3D String Art Apple for Table Decoration

This DIY project brings together 3D design, crafting, and string art to create a vibrant, table-top apple decor piece. Designed as a home decor element, this project is perfect for creative minds — especially kids and beginners.

The project involves creating a cement-based 3D apple, using either a 3D printed mold (for precision) or a handmade clay mold (for simplicity), and then decorating it using colorful yarn string art.

For enhanced customization, Tinkercad is used to create the apple mold, which can be 3D printed using PLA filament.

1. 3d design of apple
2. 3d software (Tinkercad Or Fusion360 )
3. Cement (1500 gms)
4. Water( 350 ml)
5. 3d Printing for precise mould
6. Rubber band for mould
7. Colored Yarn
8. Nails for yarn art support (approx. 1 inch length and 1.5 mm dia)
9. Quick Glue
10. Hammer fro mould separation
11. Aluminium rod or other metal wire (for connect apple to base)(3mm wire dia x 80 mm length)
12. Scissor for cut yarn
13. Sand paper for smooth cement model surface
14. Spray paint can
15. Funnel

1. Download an apple-shaped STL file (or use the one from Thingiverse).
2. Open Tinkercad in your browser and log in.
3. Start a new design and click the "Import" button.
4. Upload your Apple STL file.
5. Drag in a cylinder, resize it to match the apple's half-height + 2 mm, and copy it to make a top and bottom mold.
6. Use Tinkercad’s Group tool (Ctrl + G) to subtract the apple (as a "Hole" body) from each cylinder, creating a mold cavity.
7. Add a 25 mm dia, 15 mm height cylinder hole at the bottom for rod placement to attach the apple to the base.
8. Align everything properly and group to finalize the mold.

For the stand, use a 25 mm diameter, 40 mm tall solid cylinder.

Subtract a 20 mm dia, 45 mm tall hole cylinder from the center to create a pipe-like hollow rod.

For the base, use a 50 mm dia, 10 mm tall solid cylinder, and subtract a 45 mm dia, 8 mm tall hole from its center.

Combine the stand and base into one part.

Slice this merged base horizontally using a 0.1 mm thick cube hole to allow easy cement pouring.

Use a printer like Creality Ender 3 or similar.

Print settings:

1. Layer Height: 0.2 mm
2. Wall Thickness: 3 layers
3. Build Adhesion: Brim

Material: PLA

Once printed, you'll have 4 parts:

1. Top Apple Mold
2. Bottom Apple Mold
3. Base Top Half
4. Base Bottom Half

Use a glue gun to seal the seams between mold parts.

Connect the top and bottom mold pieces tightly.

Use rubber bands around the mold to reinforce the seal.

Make sure no cement leaks from the gaps during pouring.

1. In a container, mix 1.5 kg cement with 350–500 ml of water.
2. The consistency should be a smooth, thick slurry.
3. Mix thoroughly to avoid any dry lumps or air pockets.

1. Position the mold upside-down, so cement is poured from the base side.
2. Fill about 20% of the mold, then tap it gently to remove air bubbles.
3. Insert the two aluminum rods vertically, spaced 10 mm apart. These rods will connect the apple to the base.
4. Continue pouring cement until the mold is full. Shake occasionally.
5. Let the apple cure for 24 hours.
6. Remove the bottom half of the apple mold.
7. Attach the base mold to the protruding rods and pour cement into the base mold.
8. Let it cure completely for another 24–36 hours (total 48–60 hours cure time).

Carefully remove the top mold from the apple.

Take apart the base mold.

Use sandpaper to smooth any rough surfaces.

Optionally, apply spray paint for a clean and vibrant finish.

1. Use a marker to draw dots ~10 mm apart on the apple's surface where nails will go.
2. Insert 1-inch nails into each dot using a hammer, ensuring they go in straight and securely.
3. You can plan the nail arrangement in these zones:
4. Main apple body
5. Eyes
6. Smile
7. Eyebrows

Now comes the most fun and creative part!

A. Apple Body (Red Yarn)

1. Tie one end of the red yarn to any nail on the apple body.
2. Start looping the yarn back and forth across different nails in random patterns to fill the shape.
3. Continue until the apple looks fully filled with red yarn.
4. Tie off and trim excess yarn with scissors.

B. Eyes (White + Dark Blue Yarn)

1. Use 16 nails in an oval to form the outer white part of each eye.
2. Wrap white yarn back and forth between the nails to form the eye shape.
3. Now, use 8 nails in a smaller oval at the center to form the dark eye center. Use dark blue yarn to fill in the pupil.

C. Smile and Eyebrows (Dark Blue Yarn)

1. Use 14 nails in a curved line to form the mouth.
2. Wrap the dark blue yarn in a smiling arc between these nails.
3. Use 4 nails per eyebrow, placed slightly above each eye. Loop dark blue yarn across them to form the eyebrows.

D. Stem (Green Yarn)

1. Take a short aluminum wire (~50 mm), bend it into a curved stem.
2. Wrap green yarn tightly around it.
3. Insert the stem into the top of the apple using glue if needed.

You now have your 3D String Art Apple Decor complete — sturdy, colorful, creative, and perfect for table-top display. It’s a fusion of digital design, real-world crafting, and artistic expression.