Friday, February 11, 2011

String Chandeliers: DIY

What you will need:
  • Big balloon
  • Sharpie
  • Scissors
  • Cotton yarn
  • 4 oz. White school glue
  • 1/2 cup of Corn starch
  • 1/4 cup of Warm water
  • Something to stir with
  • Petroleum jelly
  • Clear fast drying spray paint
  • Hanging lamp cord or fishing line (depending on your desired final product)
  • Container for mixing
Directions:
  1. Blow up a balloon. We kind of suggest not blowing it up to its maximum capacity so that it is rounder.
  2. After the balloon is inflated to it's desired size draw a circle with the sharpie around the balloon knot just large enough to accommodate whatever lighting method you choose. Note: If you are just wanting to hang the balls or use them in a vase then you don't need to leave a hole at all!
  3. You will need to prepare your work area by laying down a tarp. We hung a shower curtain between two chairs and suspended the balloons by it with string so we could have plenty of working room.
  4. Mix corn starch, glue and warm water together until it's not lumpy (too bad getting rid of cellulite isn't this easy). 
  5. Smear the petroleum jelly all over your balloon until it is completely coated. Note: We specifically left using rubber gloves out of these instructions. 
  6. Begin feeding the yarn through the glue mix and handing it off to the other person to drape around the ball.
  7. Tuck the start and end pieces of yarn beneath other pieces of yarn. Begin wrapping the yarn around the balloon vertically at a comfortable tightness, and gradually switch to wrapping horizontally.
  8. After your ball has dried for 24 hours, you can pop the balloon! Use a chopstick to knock out any glue crystals that developed between strings.
  9. Spray the ball with clear fast drying spray paint outdoors.
  10. Now let there be light, fishing wire from the ceiling, or something pretty to put in a vase! 

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