Lamps Need Jewels Too

For Nester's Lampapalooza linky party, I decided to compile my lamp pics and add some new ones. I love chandaliers, but living in an apartment limits that love of mine...

I love dressing up my lamps. They need love and I need to give it, so we make a great team. As my readers may know, I decorate on a sheer whim. So, due to my lack of planning I do not like to do things that cannot be easily undone. So, for my projects, they are just simple little alterations that can be taken down and reused again later.

My fabric covered lampshade (complete with Nester tassel), tutorial HERE:



Vintage Brooch Spring Shade:



Vintage Beaded Collar and Brooch Shade sitting in a painted drawer:



Hanging Lamp (my newest):



For this, I used to have an adorable star paper lantern here (shown below), the kind you can buy with the hanging bulb. But over the years, it got destroyed (so sad) and so I had to do a quick redo. I found a Goodwill shade for $2. Cleaned it up, jimmied it to the hanging cord, pinned a red and white polka dotted ribbon around it and added a silver plastic Sherriff's Star. I think my son will love it when he gets home from his playdate with Daddy. (pics of the boys room redo will be coming soon)

Star Paper Lamp (his nursery used to be so cute!)

Damask Lampshade Slipcover How To

The Shabby Nest inspired me to post this project I did the other day for her Frugal Friday Linky Party.

I wanted a new look for my lamp, but I really love the shade. Every other lamp covering tutorial required sewing a slipcover (I don't sew), or required desecrating the shade with copious amounts of glue. I love glue, but like I said, I wanted a cheap and easy way to update my shade without altering it.

Above is a quick before shot from my Spring Decorating post

I got a yard of fabric and used iron on hem tape on the very bottom (ignore the top). To know how much material you need, measure the bottom circumference of the lampshade. You will need the same amount, maybe an inch or so more just to be safe.

I flipped over my lampshade and used small pins to attach the hem-taped part to the rim of the lamp. NOTE- if you are wanting to use fringe, sandwich it between the fabric and lampshade during this part.

 Next, I pulled up the fabric and cut it a couple of inches above the top of the lamp. I just pulled and softly pleated the fabric, folded it over the edge of the top of the lamp and pinned away until all was in place.























Ta da! Now, I have a lovely damask shade with a bold pattern and soft pleats that only cost me a few dollars.

I took a .50 cent garage sale mirror, splashed on a fresh coat a paint and gave my new lamp of reflection window. I take a matching fabric (that I found for sale in the remnants section at Joanns), and tape it to the inside windows of my television cabinet to tie my new fabric in the room. Photos of that coming soon!

 

While on my hunt for lampshade ideas, I happened upon this gorgeous shade project from Alchemy Fine Living. The creator has an Etsy shop, BrickBasement. Bedazzle your shade frame with fabric and ribbon shards, photos and other baubles for a truly smashing look.

Now, because I want to infuse more art into my home, I am going to print off a couple of *free* (personal use only) prints from A Print A Day! Go check Yasmine's site out, tons of cute stuff.
 

 

ps. ways to keep your toddler entertained while you do this quick project: