Hey there friends! Have you heard of a Cloche? It has a few different meanings but I’m going to talk about the one Merriam-Webster defines as – a bell shaped dome cover made of glass or plastic used to display or protect ornamental objects. Mine’s not glass or plastic but it’s a super cute DIY chicken wire cloche if I do say so myself!
Super Cute DIY Chicken Wire Cloche!
I have a glass cloche but really use it more for highlighting things rather than protecting them. This weekend I decided to make one out of a thrifted lamp shade and chicken wire. I know what you’re thinking – that’s going to be wacky and you hesitate to look. Almost like the person in the circus with two heads. So weird yet intriguing that you can’t help yourself. I understand. I had a similar reaction when I thought of it.
But it turned out so cute y’all! I think you’re going to want to make one for yourself. So here’s the 411 on the DIY.
Supplies for a Chicken Wire Cloche:
Thrifted or an old Lampshade
Chicken wire
Drawer pull or knob
Zip ties
Needle-nose pliers
Scissors
Wire cutters
DIY Steps
Start with buying or using an old lampshade. This one was $2.49 from the thrift store. I thought it had a nice shape and was the right size for what I needed. Cut off the entire fabric cover. Hopefully you’ll get one that has the attachment at the top. If it is separate, it’s okay, you can still use the chicken wire to secure it together.
We started with a 40 inch square piece of chicken wire but measure yours first to decide how much you’ll need to go all the way around. Place the shade on its side along the edge towards the middle of the 40″ piece. Roll it into a cone shape. You’ll have extra but this seemed to be the easiest way to cover the shade with minimal zip ties and pulling. Once it’s rolled, use the zip ties to secure it in several places.
Cut the excess off of the bottom leaving plenty to wrap around the bottom of the base to secure it together. Do the same to the top. Be careful not to cut too much off.
Hint: Use what you already have.
You’ll want to cut 18 – 20 small pieces from the excess chicken wire. We used the pieces like clips to curl around and secure together the lampshade base and chicken wire. They are barely noticeable.
When you have everything attached, you’ll start shaping and bending the chicken wire around to mold it to the lampshade. It’s really easy. Once you like what you’ve done, cut the zip ties off and curl the base under. We used the needle-nose pliers for the bending and saved our fingers.
I had left over drawer pulls from other projects so I chose one to use as a handle for the cloche. I got all of these from Hobby Lobby (50% off of course).
Different ideas to decorate a cloche
There are so many things you can do to decorate your chicken wire cloche. I intertwined a black silk ribbon for this look and sat the cloche on a silver tray to make it a little more elegant.
This has a more rustic look with four layers of twine wrapped through the top.
You can also wrap strips of old fabric around it for a shabby chic look. You’ll want to be careful that it doesn’t cover up whatever you put inside.
And anything goes when it comes to choosing what you want to put under your chicken wire cloche. Just about everything looks a little more special this way. Don’t you think so?
It took us about an hour and a half to put this cloche together. I love it and will put it to good use. Let me know if you plan to make one and what you think you’ll do with yours? I bet you have great ideas!
Happy Decorating Friends!
I don’t know which I like better your cloche or your dollar store blackboard you created. I may have to try my hand at both. I also appreciated your post for decorating for July 4th. So many wonderful ideas. Love your blog. I live out in west (the geographic region) Texas and bermuda grass grows like crazy in our part of the world. Not sure how it does in your area of the state. Guess you could check with a trusted gardening center. Keep the posts coming!
Author
Well thank you for those sweet comments! So glad I’ve inspired you to try a craft or two. 😉 I’ll keep the posts coming if you continue to comment – just kidding. I know you can’t always comment but that’s how I know people read it! Send a picture if you do make a cloche or chalkboard, I’d love to see it. You’ve just made my week!
Hi Cindy, thanks so much for coming by. love love love your lampshade turned cloche. You’ve finished it off in so many fun ways. that black ribbon is my fave I think. I just signed up for your email notifications… so I’ll be back to visit!
Author
I was excited to find your blog and signed up to get emails today as well! I think yours will be one that I can hardly wait to open. Hope we become great friends. Thank you for the sweet compliments and the black ribbon was my fave too. 😉
Aren’t you clever! I want to make something with chicken wire, and this cloche using a lampshade is brilliant!
Author
Thank you Jenna. It was fairly easy once you got the extra chicken wire cut off. Glad you liked it and thank you for visiting my blog!
I love everything with chicken wire and this cloche is so amazing! Adding a ribbon and a knob make it even more beautiful.
Thanks so much for sharing it with us at Sweet Inspiration party, this is my feature for this week’s party. Congratulations Cindy!
Author
How exciting and what an honor! Thank you. So glad you loved it!
How gorgeous Cindy. I love the rustic look of the cloche and can’t even begin to pick a favorite. They’re all lovely
Author
Thank you Michelle! It’s fun to change things up and get all of the looks for sure.
I am so impressed with this idea Cindy. It has so much more character than a plain glass cloche.
Author
Thank you Mary. I love that you were impressed! And you’re right – you can do much more with this than a glass cloche. Happy Friday!
This is a great simple craft. The pretty knobs really make it pop. Great reuse of an old lamp frame. Pinning.
Author
Thanks Leanna. I’ve enjoyed moving it around.
What a fabulous and creative repurpose idea! Love how it turned out! Thanks to Mary for sharing your post on FB!
Author
Thank you for visiting my blog and to Mary for sharing it. Glad you like it! Happy Monday.
Thank you so much for great idea! This will save my Daliha plants from creatures and yes will pop my garden beauty!!! FYI I just sign in your list, thank yousoooo much from VA
Author
That makes my day Raquel, thank you! Excited for me, for you and your plants. Have a great weekend!
Thank you so much for great idea! This will save my Daliha plants from creatures and yes will pop my garden beauty!!! FYI I just sign in your list, thank yousoooo much from VA
I was searching on Pinterest for DIY wire cloches to keep the pesky squirells away and came across your cute idea. Love it!
Author
Yay! Oh wow, that was a really old post. I better check it! 😉