Reality Daydream

The Dream is Free, The Hustle Sold Separately

Upcycled Chandeliers with Twinkle Lights!

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With all that’s going on in the nursery with the bold roman shades, mini-fainting couches, and the herringbone patchwork stenciled wall, I knew the chandeliers would need to be white… and not too gaudy. As much DIY as we’ve done in this room, I was willing to shell out some dollars to just purchase something cute and get on with it. But I couldn’t find ANYTHING I liked!

Before and After {Sawdust and Embryos}

My mind is a confusing place, and part of the fun of blogging for me is explaining how I came up with ideas, or the progression of creativity (that usually involves a combo of Nick and I bouncing ideas back and forth).

I wanted the shandy’s to be:

  • White… but not plain.
  • Unique… but not overpowering.
  • Feminine… but not nauseating.

Then, one day while we were working in the garage… I saw this little wicker-bamboo-end-table-thing in a new way.

Bamboo End Table turned into gorgeous Chandelier Pendant lights! {Sawdust and Embryos}

I loved this end table (from a friend… HI OREN!), but it was in rough shape. And I eventually planned to stabilize it and potentially paint it… or something. BUT INSTEAD! …I ripped out all the caning and supports, sliced it in half with a reciprocating saw, and primed/painted them white.

bamboo end table chandy's

Bamboo Wicker Ent Table turned into Chandeliers! {Sawdust and Embryos}

I loved where this was going, but I also wanted them to feel a little bit softer and more feminine. And then I watched the movie Frozen. Color me inspired.

Disney-frozensource

This movie is so soft and sparkly. It was while watching this movie that I knew exactly how this was going to go down! Think twinkle lights and tulle!

But first I needed Nick to ‘rig’ me something to fit on the top of my ‘pendants’ that I could hang them from and wire lights to. Naturally, he used a tomato cage and a blowtorch.

bamboo end table chandy's2

bamboo end table chandy's1

Making a Brace for DIY Chandeliers {Sawdust and Embryos}

Creating a brace for DIY Chandeliers {Sawdust and Embryos}

Got that? Good!

Now I get to do my fun business with the tulle! We picked up a couple 8” rolls of NON-FLAMMABLE tulle in the Christmas clearance section of walmart (30 yards). I ended up using 1 1/2 rolls per chandelier.

P1253554 Make your own Frozen-Inspired Chandelier! {Sawdust and Embryos}

I wanted my tulle to be about 12” in length, and since they’ll be folded in half, I measured roughly 24”. I wanted some slight variation in length, so I actually ended up varying the lengths between 22”-26”.

P1253539

Cut tulle to varying lengths for DIY Frozen-inspired chandelier! {Sawdust and Embryos}

Then, using a cow hitch knot, I looped my tulle next to the metal, and wrapped the other two ends through, and pulled tight… like so!

Cow Hitch Knot

bamboo end table chandy's4

And I just continued this all the way around!

Make a TuTu Chandelier! {Sawdust and Embryos}

Make your own DIY Tutu Chandelier! {Sawdust and Embryos}

Now that alone is adorable isn’t it? Dell through a FIT because we wouldn’t let her wear it. Next step is to add the icicle lights (also Christmas clearance at walmart). Nick did some complicated wiring (tutorial here!) so that the 5’ strand of lights would be attached to the loooooong cord for the pendants (chain and all). And then we simply draped the icicle lights over the metal rungs and attached them with zip-ties.

P1283645

Then all that’s left is to hang them!  I wanted to show you guys how cute these are even without the bamboo pendant ‘shades, so you know you can make some too! Cute right?

DIY Tutu Chandelier Tutorial {Sawdust and Embryos}

We liked it so much, we almost scratched the whole plan and just skipped adding the bamboo end table ‘halves’, but before we could really make a decision, we had to see them on!

Twin girls' room reveal and chandelier tutorial {Sawdust and Embryos}

I’m smitten. Nay, OBSESSED.

Twins' big-girl room reveal... and chandelier tutorial {Sawdust and Embryos}Photo credit for this one goes to MOLLY LONG!

I was so excited for it to get dark so I could see the soft glow of the new chandy’s. I wasn’t disappointed.

