Crystal and Wood Wall Hanging

Crystals can be beautiful, intricate objects with mesmerizing swirls of color meandering through their veins. Quartz crystals, like the Amethyst in this Instructable, are useful as piezoelectric material in electronics and healing tools in Crystal Work. I found a string of large Amethyst crystals at Hobby Lobby a while back and finally found a good use of them as the wall hanging demonstrated in this Instructable.

Wood square - 2 x 2 x 9/16 inch

Large crystals with center hole - 33 mm or larger

Wood beads - 2 - 4mm to 5 mm

Wood veneer edge banding (pre-glued) - 3/4 inch

Craft wire - 20 gauge

Scrap wood - 5 x 5 x 3/4 inches or larger; 1 x 1 x 3/4 inches or larger (sanding block)

Tools: Drill; drill bit - 3/32 inch; pliers - clipping, needle nose; pencil; ruler; thumb tack; index card; shears; iron

Materials: Wood varnish; aluminum foil; sandpaper - 120 grit; masking tape; soft cloth

Protective gear: Safety goggles, face mask, disposable gloves

1. Trace wood block onto index card.

2. Draw lines from one diagonal corner to the other to determine center. Cut out card.

3. Place card on wood block. Punch hole through center with thumb tack.

4. Drill hole in center with 3/32 inch drill bit.

1. Arrange crystals and beads on wire.

2. Push top of wire through hole in wood block.

3. Pull length of edge banding around wood block to form circular shape.

1. Cut edge banding.

2. Punch hole through all layers of edge banding with thumb tack.

3. Cut two pieces of edge banding to match.

1. Place glue side together of two banding pieces.

2. Iron two pieces together between sheets of aluminum foil. Shape band duo ends around wood block while band duo is not too hot to touch. Form circular shape while ironing band duo.

3. Tape band duo ends together with masking tape. Allow to cool 2 hours or more.

1. Sand edges of band duos to remove glue. Wear goggles and face mask.

2. Sand wood block, if necessary, to remove rough edges.

3. Remove residue with soft cloth.

4. Varnish band duos and wood block. Wear disposable gloves and face mask.

1. Twist wire around bead end.

2. Push twisted end through hole of crystal.

3. Pull crystal down over wire end.

1. Pull top of wire through hole in wood block.
2. Add edge bands. Use thumb tack to reestablish hole if filled in by melting glue.

1. Pull wire through top crystal.
2. Bend wire over crystal.
3. Loop wire over crystal.
4. Pull wire up through bottom of crystal.
5. At top of crystal, clip wire, leaving a small piece.
6. Bend small wire piece over top of crystal.
7. Finished!