Sunday, October 4, 2009

ENHANCING THE COMMON CEILING FAN--A TUTORIAL AND GIVEAWAY!!

I'm linking this tutorial with DIY DAY over at A Soft Place to Land and Today's Creative Blog's weekly edition of Get Your Craft On! Be sure not to miss the Giveaway at the bottom of this tutorial--it ends on October 31!

DIY Day @ ASPTL



If your home is filled with ceiling fans as is ours, and you are a crafty person, you might enjoy making a few FANDANGLES. They are a simple, quick, fun way to embellish the pull chain portion of your fans. Here are photos of 2 that I added to our utility room fan (note the energy efficient bulbs!):




SUPPLIES NEEDED:
An item to use as a focal piece--possibilities: old earrings, ornaments, charms


Various beads and/or crystals


Needle-nosed pliers and wire cutters


Beading wire, crimp beads, and ball chain


This great little device: ball chain coupling and ball chain connectors. I was able to find the chain, couplings, and connectors at my local Ace Hardware store.




STEP 1:
Choose your focal piece for your Fandangle.
For this demonstration, I decided I wanted to use the lovely emerald green charm from the bracelet pictured previously. Using the pliers, I separated the charm from the bracelet's chain:


STEP 2:
Using the wire cutters, cut off 8-10" of beading wire (more if you are making an extra long Fandangle).


STEP 3:
Slide 2 crimp beads, then your chosen focal piece onto the beading wire. Thread the wire back through the crimp beads, sliding the crimp beads down close to the focal piece. Using the pliers, press (crimp) and secure the crimp beads in position:




STEP 4:
Arrange your chosen beads and crystals, adding them to the wire:



Optional: After using these in various spots around the house, I did find that the coupling could actually cut through the beading wire if family members repeatedly gripped the beaded portion of the Fandangle, instead of the actual chain portion, for making fan adjustments. I found these little gadgets that seem to add extra strength and help to prolong the life of the Fandangle. If you choose to not incorporate them in your designs, be sure to emphasize to users/recipients to not pull on the beaded portion of the Fandangle.

Stringing Thimble:

I ordered mine from Artbeads.com

STEP 5:
As in Step 3, add 2 crimp beads and the coupling (with optional stringing thimble in place) to the beading wire, then pull the wire back through the crimp beads and a few of the first beads. Remove any slack from the wire, press (crimp) and secure the crimp beads in place then trim off any excess wire.



STEP 6:
Decide how long you will need the ball chain, cut it to length, attach one end to the coupling, and add a connector to the opposite end.



Your Fandangle is now complete--just add it to the pull chain of your ceiling fan!



This is how the blue rhinestone brooch FANDANGLE came together:



Add a fun tag and it is ready for gift giving!


Here are some others I fashioned from old necklaces, misc. beads, Christmas ornaments, and funky earrings:



NOW FOR A GIVEAWAY!
One lucky reader will receive their choice of either the (1) emerald green charm FANDANGLE; or (2) blue rhinestone brooch FANDANGLE.
To enter just add a comment to this post, letting me know which design you prefer.
To increase your chances of winning, visit my Crazy For Collars Etsy shop and let me know in a separate comment to this post which Christmas collar design is your favorite.
Be sure to include an email so that I may contact you if you are the lucky winner.
Entries will be accepted until October 31, 2009. The randomly selected winner will be announced on November 1. At that time I will contact the winner via email to obtain the mailing address.

I'm linking this post to Susan's weekly Metamorphosis Monday Event, so click on the image below to see lots of other wonderful "re-purposings" and "creations".



Hey--I'd love to see any FANDANGLES you create! Send pictures to my email address:
SuzNTX (at) gmail (dot) com

Bye for now...

46 comments:

Crazy Bird said...

My Suzanne, you HAVE been busy! My favourite is this one

DRAMATIC BLACK AND WHITE FLORAL WITH BOW DOG COLLAR SIZE LARGE

Unknown said...

Suzanne, You are so good at these tutorials! Great blog!!!

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Great ideas. Thanks for the tutorial. Don't have any ceiling fans, but the light in my laundry area needs some help.

bj said...

Hi, Suzanne..well, I live in West Texas so you KNOW I have fans in every room!! :)....and not very far from you. Maybe we can get together for an afternoon of lunch and shopping one day!! Fun!
I love your ideas...so pretty.
xo bj

nannykim/spindle cottage said...

So cool and I do have lots of ceiling fans!! I would love the green one!! It looks like a lot of work and I don't think I would like to try to find all of the things I would need!! YIKES...but ohhhhhhh so cool.

nannykim/spindle cottage said...

