This shabby-chic chandelier was made using recycled baby food containers and odds and ends from the kitchen and workshop.
Materials list
Metal cooling rack with square grid
Twine
Thin-gauge wire
Scissors
Wire cutters
Assorted small glass jars (we used baby food containers)
Clean sand (available from hardware shops)
Tea lights
How to create handles for jars
Start by adding a wire handle to each jar. Loop thin-gauge wire around the rim’s base twice. Use wire cutters to snip the wire, leaving about 2.5 cm (1 inch) at each end. Twist the ends tightly to secure in place, pressing excess wire against the jar rim.
Next, cut several 15–21 cm (6–8 inch) lengths of wire for the handles.
On each jar, place one end of a length under the wire wrapping the rim.
Twist a small portion of wire around the rest to secure in place. Insert the other end on the opposite side and wrap the remaining small portion around the newly formed handle. Repeat to add handles to each jar.
How to attach jars to cooling rack
Prepare your cooling rack by securely tying several different lengths of twine at random onto the grid. Then, cut four long, equal lengths of twine. Tie one at each corner of the cooling rack on the opposite side of the random lengths of twine.
Gather the four equal lengths above the centre of the rack, and make a knot to secure in place. Leave about 10 cm (4 inch) space between the knot and the rack.
Now, you can place a hook or other hanging device under the knot. To attach your miniature jar lanterns, tie each of the different lengths of twine to a wire handle.
Finish the chandelier
Fill each jar about a third full of clean sand, and press a tea light candle firmly into the sand base of each.
Hang your newly created chandelier from a sturdy structure such as an overhead beam, a window sash or a large branch securely placed in a pot. Light the candles using a long-handled lighter or match.
Hang your newly created chandelier from a sturdy structure such as an overhead beam