How to Make a Chicken Wire Crystal Chandelier

At the beginning of 2015, I along with other craft bloggers attended a Blogger Networking Event at the Craft and Hobby Association Show in January.
Bloggers received a sample of new products from participating sponsors of that party.
Everyone who participated created fantastic projects!
These are the newest, hottest  items to hit the craft industry.

* * *

  I made this Chicken Wire Crystal Chandelier.
On the website, I was limited to one photo for my submission. Here are a few  extra to better explain my tutorial.
Enjoy!

  Materials List

• MD Chicken Wire
• MD metal working gloves
• MD Brass Metal Sheet Roll
• Prima Swarovski Crystals
• Sizzix branch die
• Sizzix Flower die
• Sizzix Embossing Folder
• Die cutting machine
• Red and green alcohol pens
• 25 Heart shaped crystals
• Gold floral wire
• e-6000 glue
• Jewelry pliers
• Scissors
• Gold spray paint

Instructions

-Working carefully with the gloves on, roll out the chicken wire and cut a 12" X 12" piece with the jewelry pliers.
-Shape chicken wire into a cylinder shape.
-Carefully interlock wire ends together with your gloved fingers and pliers. 

-Pinch the top of the cylinder closed and push down until the cylinder measures 6".

* The reason I pushed the top down, was to give the metal branches a 'shelf' to hang onto. *
-Spray completely with gold paint and let dry.
-Cut and emboss 4 flowers from the brass sheet.

 

 

-Cut 4 branches from the brass sheet.
-Use the edge of your scissors or a bone folder to make indents into the leaves.

*I used the blank space of the die for a cushioned surface when adding the indents to the leaves.*

 

 

-Color the leaves and flowers with alcohol pens.
-Attach crystals with e-6000.

 

* If you make a mistake with the coloring, a little rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover works great to remove unwanted color!*

-Use colored floral wire to attach branches to top of the cylinder.

-Glue the flowers to the branches.

 *The hearts came on a strand with the large jump rings. I simply bent the jump rings with the pliers into a "S" shape to hand on the chicken wire.*

-Hang hearts, prism side out, in the chicken wire holes.

-Attach a wire hook and hang in a sunny spot, indoors or out in the garden for all to enjoy!

Contest Update*
Congratulations to the following Winners!

1st Place: Cathy  Parlitsis, Distress Ink Watercolor DIY Greeting Card
2nd Place: Betsy Burnett, Restyled Red Shelf Home Decor Craft
3rd Place: Linda  Peterson, Succulent Garden DIY Wall Decor

See more Fave Craft inspiration here!
 

Valentine Table Top Decoration with Smoothfoam!

Looking for a romantic table top decoration?
Visit the Smoothfoam blog to see how I made this dazzling decoration!

Craft Room- Decorative Wall Plaque

Welcome to a blog hop and giveaway hosted by Adornit!

Every blog participating has a "clue"- a letter for you to spell a phrase.
Instructions on how to start the hop or submit your phrase are on the Adornit blog.

The giveaway is a complete set of the Art Play Printables collection and a original piece by the artist  who created the collection, Lindsay Ostrom!

I'm in the never-ending process of cleaning and organizing my studio.
So when I saw this quote from Adornit, I just knew I needed this in my craft room.

Materials used:

• 8 1/2" x 11" Wood Plaque
• Craft Room display print
• Blender Basics - Mint pixie Dots
• Blender Basics - Mustard Pixie Dots
• Blender Basics- Red Pixie Dots
• Fabric- Grid Dot Red
• Hole punch
• Scissors
• Black ink
• Pen
• Glitter glue and rhinestones
• Adhesive, foam and strong double stick tape
• Black ink
• Needle and Thread
• Flower making die (optional)
• Assorted vintage trim and lace

1. Punch holes at top of plaque.
2. Trace onto mint paper, mark holes with pen and cut shape out.
3. Adhere paper to wood plaque aligning with holes. 
4. Ink edges of  plaque .
5. Cut wording and banners from Craft Room print
6. Edge all with ink. 
7. Adhere first banner at top of plaque, cutting the banner so the sides tilt up. Add second banner layer with foam tape.
8.  Cut and ink red paper, then adhere to plaque with foam tape. 
9. Add Craft Room wording.
10. Use flower die or hand cut spirals from mustard paper. Start curling the paper strips from outside-in to create little roses. Secure with double stick tape and glue in place on plaque.
11. Measure and cut 1.5 yards x 2.5" of the fabric with pinking shears. Sew a basting stitch at the top of the fabric. Pull thread to create just enough ruffle for bottom of plaque.
12. Adhere fabric to plaque with the strong double stick tape. Layer the tape in between the various lace and trims.
13. Tie trim at the top for hanging.
14. Finish plaque by adding colored glitter glue and rhinestones.

Thanks for coming by!
Your giveaway clue for this post is the letter "L".
Please continue onto Sue Eldreds blog for your next clue and more Adornit Inspiration!

Owl Always Love You Tag-Mini book

 Hi Everyone!
I wanted to share my latest creation playing with my new rubber stamp line, and with Valentines Day coming up, I thought I'd make a cute tag mini-book!

 

 I used these Flexible Pouches from Deflecto Craft Solutions. The pouches measure 3"x5" and have so many other uses! Luggage tags, Banners, Pattern swatches, Photo protectors and ATC holders!
 

 I cut the assorted craft paper to just under 3"x5".

 I stamped some of my "Owls" directly onto the tags.
For the background,  I stamped both "Medallions" and  "Petals".

 Some of the owls, I stamped onto patterned paper, cut them out and attached them with foam tape.
I colored everything in with assorted markers and embellished with Valentine themed decorations/ribbon and border punched paper. 

 I really love how  this tag book turned out.
 The Owls make everything so Happy!
Don't you agree?

Easy Sew Felt i-Phone/camera Pouch

 My last i-phone pouch I made was super cute but also so close to the  size of the actual phone that it  hardly left room for anything else. So in making this pouch, I designed it to have a extra pocket to store money, credit cards and what-nots. I also put this a cute puffy heart on the front for added protection and to make it easier to find/feel in my purse. 

 Materials:

• Kunin Fanci Felt   5"x16"
• Kunin Fanci Felt  Heart
• Soft inner felt 5"x14"
• Black embroidery thread
• Sewing velcro
• Large eye sewing needle
• Sewing and pinking shears

Flip over outer felt and place your inner felt  inside folded as shown.
Fold over remaining felt so the cut window and sides align nicely.

 When sewing the sides, remember you are going through 4 layers of felt, use a hard surface or a thimble to help push the needle through. First use a running stitch along the sides, then a blanket stitch to finish.
Use your pinking shears to cut the corners of the top flap as shown.

 Sew your velcro in place.

 Cut your leftover felt scraps into little bits and use to stuff your heart.
I learned this idea from friend Jennifer Priest.
Super fantastic! No more waste. 

 Here you can see I have a slot for my phone and a slot for my 'extra's.

 The pink felt shows you the actual size of my phone. This pouch is also perfect for a little camera too!

 All I have left is to add a wrist strap, but I can't decide.
Ribbon, felt, cord, elastic....what would you do?

To see more crafty idea's like this one, find this logo on my sidebar.