Make a Beaded Chandelier
by heather
I made a beaded chandelier from dollar store stuff, and I'm so happy I get to reveal it today. I've been teasing the Dollar Store Crafts Facebook page with this project for a few days now, and I finally get to share it! A few months ago, Dollar Tree started selling their seasonal gardening stuff, including hanging wire baskets (and yes, they were only a dollar!) For months I had been trying to find a good base for a chandelier at the dollar store, and it wasn't until my three year-old son called the wire baskets a "chandelier" that it clicked.
Well, two months later, the beaded chandelier is here. It really only took about three or so hours to make, but I kept running into problems (ran out of beads, twice. Ran out of spray paint, had to change diapers!), so I had to run to the dollar store more than once in order to complete it. With instructions and a plan, you'll be able to make yours in an afternoon.
Project Materials:
- Hanging wire basket, $1
- 6 packages of Mardi Gras-style metallic beads (about 48 necklaces), $6
- Light gauge wire (floral wire will work), $1
- Spray paint, $1
- Wire cutters, on hand or $1
- Hot glue gun & sticks, on hand
- Additional embellishments, as desired
Total: $9 and up
To Make:
To prepare the beads: paint with white spray paint. Allow to dry, and add another coat of paint if necessary. You will be able to touch them up after the whole project is assembled.
Prepare the wire basket: spray paint the wire basket and chains. Again, you'll be able to touch up the whole thing again after everything is assembled.
Production note: I didn't spray paint before I assembled, but I think it's a good idea to do so. You won't be able to get the beads uniformly painted if you don't paint before you assemble.
Work area: I hung the basket above my work surface so I could work on it while it was hanging like it would be when displayed. If you can finagle a way to do this, I recommend it.
Wire: cut many pieces of light gauge wire at a length of about 2" or so. You'll need a couple hundred, but you can just cut 10 or so at a time, as needed.
Beads: Find the spot where the two beads are fused together and break them apart. You can just pop them apart with your fingers.
Attaching the bead necklaces together: As you wire your chandelier, you will hot glue one end of the necklace to the end of the next necklace. I recommend doing this as you go to keep everything nice and neat (and untangled). Remember to be careful when handling the hot glue!
Wiring the bottom of the chandelier:
Take your first necklace, and a piece of wire. Wrap the wire securely around the thread between the first two beads and twist around once or twice to make sure the wire won't come apart from the necklace. Then wire the necklace to the top of the wire basket form. Wrap the wire around the basket securely, and twist at least twice to make sure it's secure. Leave the end of the wire long for now.
Hold the necklace up to the bottom of the basket to see where you'll need to add the next wire. At that spot on the necklace, add the wire as instructed above, and wire to the lower frame of the wire basket.
Continue until you reach the end of the necklace, and hot glue the next necklace to the end and continue. Continue this process until the bottom of the basket is filled with beading. I wired about four sections of beads to each segment of the wire basket, and used two packages of beads to cover the whole wire basket.
At this point, you can trim the wires in the bottom hole of the basket. Make sure each one is twisted securely, then clip near the twisted area to make it look neater. Leave the tails on the top part of the basket - you will use them in the next section of the project.
Wiring the top of the chandelier:
Production notes: Again, it is easiest if your basket is hanging while you are assembling. It takes about twice as many necklaces to bead the top of the chandelier.
Start with a new necklace (or hot glue a new necklace to any extra beading left at the end of the bottom section), and wire it to an existing wire. Pull it up to the top of the hanging basket, where the chains meet. Take a longer piece of wire (about 4 to 6" long), and wire the beads to the top link in one of the chains. Pull the bead back down to the basket and wire to an existing section of beading (using the tails that you left in the first part of the project).
Bring the beads back up to the top and wire to the long piece of wire. Continue wiring as instructed, attaching necklaces when needed. After about three or four segments of beads, I brought the wire tail back to the top link to secure the beads to the top.
Once you're done wiring the whole thing, you can take it outside and touch up the spray paint in any area that got rubbed off. (I ran out of spray paint before the whole thing was as white as I wanted it to be, but I was too impatient to hold this tutorial any longer, so I went ahead and photographed!)
Add additional embellishments like ribbon, butterflies, bows, etc., according to your own taste and decor.
You can also turn the basket upside-down to use as the base for a chandelier, but if you decide to bead it the same way, you'll need to add a couple of long wires at key points across the basket to keep the beading laying the right way.
Of course, these baskets are great bases for any kind of chandelier you can imagine! You might have a little trouble finding them at your dollar store now (they sell out quickly), but you can get them for about $5 at your local big-box store. I know that's not as great a price as $1, but it's still pretty cheap for a great chandelier base. The dollar store also has wire baskets that will work decently for chandelier bases. Try those and let me know how they work out for you!
