Patterned Hot Air Balloon String Art Kit by Wizardi F07-M12-3-DH5003

A hot air balloon with a green crown and scalloped bands of navy, lavender-pink and teal thread floats over a small dark basket. It is a DIY string art kit: you set the nails, wind the thread and end up with a piece of wall or shelf decor you made yourself.

The first hot air balloon flight took off from Paris in 1783, and the striped balloon has stood for adventure and travel ever since. String art boomed as a home craft in the 1960s and 70s, when boards of nails and colored thread hung in living rooms everywhere; this kit brings the idea back in a cleaner, modern style.

Why this kit: a framed board that stands on the desk or hangs on the wall, both fittings included; pre-drilled holes, so every nail goes in exactly where the design needs it; and enough detail to keep you busy for an evening or two without being fiddly.

Kit includes: a pre-drilled board with a rounded rim, a bag of nails, spools of thread in the colors of the design, a fold-out stand, a wall hanger with two screws, an adhesive pad, a small hammer and illustrated instructions. Not included: scissors for trimming the thread ends.

Tap the nails into the pre-drilled holes with the small hammer, tie the thread to a starting nail, outline the shape first and then fill it in with criss-cross passes, one color at a time, finishing with a small knot. The nails are small and sharp, so it is a project for adults, teens and older children working with an adult.

The finished piece measures about 20 x 15 cm (7.9 x 5.9 in). It is a natural fit for a kid's room, a travel-themed wall or a desk, and makes a thoughtful gift for a traveler or a dreamer planning the next trip.