Step 1: Find a large birdcage.
Step 2: Use a grinder to remove the bottom portion of the birdcage.
Step 3: Find a small enough chandelier to fit inside the birdcage. We bought our chandelier at the local Habitat for Humanity Restore for around $25.00.
Step 4: Disassemble the chandelier, but make sure you save all the electrical wires and parts to reuse and put it inside the birdcage. Drill a hole in the top of the birdcage for the electrical wires to fit through.
Step 5: Make the rope. The next step was a little challenging. So, we bought 3/4 inch rope and cut them into four equal lengths. Then we wrapped the rope around the existing chandelier chain to make it look like a large rope. We used spray paint lids to create a metal cup to finish off the rope.
We also wrapped smaller twine around the top and base of the rope.
Step 6: Add teardrop jewels. We drilled small holes in the chandelier to add jewels. You can buy chandelier jewels in the lighting section at your local hardware stores. We simply drilled small holes and stuck the jewel wire through the holes to attach them.
Step 7: {take off the jewels temporarily} then Paint your chandelier. Make sure you tape off your rope before you start painting. We used Metallic Oil Rubbed Bronze paint and primer in one for this project.To make painting easier, we hung the chandelier in our garage.
I was super careful to paint every angle inside and out of the birdcage. I also painted the spray paint lids on the top and bottom of the rope.
Step 8: Hang the chandelier. Make sure you have someone that is experienced in electrical wiring.
The birdcage chandelier is the first thing that you see when you walk in my door, and EVERYONE loves it! I particularly love the design from the chandelier’s shadow.
Instead of buying it {$2300.00}, it only cost right around $60 to recreate the whole thing. Now that’s what I call THRIFTY!!!
via allthingsthrifty
