Propped_Up
11-10-2009, 10:36 PM
...or "Candy Chain"??? LOL
Another recycled halloween idea...
For the big H, I decided not to spend the bucks on buying plastic chain, but instead make my own. this is EASY (those of you from the halloweenforum will have already seen this tut, but this one has a slight change).
Get yourself a piece of 3/4" or 1" pvc pipe. (the gray electrical pvc is the cheapest: less than $4.00 Canadian for a 10' length at Home Depot)
http://i35.tinypic.com/2pzk7ef.jpg
For the purposes of this tutorial, I used some leftover scrap, and I only cut a total of 15 rings. Since I can't go firing up the miter saw at 3am, I used a hacksaw...it took me less 5 mins. to cut the 15 rings. To give you an idea of how many rings you'll get, I used 2 pieces of the longer length shown in the pic below. The smaller piece is the length of the leftover from both (too small to keep cutting).
http://i36.tinypic.com/rigm8k.jpg
Get out your hacksaw, or better yet, your miter saw.
Cut the pipe into approx. 1/8" or 3/16" slices (no need to be exact, just guesstimate).
http://i37.tinypic.com/2gt6d8m.jpg
NOTE: if you're using a hacksaw for this, you'll end up with the rings covered in shavings that are still semi-attached.
http://i35.tinypic.com/2nb6dt5.jpg
You can rub those shavings off pretty easily with your fingers. If your fingers are too delicate, roll up a bit of sandpaper and use that. ;)
http://i38.tinypic.com/11se9g9.jpg
Get out your wire cutters.
Snip the slices so they can be opened slightly and joined together.
http://i34.tinypic.com/2q9yxow.jpg
http://i37.tinypic.com/168vk09.jpg
Get some white, red and green spray paint (or any two, you decide).
Here's what I used...not the cheapest, but it's durable and covers well:
http://i35.tinypic.com/33y3k8l.jpg
Separate the slices into evenly-numbered piles (again, no need to be exact).
Lay out each pile of slices on cardboard so they are all laying flat.
http://i34.tinypic.com/2ynnh29.jpg
Spray paint one group white, one group red, etc.
When dry, flip them and paint the other side.
http://i33.tinypic.com/oua494.jpg
When dry, start connecting the slices, alternating the colors. this is what it looks like when you're all done:
http://i38.tinypic.com/2vx3x8w.jpg
The pic below shows how long of a chain 15 rings will make (using 3/4" pvc).
http://i38.tinypic.com/vxyply.jpg
Use to decorate! These chains are strong enough to hold a bit of weight. If you super-glue all the links closed, they can hold even more, but then you won't be able to change their lengths.
Another alternative would be to use one of the other colors when you flip the slices for their second painting...then each ring is 2 colors already. Alternate, change up. Could become quite colorful.
You could also weave strings of lights through the chain if you like. Add some craft store decor (holly, beads, fake pine garland, glitter, leaves, ribbon, bows, etc etc etc). Heck, you could even hang strings of this chain vertically and then hang real candy canes on some of the links. I'm sure the possibilities are endless.
Those of you with a twisted xmas setup could always make shackles as described in my halloween tutorial, but paint them festive colors....maybe Santa's chain-gang of naughty little boys and girls. LMAO!
Another recycled halloween idea...
For the big H, I decided not to spend the bucks on buying plastic chain, but instead make my own. this is EASY (those of you from the halloweenforum will have already seen this tut, but this one has a slight change).
Get yourself a piece of 3/4" or 1" pvc pipe. (the gray electrical pvc is the cheapest: less than $4.00 Canadian for a 10' length at Home Depot)
http://i35.tinypic.com/2pzk7ef.jpg
For the purposes of this tutorial, I used some leftover scrap, and I only cut a total of 15 rings. Since I can't go firing up the miter saw at 3am, I used a hacksaw...it took me less 5 mins. to cut the 15 rings. To give you an idea of how many rings you'll get, I used 2 pieces of the longer length shown in the pic below. The smaller piece is the length of the leftover from both (too small to keep cutting).
http://i36.tinypic.com/rigm8k.jpg
Get out your hacksaw, or better yet, your miter saw.
Cut the pipe into approx. 1/8" or 3/16" slices (no need to be exact, just guesstimate).
http://i37.tinypic.com/2gt6d8m.jpg
NOTE: if you're using a hacksaw for this, you'll end up with the rings covered in shavings that are still semi-attached.
http://i35.tinypic.com/2nb6dt5.jpg
You can rub those shavings off pretty easily with your fingers. If your fingers are too delicate, roll up a bit of sandpaper and use that. ;)
http://i38.tinypic.com/11se9g9.jpg
Get out your wire cutters.
Snip the slices so they can be opened slightly and joined together.
http://i34.tinypic.com/2q9yxow.jpg
http://i37.tinypic.com/168vk09.jpg
Get some white, red and green spray paint (or any two, you decide).
Here's what I used...not the cheapest, but it's durable and covers well:
http://i35.tinypic.com/33y3k8l.jpg
Separate the slices into evenly-numbered piles (again, no need to be exact).
Lay out each pile of slices on cardboard so they are all laying flat.
http://i34.tinypic.com/2ynnh29.jpg
Spray paint one group white, one group red, etc.
When dry, flip them and paint the other side.
http://i33.tinypic.com/oua494.jpg
When dry, start connecting the slices, alternating the colors. this is what it looks like when you're all done:
http://i38.tinypic.com/2vx3x8w.jpg
The pic below shows how long of a chain 15 rings will make (using 3/4" pvc).
http://i38.tinypic.com/vxyply.jpg
Use to decorate! These chains are strong enough to hold a bit of weight. If you super-glue all the links closed, they can hold even more, but then you won't be able to change their lengths.
Another alternative would be to use one of the other colors when you flip the slices for their second painting...then each ring is 2 colors already. Alternate, change up. Could become quite colorful.
You could also weave strings of lights through the chain if you like. Add some craft store decor (holly, beads, fake pine garland, glitter, leaves, ribbon, bows, etc etc etc). Heck, you could even hang strings of this chain vertically and then hang real candy canes on some of the links. I'm sure the possibilities are endless.
Those of you with a twisted xmas setup could always make shackles as described in my halloween tutorial, but paint them festive colors....maybe Santa's chain-gang of naughty little boys and girls. LMAO!