 2-3 times around the top of one of the S-shapes and around the bottom of the bow's curve. Repeat this with the other side and we're done with adding beads.

Cut off about 3 cm of the necklace chain using your wire cutters. Carefully open up the loop at the end of the bow, hook the chain on, and close it up again. Then, open up the end of the arrow's point, thread the other end through, and lock that up again too. Now, the arrow's cap won't get lost and will always stay attached to the pin.

Done!