HouseNJ

Kids' craft turned WOW.

Even kids like to make things that work or at least get put to everyday use. This simple to make pendant is sure to bring you tons of compliments. I felt bad telling people that I only spent about 2hr of my time and less than $10, when I was told that it looks design store worthy. Here are a step by step instructions: 

You'll need:

1. round balloon - for better results use punch balloons or a beach ball (I used the latter, but see a note below)

2. ball of cotton crochet thread - you will need about 200 yards for a 20" ball. They come in variety of colors and sizes, I think I used size 10, but feel free to pick the one you like the look of. I've got mine from the Walmart for about $3.  

3. Stiffy or any other fabric stiffener. Sold at the craft and fabric stores. I think PVA glue will work fine, too. You'll need about 6oz of Stiffy for a 20" ball.

4. foam brush

5. pendant light hardware *optional

Step 1. Winding

Make a balloon, knot it. Take a thread and tie it to the neck of the balloon. Turn on some nice music. Wind the thread around the balloon. It is very relaxing once you get a hang of it. The coverage should be lacy and more or less even. Stop when you like the way it looks.

Cut the sting, tie it to the balloon, too.

Step 2.Mess making

Cover your work area. Pour Stiffy in a shallow cup. With a foam brush apply the glue to the thread, making sure to completely saturate it. Take your time. 

Step 3.Drying

Hang the ball. Allow to dry for at least 12hr. You'll know when it's ready. And here's why you should NOT use a regular balloon - they tend to deflate! If that happens - you'll end up with a deformed ball or a completely ruined project. Both beach balls and punch balls perform equally well -give you a pretty round ball and hold the air well. BUT the punch ball is easier to work with on the next step.

Step 4.Freeing

IF you used a punch balloon - poke it with a needle, making it burst. Pull the balloon out. You're done!

IF you used a beach ball it is trickier. First, with a Q-tip pock around separating the surface of the balloon and the sphere. IF THERE'S a part of the sphere still stuck to the beach ball, deflating of the ball will make it DEFORM! Then, you will need to cut the tip off, because there's no way to deflate the balloon w/o squeezing the air out of it, and you can't squeeze it.

Step 5.*optional - Lighting up

Cut the hole around the balloon's tail. Proceed with the instructions that came with your pendant light kit. If you just have a cord with a socket:

-screw the light bulb in the socket (use low wattage light, I have 40W incandescent bulb).

-insert it through the hole in the sphere.

-take a plastic lid (e.i. from a take-out container) and make a small hole in the center of it (enough to fit around the cord), and another cut on the radius. 

-tie a knot on the cord so the lightbulb is positioned at the center of the sphere.

-insert the lid INTO the sphere, put it on the cord ABOVE the knot.

Step 6.Admiring

Hang your new pendant. Walk back and admire. Invite some friends over or take pictures and send to your friends. Enjoy the compliments! Go ahead and make another one, you know you want to... I do!