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Make a Blingy Chandelier

26 May 2010 56,439 views 13 Comments

by heather

pink chandelier

Chandeliers are in the air! The day of the dollar store chandelier is nigh, and the creative frugal masses have risen and said "We want chandeliers, and we want them CHEAP!" When dollar store crafters want to make something, they find a way to do it inexpensively. Around the same time I had my dollar store hanging-basket-into-chandelier epiphany, Megan at Brassy Apple used some of the dollar store hanging baskets to form a pretty chandelier for her daughter's room. Yes, it's true! Great minds were thinking alike. Megan's chandelier is nothing short of fabulous -- she combined several hanging baskets to form one big chandelier, used the chain link in the baskets as an element of her design, and even used mardi gras beads. And no, neither of us knew the other person was working on this project. I estimate there are a dozen or so other intrepid cheapsters out there discovering this technique as I type. We are so creative! [find out how to make a blingy chandelier here]

I was at a certain big-box craft store the other day, and I noticed they sell packages of faux chandelier crystals in the vase-filling stuff department (you know, where the glass marbles and seashells are). The package had about 40 crystals for $6, so that's a great inexpensive alternative if you want to add bling to a chandelier but you don't have any crystals on hand. Sometimes the dollar store has the same acrylic crystals, but I haven't seen them around lately.

Project Estimate:

4 hanging baskets, $4
Mardi gras beads, $1
Faux crystals, on hand or $1 and up
19 gauge wire, on hand or $1
Spray paint, $1 and up (you'll need to spend $3+ for a fashion color like this pink)
Hot glue gun, on hand

Total: $5 and up

p.s. please comment with your links if you have made a cheapster chandelier, too!

Disclosure: this article may contain affiliate links or other forms of sponsored content. Opinions are 100% the author's. Full disclosure policy.

13 Comments »

meg/brassyapple said:

thanks for the feature and GREAT tip on finding cheaper crystals! :)

I’d love to see more that the readers have created! :) have fun!!!

# 26 May 2010 at 9:56 am

kellie said:

OMGosh. I just LOVE LOVE LOVE this!!! How fun!!

# 26 May 2010 at 10:10 am

jenjen said:

Yes – that is an awesome project! I hope you are doing well!

XOXO
Jen

# 26 May 2010 at 10:48 am

Ellen Fischel said:

I LOVE these at home crafty ideas! They are trendy and inexpensive!

# 26 May 2010 at 3:20 pm

Sticky Business: Posts We Liked This Week | An Eclectic Blog said:

[...] to make a chandelier perfect for a girls room from Dollar Store [...]

# 4 June 2010 at 7:40 am

Sandee said:

Thank you for this idea. We are having a Vampire Masquerade Ball for my daughters sweet 16, and I wanted a ball room feel, but not the price. I can make about 4 of these for the party and really add some atmosphere. Thank you very much!!!

# 15 August 2010 at 8:31 am

Two New D.I.Y. Blog Faves – Simply Stated Blogs | Real Simple said:

[...] Make a Blingy Chandelier from Dollar Store Crafts [...]

# 5 June 2011 at 12:36 pm

Suzie said:

Love this idea so much! I made one for my breakfast nook and I’ll be working on one for my master bath tomorrow! Where can I post my pix??

# 24 September 2011 at 7:08 pm

heather (author) said:

You can email me pictures (heather at dollarstorecrafts.com) or post it on our Facebook page: http://facebook.com/dollarstorecrafts

# 24 September 2011 at 10:23 pm

Erin said:

I love this, but am having trouble finding the baskets for less than 7.00 each…help would be much appreciated :)

# 24 July 2012 at 4:57 pm

heather (author) said:

@Erin, you have to get the baskets in the springtime – they are seasonal items at the dollar store, unfortunately. Maybe check your local thrift store.

# 24 July 2012 at 5:40 pm

Chantelle said:

I made one of these last week. Actually found the baskets at my local Dollar Tree!!! I could not find the pink that you used, so I switched it up and got a lavender color. It took me three coats to get it to cover completely. Also, the paint chips very easy…I think that it may need to be primed or something prior to spraying with the choice of paint you would like. Mine did not turn out as cute as this one….But I will try again!!

# 25 July 2012 at 5:01 pm

Suzie said:

I was so inspired by this project that I made two of them! But I’m a bit of a novice in these websites. How do I upload pix of the two pieces I made??

# 29 July 2012 at 5:16 pm