lo-fi holiDIY: snowflake chandelier
Dec 20, 2010 
Cutting out snowflakes is about as lo-fi as you get this time of year. Add paper doilies and fabric ones (if you crochet or have any on hand) cascading down from a ribbon-wrapped embroidery hoop, and you have a striking chandelier that you can use to festive-up a corner or hang over a table for your holiday meals.
I made this in crisp whites and turquoise, and added glitter to some of the homemade snowflakes. But use any palette that feels winter-y to you.
And this is a sort of choose-your-own-adventure project, because you can use all homemade snowflakes, all fabric doilies, all paper doilies, or a combination of all of the above.
You’ll Need:
- Embroidery hoop (mine is 9”)
- Full spool of satin ribbon
- Glue
- Foam brush
- Clothespins
- String, monofilament fishing line, or embroidery thread
- Plain paper with scissors to make snowflakes
- Paper doilies
- Fabric doilies with fabric stiffener (optional)
- Glitter (optional)
- Hole punch
- Furniture tacks (optional)
- Thumbtack or hook for hanging
How To:
1. Loosen the inner ring of the embroidery hoop by turning the small screw. Add a small bead of glue to the end of the ribbon and insert between the inner and outer hoop. Retighten the screw.
2. Wrap the ribbon around the entire hoop, overlapping each edge. When you get to the end, cut the ribbon to it ends on the inside of the hoop. Add a small bead of glue to the end and secure in place with a clothespin while it dries.
3. If you’re using fabric doilies and want to stiffen them first, apply a generous coat of fabric stiffener to both sides with a foam brush. Let dry.
4. If you’re making paper snowflakes, cut as many as you want to hang. Also cut a hole at the top and bottom of the snowflake to hang.
5. If you’re using paper doilies, you may want to cut out the solid inner part of the doily on some, for variety. This creates a nice lacy ring, and you can then use the small circle elsewhere to add some size variety.
6. If you want to add glitter, apply a coat of glue to snowflakes or paper doilies and shake glitter on top. I like to shake the glitter with a spoon and hold it over a teacup to collect the extra glitter.
7. When you’ve created or gathered all your hanging snowflakes, cut lengths of string, embroidery floss or monofilament to create each string. Add 2-3 “snowflakes” to each string and tie to the hoop, threading the string through the bottom and top of each “snowflake”.
8. Tie each string to the top of the hoop.
9. To hang the chandelier, cut 4 length of the same ribbon you used to wrap the hoop, at least 2’ long. Divide the hoop into four even quadrants and tie a length of ribbon in the center of each. Or if you want a more finished look, wrap the ribbon 1 -2 times around the hoop and secure in place with a furniture nail.
10. Pull ribbon above to hang and secure with a thumbtack or ceiling hook and wait to see the lovely drifts of shadows.
Again, I want to offer big, merry, crafty thanks to Michaels for the support (and most of the supplies) for these lo-fi DIY projects.
chandelier, holiday diy, snowflakes in make
Reader Comments (8)
L-O-V-E that you made productive and beautiful use of doilies!! this is gorgeous and whimsical and perfectly you. thanks for sharing. hope to make one of these this week!
xx
What a beautiful idea - a white Christmas, inside!
Gorgeous! With an 8 month old, I immediately thought of what a graceful mobile this would make!
I LOVE the mix of homemade snowflakes and doilies -- and the lovely blue and white!
Oh how pretty. I love this! Thanks so much, I'll be linking in tomorrow's afternoon's Daily DIY.
I LOVE this - equal parts classy/hip and childhood nostalgia!
I am going to make this today -Thanks for sharing the tutorial
love this project! making one with granddaughter, but using poster board to make ring instead of wooden hoop. having a great time with this! thanks!