You can usually find pretty good deals on a single salt or pepper shaker at a yard sale or flea market. Start collecting these because they make wonderful tops for these fun tassels.
They are easy to make. They also make wonderful gifts. Hang some on your Christmas tree this year. Then, when the tree comes down, find another spot to display them in your home.
I've used mine in a variety of ways. I have one hanging from a key in an armoire, and my others are in the dining room attached to my curtain tiebacks.
Gather:
Shaker, preferably vintage
1 yard cotton bullion fringe
26-gauge wire
Beads in a variety of sizes
Fabric adhesive
Hot-glue gun and glue sticks
Small-tipped scissors
Variety of decorative trims
Wire cutters
Create:
1. Cut a piece of wire about 12 inches long. Thread one end of the wire through the holes at the bottom of the shaker and then through one of the holes at the top of the shaker. Be sure you have about a 4-inch tail of wire at the bottom of the shaker.
2. Thread a small bead (one that won't slip into the shaker hole), a medium-sized bead, a large bead and another medium-sized bead onto the wire.
3. Thread tiny beads onto the wire until you have enough to create a loop.
4. Thread another large bead onto the wire, then thread the wire through the other hole at the top of the shaker and through the bottom hole. You should now have both ends of the wire coming through the bottom hole.
5. Twist the two wire ends together until they hold the beaded area firmly in place.
6. Trim the wires, then hot-glue the ends of the wire to the bottom of the shaker.
7. Place a line of fabric adhesive along the top edge of the bullion fringe, then roll the fringe up tightly. Continue rolling the fringe until it is the same diameter as the bottom of the shaker — making a perfect tassel.
8. Hot-glue the tassel onto the bottom of the shaker and hold it in place until it dries.
9. Wrap trim around the top of the tassel where it meets the shaker. Add additional trim as desired.
10. Loop a small piece of trim through the beaded loop to hang.
Dena Fishbein is the designer and artist behind many home, gift and paper products found at your favorite stores. To ask her how to embellish anything, visit her blog at denadesigns.com.