Crystal chandeliers cheaply cover ugly light fixtures.
Crystal prism chandeliers used to be a symbol of wealth and opulence. The crystals reflected candlelight, making rooms bright even in the absence of electric lights. Today, crystal prism chandeliers can be simple and chic, providing a symbol of your decorating prowess rather than wealth. In fact, creating your own crystal prism chandelier costs little more than $25. Though these homemade fixtures still reflect and scatter light, you can also use them to hide an ugly apartment light or replace a ceiling fixture entirely.
Instructions
1. Drill four pilot holes around your light fixture, positioning each hole 4.75 inches from the center of the fixture's bulb. The holes should form a square.
2. Screw a screw-in ceiling hook into each of the holes. Tug gently on the hooks to check that they fit snugly. They don't need to hold a lot of weight, so you don't have to pull hard.
3. Spray-paint a 10-inch diameter embroidery hoop with metallic spray paint in the color of your choice. Silver works well with most decors, while gold and brass fit in with traditional and vintage styles. Try copper and hammered brass for a modern feel. Let the paint dry overnight.
4. Snip 50 to 70 pieces of beading wire from 12 to 18 inches long. Cut them all the same length for a very modern chandelier or cut different lengths to add visual interest.
5. Slide a crystal prism onto one of the beading wire pieces, and squeeze a drop of hot glue onto the tip of the wire. Slide the crystal prism into the glue, and wait about 5 minutes. The glue dries into a stop for the crystal prism bead.
6. String the first piece of beading wire full of crystals, ending with another drop of glue. String all of your beading wires this way.
7. Hot-glue the first crystal prism on each wire to the outside of the embroidery hoop. Allow the glue to cure fully overnight. Hot glue is clear, so you'll be able to see the color of the hoop through the crystal prism beads.
8. Slip the hoop onto the ceiling hooks, gently arranging the crystal prism strands so that they hang evenly all the way around your new chandelier.
Tags: crystal prism, beading wire, around your, crystal prism, drop glue, embroidery hoop