Flying Bat Chandelier
Posted by DecoArt on Sep 22nd 2019
Highlight Halloween décor with a chandelier of sparkling bats, finished with DuraClear® Galaxy Varnish.
SUPPLIES
- water container
- palette or plastic plate
- paper towels
- hole punch
- black cardstock
- wooden embroidery hoops
- string
- broomstick
- jewelry wire
- paintbrushes
- Cricut machine
- frog tape
- all-purpose glue
INSTRUCTIONS
- Using the pattern provided, prepare the Cricut machine with several templates using the same design. Cut the bats in various sizes, fitting several onto one sheet of medium black cardstock to save space and time.
- Paint the fronts and the backs of the bats in DuraClear Galaxy Varnish.
- Paint the embroidery hoops, in order from large to small: Mulberry, Copper, Wild Orchid, Copper, and Mulberry.
- Tie three pieces of string to three equidistant spots on the largest embroidery hoop. Tie these three pieces of string together around the end of a large broomstick or other large stick for hanging while you are assembling. Use tape to hold the following embroidery hoop up while you are stringing them together with the wire.
- Space each embroidery hoop about 3" below each other. Starting at the top, cut an extra long piece of wire, leave a generous amount on top for the final hanging. (It will replace the string you previously used.) Wrap it around the hoop; stretch it down to the next hoop; wrap it around that one; and then cut it, leaving the remaining wire on the interior of the hoop and not sticking out.
- Continue this for all hoops until a balance is achieved.
- Once the wire is in place and everything is stable, glue the wire in place on the inside of each hoop.
- Punch a hole in the top and the bottom of each bat. String them together using wire, leaving a bit of wire at the top for hanging onto the hoop. String three bats per grouping.
- Depending on how many bats you originally cut, divide them up among the hoops and hang them in descending size order. (For this particular chandelier, there are six sets of bats on each hoop.) As you're hanging them in the round, window the placement of each bat set between the ones previously laid....meaning hang them in the space between the ones you previously put.
- Use those previously left extended wire to create your hanging frame. Wrap them around the string you previously tied, tie them around each other and around the broom stick to make a loop for hanging.
- Cut the string, hang your piece and enjoy!!