DIY chandelier using a bamboo end table, a tomato cage, tulle, and twinkle lights! {Sawdust & Embryos}

UPDATE! A reader commented and reminded me that I should mention we did some controlled fire-hazard checks and allowed the lights to stay on for many hours with our supervision, after which there was very little heat. We feel confident that it’s very safe for our littles, and wouldn’t put them in their bedroom if we weren’t sure!

This room turned out better than I ever dreamed. I have to say we’re pretty proud that we DIYed almost everything ourselves, and saved a ton of money.Room Reveal {Sawdust and Embryos}

We still have bedding to worry about, as well as the entire other side of the room… but we have ideas. OH do we ever have ideas!

Staaaaaay tuned!Sawdust & Embryos

 

Here are the other DIY posts from this room transformation!

Stenciled Herringbone Accent Wall {Sawdust and Embryos} DIY Tufted Fainting Couch Toddler Bed TUTORIAL (Sawdust and Embryos)
DIY Vintage-esque Starburst Mirror Tutorial (Sawdust & Embryos) DIY Roman Shades {Sawdust and Embryos}

Related:

Comments

  3. 33

    So pretty! I would never get away with them in our house–I can just imagine all our boys groaning at the ‘princess lights’

    Reply
  5. 35

    Wow wow wow! that room is every little girl’s dream! I am so enjoying the progress in this room. Great work! I love it all so much I cannot pick a favorite. But those girls are very lucky!

    Reply
  12. 43

    i dont know what’s better- the awesome-ness of these pretty lights OR the crazy way you gave birth to the idea!!! lol i LOVE that!!!! some old crap in the garage covered in spider webs, i want tulle, and lets watch a disney movie- BOOM i just made an awesome thing!! haha i like to think my creative process is like that, just a LOT slower!!

    Reply
  16. 48

    Love it! Laughing about the Del-wanting-to-wear-it fit. That is a way to make the skirts like that–just with an elastic circle instead of a wire. Maybe if you have left over tulle?

    Reply
  17. 52

    Very cute! Where do those ideas come from? I wish that I had an area of my brain that I could pull something like that from. Two very lucky little girls to have such creative parents to produce such an amazing room. Can’t wait for the total finished product!

    Reply
  18. 53

    Beth! You are sooo freaking amazing. I love the whole room from the beds to the wall to the dresser, wall deco and shades and now the lights. I love it!!! I need you to first look in my garage and see what you can find to turn into something totally amazing and then come into my house and transform it. I just can’t get over how creative and crafty you are. Thanks for inspiring and challenging me. I love the lights , they are just the right touch on a truly amazing room.

    Reply
  20. 55

    They turned out great. Are you at all concerned about the Christmas lights getting too hot especially near the tulle? You might want to use led lights. Safety first.

    Reply
    • 56

      This is a good point! And I just updated the post because I forgot to mention that we did a controlled fire-hazard test by leaving the lights on (supervised) for many hours, and found that there was very little heat radiating off them. We’re so glad they’re safe! And wouldn’t put them in a room with our precious girls if we weren’t confident. Thanks for your concern! Safety is definitely always first!

      Reply
      • 57

        I thought I was totally crasy thinking about that (if tulle is flammable or not) while I read the post! I’m glad it’s not just me.
        Anyway, congratulations on all of the amazing prjects in this room! I love them all!

        Reply
    • 58

      I’ve used these types of lights with many many paper installations, and my defense is that if you can wrap a dry tree in these safely for a month, it should be OK. Haha. No really though, I had considered that too, but even after hours and hours of use, you can touch Christmas lights with your hand and they are barely hot.

      LED’s are a great consideration for all the people about to make these!

      And oh, by the way, these are adorable!!! I love that you soldered up the frame, that is totally motivating. I’m a light addict, and figuring out that metal frame part is often what holds back a few ideas, so this tutorial is a mega help!

      Thanks guys 😀

      Reply

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Attention: Almost any do-it-yourself project involves risk of some sort. Your tools, materials, and skills will vary, as will the conditions at your project site. Reality Daydream has made every effort to be complete and accurate in the instructions of the plans on this website. Reality Daydream will not assume any responsibility or liability for damages or losses sustained or incurred in the course of your project or in the use of the item you create. Always follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions in the use of tools, check and follow your local building codes, and observe all commonly accepted safety precautions.