What is it exactly?:
It's a chandelier made from plastic party cups and a strand of old Christmas lights.
Usefulness factor:
This bright suspended fixture has a cupful of purpose and distinction. If the remnants of a rousing game of flip-cup are strewn around the house, why not pick them up and string in a few lights to shed a little light in a dimly lit den?
Get started:
- Clean any residue from cups. Using a twisting motion, drill holes with the knife into the bottom of all 50 cups.
- Arrange 20 cups on their sides with the bottoms facing in to form a circle and secure them together with tape or glue.
- Repeat step 2 with 18 cups and 12 cups.
- Stack the three rings of cups on top of each other in ascending order of size, so the smallest ring is on top. Secure with tape or glue.
- Starting with the end opposite the plug, begin placing a single light through the holes on the bottoms of the cups so the lightbulb is now on the inside of the cup. Continue until lights have been placed in all 50 cups.
- Thread twine or fishing line through the cups and make a loop to hang the ball with.
- Trace 50 circles on the construction paper small enough to fit inside each of the cups. Cut them and poke holes through the middle of the circles.
- Pop each lightbulb through the colored paper circles.
- Find a dimly lit spot to hang your new plastic chandelier and marvel at its newly crafted incandescence.
Total cost:
We can't put a price on this craft, oh wait, we can - it's free.
Challenge level:
On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the Martha Stewart challenge, this is a 4. It won't take more than 15 minutes of your time to assemble this craft project, but don't lose any sleep If it does take you longer.
4 stars out of 10
Our thoughts:
These plastic party remnants will light up any room. By no means elegant, it's a far cry from anything you would see suspended in a fancy hotel or ballroom, but it was cheap and that's what counts.
