Tuesday, July 5, 2011

I've Succumbed to Peer Pressure.

Everyone else was doing it... I was just trying to fit in. It looked like fun, so I thought I would try it.

I re-did my lampshade.  What's that you say? You have advice on how to do it the easy and right way? Hold it right there-- I'm completely capable of doing something the wrong way and being happy with it. Read on.

There are literally hundreds of blog posts out there of crafters updating their lampshades and as you can see from the photo, this plain shade was in need of some sparkle.

 I went to Hobby Lobby (a store which will always have a place in my soul) and started looking for some inspiration.  But inspiration found me:

Lovely fabric. Matching beaded trim. Matching rope trim.  Be still my beating heart.

Oh, and did I mention it was all 50% off? My heart flutters again.

So I went home and went to work... I figured, how hard can it be?  Put the trim on, put the fabric on, easy-shmeasy.  The trim went on like a dream, thanks to my hot glue gun:

The beaded trim went on the bottom and it was also a snap to do.  Then, I got a little too big for my britches, as my grandmother might say.

In high school, I got an A in geometry.  I feel it's important for you to know this.  Ahem.  When I started putting the fabric on, I went from top to bottom, gluing all the way around at the top and then gluing at the bottom.  As you can see from my first photo, the lampshade is bigger at the bottom than it is at the top.  Which would alert any individual that you should probably work from the bottom to the top, since more fabric would be needed at the bottom.  I am not any individual.  I made it work by overlapping fabric at the back of the lampshade, making the seam a diagonal.  You can't tell from the front though, and it turned out fine.  I've learned a lesson that I should have learned in high school geometry... better late than never, I suppose.  Here's how it turned out:



What's that you say? You say I need to paint the base white now? My, you are a chatty reader today, aren't you?  OK, OK, I'll think about it.

7 comments:

  1. Love your lamp-redo! I do think you're right and a white stand would really set it off well!

    Found your interview on Suzy's Artsy Craftsy Sitcom - and the new worlwide hop!

    I'm following you now - so I can come back again and read more of your craftiness!!

    Have a lovely week!

    Jill @ Creating my way to Success
    http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  2. *lol* I think I've never read such a funny makeover post! ;o) The lamp looks fab! I'd say with the dark base its very countryhouse style and if you paint it white it will probably look more girly and romantic. aaah decisions... :o))

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  3. Hi

    Hey, I think you did a fab job, the lamp shade looks amazing!!

    I found your wonderful blog through the new worldwide hop.

    Michelle :o)

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  4. Ooo! Love it! That lamp looks so elegant. I think I would just HAVE to add more of that lovely rich green rope trim to the bottom as well.

    Thanks for sharing!
    Jennifer

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  5. Haha, you're right... everyone is doing it and I have thought about succumbing as well... only, my lamp is cylindrical and I have no idea yet what to do with it. Yours turned out beautiful. I love the color!

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  6. I love your lampshade! I know its been a while since your wrote this post, but I think the black base sets it off in an elegant way. I'm sure the white would be lovely also, just a bit more expected. : )
    Barbe

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  7. What a beautiful custom lampshade. I can't believe it was a DIY. You executed it flawlessly. I found you via a comment you left at Simply Done Wright about lack of comments from bloggers and I had to come over and check you out. I am now your newest follower.

    amy @ whilewearingheels.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

I love all the comments I get from you! Because of an insane amount of spam, I had to turn off anonymous commenting but I'd love it if you'd comment anyway!

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