Oh--I like the alexander one or the Christmas tree and snowflake one---although the peppermint ones are cool too ;-)

cindy@cottage instincts said...

Clever! I'm liking the blue, but both are gorgeous :o)

bj said...

Oh, yes, my dearness...I DO live in Lubbock...not far from Texas Tech!! :O)

Dresser Girl said...

How cute!!

Sharlotte said...

Too cute! I have ceiling fans in just about every room that these would be great for... Thank you for sharing!

Embellished Bayou said...

How cute and creative, love these!

susan said...

These are beautiful! I'm a shorty and need that blue one to reach my fan :) Great instructions--but I'd rather win one :) Thanks for both!

susan said...

Peppermint collar is the cutest thing ever! Email is on my profile
Optimistically, Susan :)

Momma Goddess Treasures said...

Oh, I love this tutorial and the Black and White Fandangle is my favorite! Trudy aka Momma Goddess

Momma Goddess Treasures said...

Oh, yes, I'm wanting the Christmas Snowmen collar--love love love it!! Trudy aka Momma Goddess

Julie said...

Hi, Suzanne... they are all so cute...
xoxo
Julie

~ ~ Ahrisha ~ ~ said...

I love the blue one and I know just where I will be hanging it. Thanks~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

Sherri said...

Green would be awesome in my living room! I love the star one you designed too. How sweet to do a giveaway and a great tutorial too.

Grace Wong said...

I love the blue rhinestone one!

shou.milk@gmail.com

Grace Wong said...

woah, the white triple collarette is amazing!!!

shou.milk@gmail.com

Deborah said...

I love them all but i really like the black and white one since my bedroom is done in black. Thanks Deborah
harbin@bellsouth.net

Sue said...

Hi Suzanne, You are such the talented artist! I like the blue rhinestone pull the best. I need a new wire cutter, mine is pitiful. Hope all is well, haven't heard from you for a while.
:-) Sue

Spring said...

Love the blue one! I'd go great in my living room. Thanks for the tutorial!

Dina said...

love this idea!!

I would happy with either one!

thanks!!

Darcy said...

I love these. What a great idea for the fans in my house. I'd love the blue one if I win.

Lillian J. Banks said...

you are brilliant- how fun to have seasonal fandangles!! I LOVE The star please :) rkrk04@gmail.com

niartist said...

Oh Suzanne, this is great! Did I ever tell you that I grew up in San Angelo? And I had a very very very good friend from Abilene, her dad coaches the HS football team.

Wendy @ Ramblings from the Sunshine State said...

Those are really neat! Sid you know you were featured on U Create!

Amanda said...

The blue one would go perfectly in my daughter's bedroom.

michelle@somedaycrafts said...

So lovely! I will have to make one of those for our two ceiling fans!

Ginger said...

What a cute idea for home warming gift. Loved this idea can't wait to try it.
hugs

Becca M. said...

Came here from UCreate's blog. Love the blue one, very cute idea!

katemeri said...

Thanks so much for sharing your tutorial. I don't have any fans with a pull, but I have some friends who do and this would be a great Christmas gift for them.

<3 Kate in Costa Rica

Kristina said...

Could you perhaps do a tutorial on the matchbook notepads you have been send with your collars?

manda said...

Oooh! I just ove these! I think my favourite would have to be the emerald green one though, because green's my favourite colour!
Hugs! Manda.

Julie B said...

Both fandangles are beautiful, but I will say I like the blue one best.
Great tutorial, Suzanne, you are so good at writing them! I wouldn't have the patience, haha!

Julie B said...

The blue snowflake collars are fantastic!

rebekahweckerly@gmail.com said...

Oooooooo!! LOVE these!!! Just the right amount of glitz!!! I have a few fan that NEED these!!!

Tiffany said...

Those fandangles are so much fun! Great idea! Definitely spruces up boring ol' pulls!

Rogers Family said...

really love the stare one. would go great with the western theme in the living room.
and love your collars too.

deana in decatur texas

sassyshawna said...

I love this tutorial it is great. Thank you!!

sassyshawnajewelry

wall art said...

The heart of every ceiling fan is the motor. The motor is responsible for producing quiet operation while driving the blades for air movement.

Kevin Nguyen said...

I had been in search of new ceiling fans. Thanks for giving information.

Unknown said...

thanks

Sweetie said...

Thanks for the tutorial. This is just what I've been searching for. I like the star Fandangle.

Kuku said...

Excellent blog and very helpful information.