Summer Crafts & Fun!

20 SUMMER CRAFTS!

http://www.redtedart.com/2013/05/18/classic-summer-crafts/

Crafts: The Beaded Chandelier Dollar Store Crafts

http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2010/05/make-a-beaded-chandelier/

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.

Circus in Me: Sneak Peek 4

She was taken back beneath excitement to something of gleam or gallant. They gravitated toward her, wanting to accept her, partake of her journey. She shivered in her conforming seat, contemplating these lifestyles almost in a judging manner but not quite.

Her hand was never raised in disapproving motions. She merely volunteered to be a rescue. As you would a lost dog, a homeless cat or any other pathetic animal you couldn’t help find but adorable.

They like her, they pulled at her. Bringing her into an embrace she had never experienced. Doc, the ringmaster placed a comforting hand on her shoulder welcoming her into his family of misunderstood individuals. He lead her down the line of performers. First the Bearded Lady, Mona, then Doc the manager and caretaker of the animals, Katarina, the tattooed beauty. The triplet acrobats near her age eyeing her shape and figure. She walked amongst these odd individuals; her fear unbearable now. She came to the conclusion she must shout out for some sort of help, but what kind of assistance was she asking for? A departure? A rescue from these odd fools, who she seemed to belong too, or maybe just maybe a helping hand. The mystic, Arunia, smiled at her as she lent an open hand, her voice was simple, but pretty. She hushed Trae Lai’s fears; she was home.

S.M. Bjarnson 

Speak up!

Wait. Wait for the time when you are allowed to speak and show a distinct emotion or feelings. Wait, for the time that will become your own and somehow the words will fall out of your own mouth as astounding recreation of solitude. What am I searching for? Or whom, how will I know? The search engine blinks for the question I cannot seem to ask. Will I end up just like the others have, misguided in a wave of love… I do not know how the approach is too happen or if true love exists, but I taste it on my breath as if I had eaten it for breakfast. I can follow the rhymes and times of the rhythm which made friends once become lovers, but I do not understand how or when the idea came about.

Was it the touch that made them cave, or the notes upon the page? Either way, they had fallen down beneath the clouds, to become a part of the falling sky feeling in us all. One too many times our lives have come about into one another’s, and I cannot seem to let go of it, the idea of us. The feeling between our fingertips and the way we moved in the darkness, like we owned the light switch of happiness. Words, were carelessly placed among others ready for a dive in that was not theirs to swim about through, To Whom It May Concern we will all die very soon.

Characters in a play do not realize who they are. Have they lost all sense of stability walking through their walls, I wonder as I watch, performing in such a way, do they see the light around them I have held so brutally to my own. Among others things I grant a farewell, to those who not have lost, but those who have yet won.

Don’t push too many things or you may fall over yourself. The tide of change comes near, and you all run away in a chaotic fear. I cannot see, but maybe I don’t want too. As a blind fool once said, “I can be anything I want to be, no matter who says.”

Remarkable timing, remarkable lines upon lines of diseased places, places you have never been but write so carelessly about as if you brought up to be so cruel in their warm society of people.

S.M. Bjarnson 

March Round up! :)

Here is a play by play for weekly days & topics!

Monday: Motivate

In retrospect, I will be writing a article or two about getting the writers or readers inspired.

Tuesday: A Tale or two

Today is a day for storytelling. Either from you or one of my close acquaintances

Wednesday: Wisdom of the World

Wednesday is the day for writing wisdom & marketing enlightenment.

Thursday: Free Day

Give ME a Break. :) 

Friday: For Everybody

Promote your dope! I feature a music video of an artist I admire, a poem or a short story from fellow colleagues.  

Saturday: Sneak Peeks

Sneak Peeks of my new upcoming novels. The cover reveal or insert I allow to flow through my writer's hands. 

Sunday: Let's Have Fun Today! 

A recipe or crafts I love to share! 

I <3 pinterest!

 Follow http://www.pinterest.com/crazii09bjarns/

If you would like to post with me on the days I post new things about other creative artists in the world. 

Thank you to all who view and enjoy the articles I post, I am very excited to contribute to your livelihoods!

Email me and we will have loads of fun collaborating! :) Hooray!