DIY Network

Nature Cage Light Decorate with this wildlife still life. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-607

Let a great look take wing in your décor.

You don't have to brave the elements to enjoy wildlife – just B. Original and bring some inside with Michele Beschen.

She shows how to create a cage-style hanging light that serves as a perch for artificial birds, bees and butterflies. It's a great way to add Mother Nature to your décor and keep springtime alive all year long. Scroll down to get started.

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Nature Cage Light

Materials:

hardware cloth, 1/2" or 1/4" mesh
tin snips or heavy shears
metal macramé hoop, 14" diameter
needle-nose pliers
heavy work gloves
18-gauge aluminum wire
hog rings and hog ring stapler
drop-cord lamp
decorative birds and butterflies

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

• Use tin snips or heavy shears to cut two pieces of hardware cloth long enough to wrap around the macramé hoop. Cut one piece of hardware cloth about 10" wide and the other about 6" wide. Hardware cloth is available in the fencing department of home improvement stores.

  Note: Wear heavy work gloves when cutting and working with hardware cloth. The cut wires can be extremely sharp. The wires also can catch easily on clothing.

• Snip away any protruding wires from the two pieces of hardware cloth.

• Cut some pieces of 18-gauge wire about 4" long.

• Wrap the 10-inch piece of hardware cloth around the outside of the macramé hoop, creating the first tier of the cage. Use some of the 4" wires to attach the hardware cloth to the hoop, twisting the wires tightly with pliers (figure A). Let the hardware cloth overlap by one column of squares at the seam and secure the seam with wire (figure B).

• Create a second cylinder from the 6-inch piece of hardware cloth.

• Secure the seam in the 6" cylinder with more of the 4" wires.

• Use a hog ring stapler and hog rings to connect the two tiers to each other with the wider tier will be on top. Link three hog rings into a short chain connecting the two tiers; repeat this every few inches around the edge of the cylinders (figure C).

• Cut three pieces of 18-gauge wire about 30" long. Double each piece over and twist tightly.

• Run one of the twisted wires across the middle of the cage to create a perch for the decorative birds and twist the wire to the mesh to secure it. (figure D)

• Attach the other wires to the top of the cage in a criss-cross pattern to hold the light fixture.

• Use the wires on the decorative birds, bees and butterflies – which can be found in the floral supply section of any hobby shop – to attach then to the mesh of the cage (figure E). Scatter them around and mount a few birds on the perch until both tiers are filled to your liking.
  

  Figure E

  Figure F

  
  

• Attach a drop-cord light to the criss-crossed wire at the top of the cage (figure F). These are available at stores selling paper lanterns and patio lights.

• Weave a bit of grapevine or other natural items through the cage light if desired.