How to Make a Chicken Wire Garden Lantern

It is amazing what you can do with chicken wire! This garden lantern is not too difficult to make and strangely enough, very pretty with a candle in it.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• gloves
• small guage chicken wire
• wire cutters
• ruler or tape measure
• 1/25" thick aluminum wire
• 1/19" thick galvanized wire
• round nosed pliers
• regular pliers
• bottle with cone shaped lid
• jam jar
• large beads
• bath plug chain
• metal ring
• flat head jewelry pins
• cnadle

1. Cut one piece of chicken wire 7" x 24" and one piece 8 1/2" x 21 1/2". Form two cylinders and join the short edges together with aluminum wire.

2. Cut one length of galvanized wire 26" and one 24". Bend to form two hoops with the same diameter. Bind the ends with aluminum wire.

3. Use aluminum wire to bind a hoop on to the edge of each cylinder. Carefully bend each of the holes in the chicken wire into heart shapes by holding the center of each strut in turn with the round nosed pliers and twisting up each side. Using the pliers and your hands, mold the cylinder into a bell shape.

4. Make the lid by bending each of the holes in the second cylinder into heart shapes and then mold the wire to form a curved lid shape. You will need to squish the holes at the top together some.

5. Crimp the chicken wire in the center of each section with the hollow section of the pliers to give you a central core.

6. Wrap aluminum wire around the tapered top of a paint or glue bottle making sure the bottom of the cone will fit over the central core on the lid.

7. Secure a length of wire inside the center of the lid and push it through the core. Thread the coiled cone on to the wire and slip over the central cone. Leave the length of wire hanging loose from the center. Wrap another length of wire around the core to make a smaller coil.

8. Cut four 4" secions of galvanized wire. Bend each piece into a loop with a hook at each end. Position evenly around the rim of the latern and close up the hooks with the pliers. Cut two lengths of galvanized wire and twist together around the neck of a jam jar so that the ends stick out on each side. Attach the wires to the lantern rim on each side of two opposite loops. This will hold the jam jar in place.

9. Thread a large metallic bead on the loose wire in the lid. Bind the bath plug chain on to the wire and trim excess. Attach the metal ring to the other end for hanging.

10. Thread beads on to flat head jewelery pins and hang evenly around the rim. Add a large bead to the lantern core.

11. Place the candle in the jam jar and put the lid on the lantern. Line up the four loops on the lantern rim though the chicken wire of the lid and press them down firmly to hold the bottom in place. Reinforce with extra pieces of wire if you like.

Tips & Warnings

• Always use your gloves while working on this project. The wire will easily cut you.

[juliesam3]

on 3/23/2008 I have to try this sometime. I am always looking for new hobbies.

[lisajo1127]

on 3/22/2008 Thanks for the comment! I will look for that book...I would love some ideas for other things that i can make using wirework...it is very theraputic!

[Woodpoof]

on 3/21/2008 I have to say that this seems to match exactly the design from a book i have about wirework by Mary Maguire. You must have enjoyed reading too!