By Jaymi Heimbuch
San Francisco, CA, USA | Thu Jan 08 13:00:00 GMT 2009
One of the primary tenants of being green is using what you already have to refresh and update your decorations. If you're getting tired of your home accessories, skip the trip to the store and instead get creative with what's in your junk drawers and craft bins.
Here is an idea for one such update. Using some wire that's been tucked away in a drawer, some beads from a past craft project, and a little imagination, we've given old vases a whimsical new look.
Materials:
Vases, glasses, or other containers that have lost their luster
Craft wire of most any gauge—18 gauge is used in this project
various beads
wire pliers
Cut a length of wire. The length will vary depending on the size of your vase and how you want to shape your wire. About 12-18 inches is usual.
Wrap the wire around the vase neck so about 2/3 is above the vase and 1/3 is below. Twist wire so it stays in place.
Slide a bead, or two or three, on the short wire, and wrap it with the wire pliers into a coil (or any other shape you'd like). Entwine the beads in the coil in various spaces as you roll the coil.
Using your fingers, spiral the long wire around the top of the vase like an orbit. You can keep it close to the neck, or make it high above the rim of the vase. Start wide and get narrower. At the end of the upward spiral, put a bead on the wire and wrap it in the wire so it stays at the end. Coil this somewhat tightly, as this will hold the stem of the flower.
Try placing a flower in the vase and shape the wire until it holds the stem correctly.
Set your vase somewhere where your gorgeous work can be enjoyed!
Votes
|
Ed Begley, Jr., Talks Sidewalk Paving, Eco Trendsetting, and More |
{ } |
|
Just Say No to Polite Small Talk This Thanksgiving: How to Handle 7 Hairy Topics and Keep the Peace |
{ } |
|
The Pomegranate: Sexy, Messy, Sweet and Super Fun to Eat! |
{ } |
|
V is for Vegan: Natalie Portman Has Joined the Fight, How About You? |
{ } |
|
Do You Live in One of America's Most Toxic Cities? |
{ } |
|
Emeril's Recipes |
{1135} |
|
Instrumental -- Music News, Media and More |
{84} |
|
100 Places to Remember Before They Disappear |
{75} |
|
About Planet Green |
{832} |
|
How to Go Green: Home Electronics |
{511} |
|
Ask Emeril Your Green Cooking Questions |
{477} |
|
How To Go Green: Lighting |
{214} |
|
Should You Get a Flu Shot? |
{19} |
|
Renovation Nation FAQ |
{142} |
|
More Fun with Urban Foraging: Crabapples! |
{19} |
| CREDITS | DCL | |
| DISCOVERY SITES | Discovery Channel | TLC | Animal Planet | Discovery Health | Science Channel | Planet Green | Discovery Kids | Military Channel | Investigation Discovery | Discovery Home | HD Theater | Turbo | FitTV | HowStuffWorks | TreeHugger | Petfinder | PetVideo | Discovery Education |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | Viewer Relations | Free Newsletters | RSS | TV FAQs |
| CORPORATE | Discovery Communications, Inc. | Advertising | Careers @ Discovery | Privacy Policy | Visitor Agreement |
