Lamp Shade Update

Ok, so here is the deal: I have this lamp that my husband and I bought on the cheap from Homegoods sometime ago. The only problem is this: 1) When the light shines it is a dark, tanish color, 2) There is nothing about it that blends with the rest of the living room. Well, so maybe there isn't only one problem with it. It is a beautiful lamp, but was in need of some TLC. After trying about 5 different shades on it that did not work, I decided to just get my glue gun and scrap ribbon and go to it. Here is the result:

Before:

After:

Here is what I did:
1) Used scrap fabric to make a long roll to glue around the base of the lamp.

2) Made fabric petals from ribbon scraps.

Cut 2in x 2in squares

Fold in half and put a dab of hot glue.

Fold again to secure.

3) Throw an accent color in the mis and arrange petals to your liking!

4) Add a button to the center with a dot of hot glue.

The END.

5) Place in room at the location of your choice.

And for a bonus, if you want something to match this:

Just use the leftover scraps to make this:

It feels like a perfect little addition to our living room now. I didn't fix problem #1, but at least it matches the accents we have going on in the room.

Thanks for stopping by, check out our projects and other great ones at these linky parties this week. See you next week!

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Re-vamp into a Blue Lamp

I got these lamps forever ago, as in over a year ago, and have just been sitting on them waiting for just the right idea. Sometimes inspiration comes in the most unlikely places.

As in, Parents magazine, at Easter time. This is typically the magazine that I read to try to be a good parent, not for crafty inspiration, but sometimes you get a bit of both. For some reason, I looked at that string-wrapped-looking egg and thought not of eggs but, "I must do that to those lamps!"

I will admit that my first attempt at these babies turned out to be a big fail, because in my excitement over finally having a direction to go with this project, I neglected to first dull the glossy surface of the lamps before painting them. Don't do this. A few days later you will end up with a very sad situation on your hands.

The second time around, I dulled the surface of the lamps with a fine sandpaper, covered the sockets and cords with plastic bags and tape, and then spray painted them with a white primer.

When the primer was completely dry, I got some raffia, wet it slightly and wrung it out well because I wanted it to lay completely flat against the surface of the lamp, and started wrapping. I wanted a crisscrossing kind of look, so I alternated between wrapping it just around the middle, and wrapping it around the top and then under the bottom of the lamp. When I got to the end of the raffia, I carefully tucked it under one of the first strands that was pulled tightly so that the whole thing wouldn't unravel.

I then pulled out my trusty Mediterranean spray paint (by Valspar), and got to work. I got down level with the lamp (meaning on the ground, but if you could elevate your lamp it will make this part easier), because I wanted to spray straight onto the raffia, as opposed to spraying from a top angle where the paint might run down underneath the raffia a bit.

I did 2 light coats, mostly because I was still nervous about the paint running. But it turns out that this was just enough.

When the paint was dry, I carefully peeled off the raffia strands, and held my breath. Luckily, dulling the surface this time worked! No little maroon spots were glaring up at me, just a fun blue and white pattern.

I love the texture that this approach provided! I followed up with a satin polyurethane for protection.

What do you think? Aren't they fun?

I don't have a lampshade "before" picture, but it was a basic shade that was yellowed with age and had a few stains. I covered it with some white burlap, which more than covered the stains, still gave me the light glow that I was looking for, and added just a bit more texture to the mix.

I'm pretty pleased with the results. This is my first venture into anything to do with lamps, so now going to start looking at the other lamps around my house and to see how I can change them to give that space a little boost.

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