Making a moon phases wall hanging has been on my to-do list for a long time, but I wanted to figure out a unique, easy way to do it. There are many clay versions out there, and I’ve even see one where someone cut metal with tin snips to make a moon phases garland, but none of those were quite right. I wanted the look of metal, without the hassle of cutting metal. And then I found this gold foil scrapbooking paper, and realized it was perfect for this project.
This garland is lightweight enough that you can even hang it with washi tape, so it would be great decor for dorm-dwellers or restricted renters.
After trying the moon phases wall hanging in several locations in my house, I settled on this one. My lunar globe was already sitting on the table, so it seemed like it was meant to be.
A couple of other DIY projects are making cameos in this photo: Leather and felt reversible coasters, my faux indigo bleached shibori pillow, and my gold splatter-painted pillow.
DIY Moon Phases Wall Hanging
Materials
Gold foil paper – I used “Recollections Signature Special Foil Paper,” which I think is this paper, in “King Gold.” I’m not sure, but I think it may just be really thin metal. It comes wrapped in plastic and backed with a piece of cardboard.
Gold (brass) chain – 2 feet
Gold jumprings – 18
Tools
Scissors
Ruler
Needlenose pliers (2 pairs)
Large sewing needle
Lid or container for tracing – I used a large mason jar lid.
Marker
Steps
1. Lay the lid or container you’re using as a circle template on the back side of the gold foil paper. (This foil paper is silver on the back, so you could make this hanging reversible). Trace around the template with the marker.
2. Trace around the circle template again, but this time modify the shape to make a partial crescent moon. Repeat until you’ve drawn out the moon in at least two more phases, or up to four (or more!), all the way to a thin crescent.
3. Cut out the shapes, then trace around all of them (except the full moon), and cut them out again, to make an identical set.
4. Use a large sewing needle to poke holes on two sides of each of the moons. I used the biggest hand-sewing needle that I own to poke the holes. You may want to leave one of the smallest crescents unpierced, since it will be at the bottom if you’re hanging this vertically, but I added another length of chain, so that I can also hang this garland horizontally.
5. Open jump rings with the pliers, and slide then through the holes. Cut 8 lengths of chain (mine are 2″/5cm), and attach the moons to one another by sliding the chain on the jump rings, then closing them. If you want your garland to look like mine, make sure to orient the moons facing in opposite directions.
6. Add two lengths of chain to each end of the garland for hanging. I also added a larger jump ring to one end so I could hang it from a nail.
One more note: If you get marker on the front of the garland, or want to remove it from the back so you can use both sides, acetone nail polish remover on a cotton ball should take it right off.
