DIY Butterfly Net

Supplies
½- x 14-in. wooden dowel rod
White acrylic paint
Clear polyurethane sealer
Flat paintbrush
Scrap of Styrofoam (optional)
½-in.-wide decorative paper tape
Duct tape
Glue dots (optional)
20-in.-square piece of mesh
24-in. length of 12-gauge wire

How to make the handle.

STEP 1. Paint dowel rod, apply as many coats as needed for full coverage and letting dry between coats. For easy drying, place end in Styrofoam and leave standing up.

STEP 2. Mark 8 lines on end of the dowel rod about an inch apart. Use these as a guide to apply paper tape in segments, making stripes.

STEP 3. With sponge brush, apply polyurethane sealer to entire surface of dowel rod. Let dry.

How to create the net.

STEP 1. Gently bend wire into a circle. Set aside.

STEP 2. Fold mesh piece in half. Hand- or machine-stitch the long side and one short side to form a net. Fold over a 1-in. hem on open side; stitch hem down ¼ in. from bottom edge. Leave a 1/2-in. open area at side seam to insert wire. Turn right side out.

STEP 3. Insert one end of circle wire into open area of hem and feed through. Center net opening on wire. About 2 in. from each end, bend wire outward at right angles to the perimeter of circle so that the extended pieces are side by side.

How to assemble.

STEP 1. Place extended wire ends vertically on opposite sides of the dowel rod end without tape stripes. If needed, temporarily tack in place with glue dots.

STEP 2. Once positioned as desired, wrap with duct tape to secure in place, then wrap with paper tape for decoration.

STEP 3. Apply another coat of polyurethane sealer over entire surface of handle, including taped areas. Let dry.