Wire Cake Topper

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Roll of 12-gauge Wired Accents: floral wire - 1 roll each of aluminum, gold
• Wire cutters
• Flat nosed pliers
• Rounded nosed pliers
• 8 1/2"x 11" piece of paper
• Pencil

DIRECTIONS:

1. Draw a 8"-wide heart onto the piece of paper. Height of the heart is your choice, preferable at least 8" tall.
2. Following the heart on the paper, start with a 2" stem and make a heart out of the floral wire, twisting it at the top center of the heart. When you get to the base of the heart, twist the ends together, wrapping the end wire around the beginning of the wire. You will need the flat nose pliers to make a sharp 90 degree bend at the ends of the wire. Leave a 2" stem on the heart to insert the heart into the cake when finished.
3. For the arrow and the initials, draw them onto the paper heart first, keeping in mind that you will start from the back or end of the arrow when making the wire in that shape.
4. You are going to work in reverse. Starting with the end of the wire that is about 18" long, bend the angles on the tail of the arrow with your flat nosed pliers. Make the tail of the arrow first before attaching it to the heart. Wrap the tail of the arrow tightly around the left side of the heart. Don't worry if you misshape the heart because you will correct it when you are finished. The wire will be one continuous piece until you reach the middle of the “G" or second initial.
5. Twist the wire to help give stability as you create the letters by wrapping the top of the first initial or at the middle of the first initial. You are trying to create anchor points to help keep the whole phrase rigid and not wobbly.
6. Use the rounded nose pliers when you are making curves in the wire such as a "C" or "G".
7. When you have to make a jump to a new piece of wire, wrap the new piece tightly to the existing phrase to prevent slippage. Trim off the ends closely with your wire cutters.
8. Once you get the other side of the heart where the point of the arrow will be, wrap the wire tightly around the heart, leaving about an 8" piece to finish the head of the arrow.
9. Finish the arrow again by making it in reverse. You will have your end be at the bottom of the arrow going back to the stem to be less noticeable.

Craft Hack Tips and Tricks:

• Wrap electrical tape around the pinchers on the pliers to prevent the pliers from scratching of making dents in the wire.