Coloring Faux Capiz Shells

So I just was not satisfied with my finished chandelier.... it lacked something I love very much - COLOR! So I pondered all day how I could incorporate color into these wax paper shells, and came up with a few ideas... 

First thought was melting crayons. Decided to myself that sounded ... dangerous. So my mind wandered to paints.... I have done many DIY crafts using something I have a large abundance of.... acrylic paints!

So I went to it! First I laid out a piece of parchment paper (since I didn't use it for doing the first shell project...) Taped it down and cut three pieces of wax paper. Lay the first one down on the parchment and prepare to paint.

I used an assorted size of sponge brushes to paint the wax paper.

Now, acrylic paints come in all different consistencies, and based on past experience, to get the paint to dry and look opaque but still have the color, you simply add a small amount of water. When I say SMALL, I'm not kidding. 5-10 drops will do the trick. Just enough to make the paint slightly more "runny" and easier to spread on without it drying thick and not giving you the opaque look you're going for. PLUS if you use too much water, the wax paper doesn't iron right together and they peel apart... like this -

Soo... after you've painted the first piece of wax paper, lay your second one on top and iron. Then repeat. (Paint top of wax paper, lay down third piece and iron.)

Once your wax paper sandwich is all ironed out, cut your circles. I prefer the 2 1/2" for the chandeliers. You'll notice that one side doesn't have as much "pop" as the other. Figure out which side looks better and make sure that's the side you put facing out.

Pretty simple, right? And the best part?! You can be as creative with the colors as you want. For the black ones, I simply used black paint. The pinkish ones are a mix of bright pink and red paints to create almost a peachy-pink colored shell. 

I ended up with these beautiful faux shells! Can't wait to make my next chandelier using color!!

Enjoy, And Until Next Time!
MrsKraftyKay : )

Faux Capiz Shell Chandelier

I have always admired the Capiz Shell art work, and during our trip to Las Vegas we ventured into the Cosmopolitan and I fell in love! So many large, glamorous chandeliers made of all different materials. I told myself then and there I would figure out how to make them, and after experimenting and a few web searches I began attempting my first faux chandelier!

Here's what I came up with....

Here are the items I used to create this chandelier! It is definitely a rough draft, and I plan to perfect it in the next few I make, but not bad for the starter!

1 roll wax paper - around $2.50 at Walmart for name brand
1 roll parchment paper - I started by using this as the "buns" for the "sandwich method" but it just caused me more issues than I already had going on and just simply ironed the wax paper right on the counter.

1 10" metal "coco" basket - Came with the pete moss in it but was easily removed. Cost about $2 at Walmart.
15 yards iridescent white ribbon - I started off using wayyy too much ribbon, which is why I went through so much.
1 iron
1 hot glue gun and glue sticks


Ok, you've gathered all your supplies, so let's get started! Start with ironing the wax paper. You can use as many or as little sheets of wax paper you like. I found I like 3 pieces. You can use the parchment paper if you want to use the "bun method." With the "bun method," you take one large piece of parchment paper, lay the wax paper in the middle, then put another piece of parchment paper on top, then iron. I started this way but it seemed like an unnecessary extra step. I don't have fancy counters so I wasn't worried about wrecking them, and really all that happened just ironing the wax paper without the parchment was it left a slight waxy film on the counter, which is easily wiped up with soap and water. No damage done.

Next, you cut the faux capiz shells out of the ironed wax paper. I started by using a reem of beading wire since I don't yet own a circle cutter. I traced the circles on the sheet of wax paper, but due to not being able to cut a clean circle, I decided to use the Cricut I have.

I was hesitant at first, but the Cricut worked wonders! I cut all the circles out and hung the basket and started the next step, gluing at attaching the faux shells to the basket.

Start from the bottom! This is the easiest. That way you don't have to try to get under the top ones to hang the next ones. Take a small piece of ribbon and tie it on the metal. Then put a dot of hot glue onto a faux shell and glue to the inside piece of ribbon. Let the other end hang in front of the "shell." Leaving the extra ribbon hang in the front allows it to cover up the part where you glued in the back.

Continue making your way up and around the basket. For the very bottom row, I used ribbons of four shells. For all the rest I used three. The very top alternates between ribbons of three and a ribbon with one single circle just to fill in the holes. The size of the basket and the fullness you desire will determine how many circles you need. I guess I used about 100 circles, give or take.

Done! Now time to hang it up. I decided this baby was going over the cheap light "fixture" we have in the entry way of our townhome. I detached the hanging chains, leaving the very bottom clip.

Then I marked X's around the existing light fixture as to where I was going to place the hooks. Due to this being so lightweight, I used small hooks and just screwed them into the ceiling. Once the hooks were up, Just attached the clips to the hooks and there it is!

 
Enjoy! And Until Next Time!
MrsKraftyKay : )

Welcome To My Blog....

I have contemplated blogging in the past, but it always seemed weird to me. I always thought, "who would want to read something I randomly wrote?" BUT, I have since changed my ways! I have decided to start blogging about what really intrigues me - being a crafty DIY diva! I am currently in the works of all sorts of exciting things - opening an Etsy shop with my mother, working a full time job, being a newlywed, creating, and now blogging!

I have always been creative, but last year a client of mine got me into beading, which opened a flood gate of new and exciting things for me. I did take a small time-out from "fun" crafting to single-handedly plan and create nearly everything for my recent wedding. Now that's done though, I find myself with lots of spare time and pent up creativity!

I hope this blog can chronicle my DIY projects and be a great source for those of you looking for new ideas!  Hopefully this can expand into another wonderful project going on in my life right now!

Until next time!
MrsKraftyKay : )