Chandelier Makeover

It's finally here the chandelier makeover! Like I said in my last post I LOVE sparkly things so this was a really fun project.  I forgot to take a before picture of this beauty but lets just say my hubby almost threw it away he thought it was so ugly.  Luckily for me he didn't and now its the perfect addition to my daughters room, and for under $40.00 who can complain.

Here is a list of the things you will need.

Primer for metal

Spray paint

Ugly chandelier (found at your local thrift store)

Glass Crystal ( found here and here )

On this chandelier I used about 100 of each

These are also fun ones to add

Craft wire (found here)

needle nose pliers ( found at your local craft store)

fingernail clippers ( yes you heard me right they work the best to cut wire)

 This was white and gold when I got it.  First thing you are going to want to do is give it a good cleaning.  Wipe the whole thing down.  I just used water and a microfiber cloth.  I had my husband drill holes around the top above each arm of the chandelier so I had somewhere to hook my beads to.  It already had holes in the parts around the lights, if your doesn't you'll want to drill holes there to.

 

 Spray it with a primer made for metal.  The hardest part is next and that is picking the color you want your chandelier.  I decided to go with turquoise for my daughters room.  Spray it with a light coat, let that dry and then repeat.  If you do several light coats and let them dry in between you wont get runs in the paint.

Now that everything is cleaned, drilled, and painted we get to the best part the SPARKLES!!

Did I mention how much I love sparkly things.

Cut a piece of wire about 12" long.  Hold it between your pliers about an inch away from the end.  Wrap it around your pliers once.

Add a bead through the loop.  Twist the wire around like the picture below.  I find it easier to hold the wire right next to the crystal with my pliers while I twist.  My hands looks so dry in these pictures.  I need some good lotion. 

Clip the extra wire off with the fingernail clippers.  I make a lot of jewelry and these really are the best wire cutters.  The ones made for babies are perfect.

Slide on a round bead.  Make a loop again with the pliers and slip on another crystal.

While holding the loop with your pliers wrap the wire around to secure.  Clip the extra off wire off.

  Make a loop with you wire and thread it through the end of the crystal.  While holing the loop with the pliers wrap the wire around to secure.  Clip the extra wire off.

Add a round bead.  Repeat the process of making a loop, threading on another crystal, wrapping the wire, and clipping the extra off.  You will continue this process until you have a strand long enough to swag from the top of your chandelier to the part that surrounds the light.  I hope that makes sense I'm not sure what to call it.

Once your crystal strand is long enough you'll hook it to the top of the chandelier.  Thread your wire through one of the holes.  Loop it around and wrap the wire around to secure it in place.  Clip the extra wire.

You'll do the same thing attaching the other end of your crystal strand to the part around the light.  Repeat this process all the way around the chandelier.  

I also made crystal strands that went from one light to the other. You can also add a crystal to the bottom. This is where you can get creative and add as many crystals as you want to.  Also cute little lampshades are a fun way to dress up a chandelier. 

This one we made from our old dining room light.  I love the round bulbs it gives it a totally different look.  We also added a few pink  crystals as well.

I hope this gets your creative juices flowing.  Send us pictures of your chandelier makeovers.  We'd love to see them!

-Lauralee-