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I am really excited over this week’s garden project. I saw this project many years ago and have always wanted to give it a try. Rick gifted me this cute pig watering can a while ago and I always thought this would be the perfect project to show off this decorative piece in the garden. For some reason time has flown by and I have not taken the time to make it, until this week.
Supplies Needed:
- A watering can
- Beads
- Beading wire (Paid Link)
- Crimp beads (Paid Link)
- Crimp tool (Paid Link) for the crimp beads
- Wire cutters
- Clamp
Gathering the Supplies:
I lucked out and I already had all the supplies on hand for this project. The first thing you will need to find for this project is the star of the show, the watering can. Any watering can you have on hand or can find at a yard sale, garden center or Amazon will do. The watering can just has to have an end piece that you can attach the beads to like this…
Next, you will need to take a trip to your local craft store if you do not have beads and beading supplies already.
The beads can be any beads you like. I chose glass beads of assorted sizes and shapes. The colors I chose were clear, shades of light blue, teal and dark blue for the water effect. When I looked up this project again, most people used only clear beads. This is the fun part. Make this anyway you like with the beads that appeal to you. They can be any size, shape or color.
When all the supplies are gathered it is time to assemble!
How to Assemble the Watering Can Suncatcher:
First we are going to make the beaded water strands.
Here are the tools and supplies that I used for this project. I picked beads in assorted sizes, shapes and colors that I envisioned for this project. The tools I used are crimp beads, beading wire, clamp (very useful to hold the bead strand until you are ready to attach it to the watering can), wire cutters and a crimping tool.
I cut my wire strands around 20″ – 22″. This gave me plenty to work with and made it easy to assemble.
Here are what crimp beads look like if you have never worked with them before. You will use the crimping tool to get a nice, tight connection with the beading wire.
Here is what the beading wire and crimp bead set up will be if you use a bead that is drilled from the top. Thread the wire through the crimp bead, through the bead and back through the crimp bead. You will crimp the bead at this point. Leave some excess wire to bead some of the beads back through and continue beading your strand.
This is what the set-up will be if you are using a bead that is drilled all the way through. You will thread the beading wire through the crimp bead, through the larger bead and through a smaller bead, then thread the beading wire back through the bigger bead and crimp bead. At this point you crimp the crimp bead to continue beading your strand. Leave some excess wire to bead some of the beads back through.
Here is a close up of the first step in crimping the crimp bead. Place the crimp bead at the furthest notch in the crimping tool and squeeze the tool.
It will make this indentation in the crimp bead.
Next, you will place the crimp bead in the first notch of the crimp tool and squeeze again.
Now your crimp bead is closed and the wire is tight and you can continue beading the rest of your strand. When you are done add a clamp to keep your work secure until you are ready to add the strand to the watering can.
Here is the beginning of my strand. I have beaded over the extra wire I added. This just keeps everything a little more secure.
Now I have my finished strand. For this watering can, I completed 9 strands. Each watering can will be different to your liking.
The beaded section of my strand is 10″.
Adding the strands was a little trickier than I expected. I ended up making this little tool. I bent one end of the wire to grab the beading wire and bent the other end to give me leverage and to keep my hand from slipping.
Before threading the beading wire through the hole in the watering can, make sure you add a crimp bead to your strand. Here I am showing the beading wire in the hole of the watering can and my hand-made tool.
I was able to grab the beading wire with my new tool and pull it through.
Almost done!
Now, thread the beading wire through the crimp bead and a few of the other beads.
Tighten the beading wire.
Use the crimping tool to crimp the crimp bead.
Trim the excess wire and you are done!
Now you have a watering can suncatcher to enjoy in your garden! I hope this post helps you get inspired to make decorations for your yard. Please send me a message if you have any questions on how to make your watering can suncatcher.
Happy desert gardening!
Joy Simper has a full time job as a home schooling stay at home mom. She is the one that holds the house and yard together and keeps the kids in line. She enjoys gardening, including seed starting and propagating plants.