My dear friend and fellow crafter gave me a non-functioning chandelier that had been spray painted fire-engine red. She told me she could see me transforming it into something great. Though I had no clue what I was going to do with it, I knew it was a special gift and worthy of my attention. I was going to have to think outside of the box with this one and come up with something amazing.
And so in my craft room it sat for a few years. Then one day I pulled it out, examined it and thought I'd turn it into a candle holder and use those flame-less candles. But then I was like, "ok, where will I put this big hanging candle holder? Perhaps it could be a gift?" I loved the style and felt since it was gifted to me in the first place, it was important to keep it. So back in the room it went until, finally, one day while doing some creative brainstorming, it hit me.
A Bird Feeder!
Yes! What a brilliant idea!
My husbunny even agreed as well as my dear friend who had given it to me in the first place.
My make shift book clamps.
* First, I cut out all the light sockets, pulled out any pins and stripped it of all its wiring.
* Then I spray painted it using Rust-Oleum paint-and-primer-in-one in the Hammered Silver color. This stuff is awesome!!
* Next I glued thick glass tea light holders inside the cups which once held the light sockets and used books to weigh them down until the glue set.
* I enlisted my husbunny to screw an eye bolt into our tree with a swivel attachment for the chain.
* And finally, I filled the cups with birdseed and quietly watched from inside. Hoping the birds would spot it and feast.
Hooray! They had found it and seemed to really enjoy it, however so did our neighbourhood squirrels. And it appeared those little fur balls would go to great lengths to get that birdseed. We witnessed them army crawling down the chain, carefully balancing on the glass holders as they snacked and then springing off the chandelier back onto the tree like trapeze artists. Honestly I didn't mind; I was happy it was appreciated. Unfortunately the weight of the squirrels and their constant springing on and off took a toll on the holders and they became unglued. I would return home daily to the glass holders lying on the ground and the feeder completely empty. Therefore I have since taken the glass holders out. I continue to toss birdseed just into the pre-existing cups. It seems to work just the same so I may leave them out permanently. I recently purchased a silly squirrel feeder, we have yet to hang up. Photos of that craziness coming soon.
I am very pleased with how this project turned out. Plus it cost less than $20.00 for paint and hardware. I almost want to load up on old chandeliers and mass produce this craft as it was not labor intensive or too expensive and the results were, well, Ta Da!
Our bird feeder chandelier creates such a unique yet elegant curb appeal. I love it!
Content by: Agent J
