Make a Fancy Lamp
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Designer lamps can cost a fortune! If you've shopped around for lamps that are even a little different than then norm, you probably have seen how quickly the prices rise the more unique a lamp gets. This fun craft project will show you how you can take an inexpensive lamp from a thrift store, flea market or yard sale and turn it into an elegant, feminine designer lamp on a budget.
The first thing you will need to do is to get your lamp. Shop around at yard sales, flea markets and thrift stores. You can usually get lamps for under $5.00. You may need to purchase the lamp and the shade seperately, especially at thrift stores where the shades are often removed from lamps and sold in a separate pile.
When choosing your lamp and your lampshade, pay special attention to the shape. You may want to go for a lamp that has a slightly different or unusual shape than the norm since this will just add to the custom feel of your finished project. If you find a great lamp base but can't find a shade to fit it, don't worry too much. You can usually pick up an inexpensive lamp shade at at craft store or department store to fit nearly any lamp.
Once you have your lamp and your shade, it's time to get to work decorating them. Hit your local craft store and pick up some pretty beaded fringe (usually found in the ribbon section), some elegant silk flowers, perhaps some pretty lace or fabric. These items will be used to decorate the lamp shade. If you don't already have a hot glue gun, you may also want to purchase one while you are at the craft store. You can get a small glue gun for just a few dollars, so it is a cheap investment.
You'll also want to get some paint for the lamp base. A fun way to make the base fancy is by buying a nice dark spray paint color for it...like warm, rich brown. Then get some rub 'n buff in gold or silver. Spray paint the base with your dark color. When it is dry, take the rub 'n buff and smudge it around on the base, wiping off any excess as your go. This will give the base a cool antiqued gold look that will look beautiful with the fancy lampshade you will be making.
Next, take your plain lampshade. Hot glue the beaded fringe you got to the inside bottom edge of the shade so that it hangs down from inside. Then, decorate the outside of the shade by gluing on any lace or silk flowers that you can in an artful arrangement. Once the glue on your shade is dry, put it all together with the base and you have a classy, fun new lamp for just a few dollars!
For a more delicate look, try painting the lamp base white and glueing small pink silk rosebuds scattered all over the shade. Or, for an even more feminine look, glue silk roses right next to each other all over the entire lampshade so you have a shade that is completely covered with roses.
Play around with this and you'll be sure to come up with an idea of your own that can turn even a trashy lamp into a beauty!