Swanky Copper Screen

If your room needs a divider or could use a little glamour, this simple but elegant screen will give a ho-hum space pizzazz. And who knew you could make something so stylish with just a trip to the hardware store and a few thrift stores? You don’t need to be a carpenter either. With just some copper pipe and wire and six sentimental old record albums you can create this fabulously hip hanging screen!
©2007-2008 The O’Neil Sisters, All Rights Reserved
You Will Need:
  • 4 pieces copper plumbing pipe, 3½ feet long each (½" size)
  • 4 pieces copper plumbing pipe, 1½ feet long each (½" size)
  • 8 copper elbow joints (½" size)
  • 2 pieces copper wire, 50 feet long each (14 gauge)
  • 2 pieces copper wire, 1 foot long each (10 gauge)
  • 2 pieces black chandelier chain, 6 feet long each
  • 2 chandelier swag hooks
  • fishing line
  • copper spray paint
  • household silicone glue
  • 12 small binder clips
  • 6 record album covers

Tools:
wire cutters
scissors

Directions:
Step 1: Make a rectangular copper frame by connecting two 3½-foot lengths of pipe to two 1½-foot lengths using four elbow joints. Secure each connection with glue. Repeat to create the second frame.

Step 2: When the glue has set, wrap each frame with a 50-foot length of copper wire. Criss-cross with abandon in a random pattern.

Step 3: Spray paint binder clips copper. Attach two binder clips to the top of each record album cover. Attach three records across each panel by looping a 12-inch piece of fishing line through each binder clip. Knot ends around top of the frame and trim.

Step 4: Lay out the frames leaving a 3-inch gap in between. Connect the top frame to the bottom frame in two places by wrapping with two 1-foot lengths of 10 gauge copper wire. Hang from ceiling using loops of chandelier chain and swag hooks.

©The O’Neil Sisters 2008
Tips:
Time Saver: If you don’t want to wait for the silicone glue to set, try using copper bond epoxy found in the plumbing section of your hardware store. It’s fast!

Cutting Edge Tip: To save time, have the pipe and wire cut at the hardware store. It’s usually free and will make this cool craft a cinch!

More Hi-Fi Fun:
When you’re not in the mood for martini music, hang polka albums on the other side. You can flip the screen for a little oompah-pah.
When choosing your records consider using six of the same album. You’d be surprised how many copies of “K-Tel Disco Dynamite” are out there!
What to do with the vinyl inside? Grab a can of gold spray paint and make yourself some gold records! You’re a rockstar!
As seen in
Decorating Spaces magazine