Lighting: I didn't add any lighting to this chandelier. I think it looks pretty cool as-is, but if I added any light, it would be with either twinkle lights inside, or a pendant light kit from a home improvement store ($10 for the kit). I'd use a halogen compact fluorescent bulb because it's low-heat.
Comments: Most of my projects are prototypes. I show you the first draft, and I know there's room for improvement. Please let me know what you think! Honest opinions are very welcome. I really loved hearing your input on the Copper Kitchen Wreath!
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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“I’d use a halogen bulb because it’s low-heat”
…Noooooo! I think maybe you meant compact fluorescent. The exact definition of a halogen bulb is that it generates light though heat. Halogen gets SUPER HOT!
Great idea! Love it! I think this would be extra sparkly beautiful if you could find the same sort of necklaces with jewel-type clear plastic beads, or, better yet, a beaded curtain, say something like this: http://www.beadedcurtainstore.com/itemdis.php?idnum=00165 or this: http://buddyhelm.com/PageMill_Resources/beadedcurtains.html (I think I saw beaded curtains at a dollar store for about $6 a while back. I don’t know if I’ll find them again though.)
What’s helpful is the lengths are already really long so less glueing, and because they are clearish the light will shine through them and sparkle.
Thanks for inspiring me!!!!
@merideathx – oh yeah, you’re right…. sorry about that – I’ll correct it in the entry! Thanks for catching that.
Awesome project. Such patience to do all that beading.
Ooh good call with the basket! He’s so creative! Thanks so much, I’ll be linking.
This is awesome! I love it!
Heather! It’s gorgeous!! It’s a dollar store TRIUMPH!! :)
You are brilliant. I too have wanted to make a chandelier but get stuck every time while in the craft store, trying to figure it out. Thank you!
I love it! It looks so expensive and chic!
Oh. My. Gourd. It is fantastic. Hanging basket: genius idea for the base. It has the most elegant shape! I love this one so much. really cute with the pink ribbons, too!
Awesome, LOVE it! Did you know this was featured on Apartment Therapy yesterday!!!!!!!!!! Ok, so you probably already know, but I’m so excited about it haha!
That is seriously the best project I’ve seen on here in awhile–it looks so much more expensive than it is!
heather!!! you are amazing and brilliant and soooooo talented!!!! I am in awe!!!!!
Hey, looks lovely, I love the white.
I’ve made two chandeliers with this technique
http://style-for-style.blogspot.com/2010/04/chandelier-before-after.html
http://style-for-style.blogspot.com/2010/03/williamsburg-chandelier-diy.html
You can also use hot glue which seems easier than the wire, because the metal frame is cold it sets instantly.
[...] I’m loving the little bow. If this DIY ends up looking a little TOO DIY, well then at least you only spent $10. Complete instructions at Dollar Store Crafts. [...]
That might just be the coolest DIY project I’ve ever seen. Love it!
Very Cool! I’m kind of liking the not so white look, it makes it look more antique. Very nice indeed!
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! THIS IS ADORABLE, AND SO AFFORDABLE ! SOOOOOOO SMART. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS !
HUGS FROM MAINE
[...] When I saw this project on Dollar Store Crafts, my only response was “REALLY!?!” I could only dream of being so [...]
Love this. Linked it up to my blog to share. Totally stopping by the Dollar Store tomorrow!
Ok now tht I found you, I am going to have to get the ball rolling as I challenged my readers to make one of these in my High Point Furniture Market Lamps Post…OMG! You ARE the bomb! Great camera too!
Instead of wire how about using ornament hooks from Christmas. Then you don’t have to do all that cutting.
[...] Again with the heart stopping Make a beaded chandelier. Here’s my list of things to do: 1. Win lots of money so I can … 2. Landscape my yard 3. Add sprinkling 4. Build a tree house 5. Scour Knock Off Wood for the perfect out door furnitrue 6. Make it 7. Buy a red umbrella for outside 8. Make this chandelier 9. Hang it 10. Sip lemonade under the umbrella while my kids pick flowers and make sand castles. 11. Have a tea party. [...]
[...] I think this DIY is a must for you lucky people who have gardens. Perfect for sipping some cheap bubbly [...]
I was going to make the one from Brassy Apple but I can’t find any hanging wire baskets at our dollar stores here, the only ones I can find are $8 and I don’t want to spend too much money but I think I’ll get one to make this one!! I love this look!
[...] This outdoor chandelier was made from beads found at the dollar store and the full directions can be found at dollar store crafts. [...]
um …this is BRILLIANT! I love it.
This is something im planning to make in near future for myself when i found some spare time to do it. Absolutely beautiful.
[...] few months ago, I posted a tutorial for a beaded chandelier made from a hanging basket and mardi gras beads (it sounds cheesy, but it looked great, and it's [...]
i cannot believe it i am in love with this site..i’m in love love lovee with this idea…sadly for me its to late to find wire baskets like this with fall arriving..so i’ve been online trying to find a good deal on both the beads and wire hanger…i actually love the two toned hue of it..
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