Miniature Chandelier Directions

A chandelier is a complex object to miniaturize.

One of the joys of creating a large dollhouse is being able to dress it with lavish decorations. One of the best ways to adorn a miniature entryway or dining hall in luxury is with a miniature chandelier. Such a specialty piece is often expensive and difficult to find, especially if you want one that lights. Instead, create your own with simple beading techniques.

Things You'll Need

• Miniature battery-operated dome ceiling light fixture
• White or silver tag board or card stock
• Six to ten jump rings
• Tacky craft glue
• Darning needle
• Needle-nosed pliers
• Small, faceted crystal beads
• Silver craft wire
• Round-nosed pliers

Instructions

1. Cut a half inch thick strip of tag board. Make it just long enough to wrap around the base of the battery-operated light (you might need to experiment and trim).

2. Coat the base of the light in tacky craft glue. Wrap the tag board strip and hold it in place until the glue sets enough to keep it there.

3. Punch holes in the edge of the tag board strip using the darning needle. Make six or eight holes (depending on the size of the light and what you think looks good) and space them out evenly.

4. Loop a jump ring through each hole in the tag board using the needle-nosed pliers.

5. Thread a short length of wire through each of the crystal beads. Use the round-nosed pliers to twist a loop into the ends of each wire at the points where they exit the bead on either side (this technique is known as a "rosary loop").

6. Link together the loops of the wired beads to create a strand of linked beads. Make one chain of beads for each hole in the tag board on the top of the light. The length is up to you, but make them all the same length.

7. Attach a length of linked beads to each of the jump rings on the the tag board.

8. Add one extra bead to the bottom of every other strand; this will give the chandelier a delicate zigzag edge on the bottom of the fringe.

9. Affix the dome light fixture to the ceiling of your dollhouse according to the light manufacturer's instructions.

Tips & Warnings

• Play with this basic design using more complex patterns of beads of a different variety, but stick to clear, white crystals.

References

• "The Doll House Decorator: The Complete Guide to Do-It-Yourself Furnishings for Dolls and Dollhouses;" Philip Dowell and Adrian Bailey; 1993