Make A Ribbon Chandelier

Ribbons add whimsy and elegance to dated light fixtures.

Ribbon chandeliers offer a colorful and inexpensive solution to an ugly or dated light fixture. Instead of buying a new light fixture, you can cover it with a ribbon chandelier. Inexpensive and infinitely customizable, these homemade light covers can turn a utilitarian rental fixture into a whimsical, diffused light that matches your personal style. Paper cutouts attached to the ribbons mimic traditional chandelier crystals and give the chandelier an extra touch of decoration and visual interest.

Instructions

1. Calculate how many ribbons you'll need by measuring the width of your chosen ribbon and the perimeter of the embroidery hoop. Divide the width of the ribbon by the perimeter measurement. For instance, if your ribbon is 1 inch wide and your embroidery hoop measures 30 inches around its perimeter, you need 30 lengths of ribbon.

2. Cut your ribbon into strips twice as long as you want the finished ribbons to be. You may cut all of your ribbons the same length or use varying lengths to create an asymmetrical or random pattern. Cut an equal number of each color you choose.

3. Fold each ribbon in half.

4. Pinch a ribbon length 1 inch below the fold, creating a loop.

5. Hold the loop inside your embroidery hoop.

6. Bring the ends of the ribbon up around the outside of the embroidery hoop and slip them through the loop in the fold. Tug on the ends of the ribbon to tighten this lark's head knot.

7. Attach the rest of your ribbons to the embroidery hoop with lark's head knots. You may alternate colors in a rainbow pattern, or add ribbons in blocks of color. For instance, you may want a block of two white ribbons followed by three pink ribbons and four lavender ribbons.

8. Punch flowers from scrapbooking paper that matches your ribbon colors or complements your d cor.

9. Glue the paper flowers at random intervals to the ribbons with school glue. No two flowers should be more than 5 inches apart or less than 2 inches apart. Allow the glue to dry overnight.

Tags: embroidery hoop, your ribbon, dated light, ends ribbon, inches apart