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Create A Custom Lampshade

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One Way To Decorate Your Lampshades for a Custom Look!

I had a plain white lampshade that was me begging to do something "crafty and creative" with it. How was I going to go about Decorating this Lampshade?

I stumbled upon a very old and torn up Webster's Dictionary. I do not like to tear up a perfectly good book, but this one was definitely beyond repair. This book was very needy and wanted to be put to use in some "crafty and creative" way. Light bulb moment: use it to decorate the homely lampshade!

How could I do that?

First step: I searched the internet to find directions and ideas for decorating lampshades.

Second step: I searched my home to find the supplies for this project. After all, I really did not want to get out -- it had been raining a lot and I did not feel like getting wet. I also wanted to use up what I had on hand or reuse materials. Don't want to over-load those landfills.

What do you think of my decoupaged lampshade pictured here?

(The image in the upper left belongs to me as do the photos in the gallery below.)

Creative Commons License
How to Create Custom Lampshades by Mickie_G is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

How I Decorated My Lampshade:

Click on each photo to enlarge it and read the instructions:

Supplies laid out that I might need. I found the Tacky Glue too thick and watered it down in the bowl.

Supplies laid out that I might need. I found the Tacky Glue too thick and watered it down in the bowl.

Supplies laid out that I might need. I found the Tacky Glue too thick and watered it down in the bowl.
Before!
Gently ripping the pages out of the old book. Remember, it was one that was beyond repair.
Dusting off the lamp shade with a dry dusting sponge.
Applying the glue to a small area of the lampshade. I like to work in small batches.
Where you place the pages is not really important. Since this book had no illustrations, the most interesting pages had the Capital letters on them. I tried not to cover the letters. I used all 26 pages.
I brushed the watered down glue over the top of the pages after I applied them to the shade. This was done to provide a seal. It also became a dull glaze--as opposed to a really shiny one. I prefer dull.
Used my hand to rub the pages in place.
Trimming the bottom with scissors.
Trimmed the top with the box cutter. Be careful!

About my lamp:

A little home decor history--

The lamp base used in my lampshade project has been around for a long time. It was mine when I was 13 years old. It is white hobnail glass and the original shade was pink velveteen. It kind of looked like a wide brimmed loopy hat.

I am scouring the web for a picture of this shade. The lamp was made in the early 1960's. If you have a photo of one, please send it to me so I can see if it is the one. Check back later to see if I found it.

This is the closest I have come to even finding the shape of my pink velvet lamp shade:

lamp shade frame
(from Grace Changes.)

Supplies You might need to buy for decorating a lampshade:

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You must have glue to make a lampshade:

Vote for your favorite one to use for craft projects.

I found that the "Tacky Glue" in the gold bottle was just too thick to use for my lampshade project. It was also difficult for me to thin with water--but that could just be me.

I liked using my pva glue that I use to repair books. It was easy to use right out of the bottle and also easy to extend with water.

If you have Elmer's Glue on hand -- as most of us do, just use that. Thin it with water if you find it too thick.

Sobo Glue is made in the USA. I need to buy some of this glue. I used it many years ago and remember it being a great all purpose craft glue.

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Elmer's All Multipurpose White Glue, 4 oz. (E372)

Elmer's All Multipurpose White Glue, 4 oz. (E372)

America's favorite all-purpose glue. Perfect for s more...1 point

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Aleene's Tacky Glue 4 oz Dabber

Aleene's Tacky Glue 4 oz Dabber

This tacky glue is the original, and still the bes more...1 point

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Gamblin PVA Size 32oz Bottle

Gamblin PVA Size 32oz Bottle

Gamblin PVA Size A new contemporary size to be use more...1 point

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Clear Gel Tacky Glue

Clear Gel Tacky Glue

All-purpose craft glue that offers the same superi more...0 points

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Sobo Premium Craft Glue - 8 oz.

Sobo Premium Craft Glue - 8 oz.

DELTA-Sobo Premium Craft & Fabric Glue. Made i more...0 points

Choose the correct blub for your new shade:

Accordng to Lampshade Buying Tips, "Be sure you have 2-3 inch separation from bulb to shade, especially for higher wattage bulbs. Be sure the top opening is wide enough to vent the heat. Compact Fluorescent bulbs are great for most lamps because they burn cooler, but you may need larger harp since CFL's are taller than standard light bulbs."

Another way to decorate a paper lampshade:

Paint it!

I almost wish I had done this instead of trying to decoupage mine with pages from a book.

You know what? I bet I could add some painting to my shade to finish it out. Maybe in gold?
HOW TO DECORATE LAMP! TUTORIAL
by BabyG4828 | video info

45 ratings | 17,141 views
automatically generated by YouTube

Lampshades come in all sizes, shapes and colors:

Auckland, New Zealand by Abi Skipp
Auckland, New Zealand by Abi Skipp
Antique Light Co. by mikecogh
Lampshades by doug_wertman
Fitting In by mikecogh
Thematic Lamp Shades by mikecogh
Stool People by mikecogh
Spice Bazaar, Istanbul by william.neuheisel
If you go down to the woods... by libertygrace0
Lanterns by Mike Saechang
automatically generated by Flickr

Vote for your favorite Lampshade Decorating Video:

Some of these people are very creative. I enjoyed watching them all and got several ideas for future projects decorating lamps around the house.

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DIY Lace Lampshade, Threadbanger 1 point

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How to Re-Cover a Lampshade 0 points

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How to Make a Custom Lamp Shade : Gluing Fabric on Custom Lamp Shade 0 points

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How to Make a Custom Lamp Shade : Custom Lamp Shade Styles 0 points

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DIY Modern Lampshade 0 points

Supplies mentioned in the "Decorating Lampshades" Videos:

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Get Ideas to customise you lampshades!

Copy, imitate, use or expand on these decorating ideas:

How to Decoupage a Lampshade With Fall Leaves | eHow.com
How to Decoupage a Lampshade With Fall Leaves. Bring in the outdoors during the fall by decorating common household items with leaves. One great project that can be completed in about an hour is decoupaging a lampshade with fall leaves. This...
Retro Age Vintage Fabrics: How to make a pleated wallpaper lamp shade - Barsony style
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Bird's Party Blog
Freebie Paper lampshade template and a really cute idea!
No Pattern Required: Making a Vintage Lamp Shade
how to make a vintage lampshade
Originate and Renovate: Lamp Revamp
Revamp a garage sale lamp.
recover a lamp shade from
Anthropologie DIY: Peek-A-Boo Lamp Shade
It's been a little over two weeks since I set foot in an Anthropologie, and 'm still ogling their goodies online every day. 

Getting Crafty:

Create something, why don't you?!

Decorating lampshades with tie-dye fabrics and photos sounds like a terrific idea.
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I need your advice about my lampshade?

OK all you crafty people out there, is my lampshade finished? If you think I am not finished decorating lampshades at my house, give me ideas. Please! (you do not have to be a member of Squidoo to make a suggestion)

Don't forget to sign my "Guest Book" further down the page. Thanks.

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Who wrote this article about decorating a lampshade?

Mickie_G

Creative Commons License
How to Create Custom Lampshades by Mickie_G is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
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Mickie_G

I am a former librarian--hence my love of books. I learned to repair books and found that it quickly became a passion of mine. Saving the world, one book... more »

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Interesting Paper to Put on a Lampshade! 

Mulberry Swirl Whimzy Paper- White on White 25x37 Inch Sheet

Mulberry Swirl Whimzy Paper- White on White 25x37 Inch Sheet

Amazon Price: $5.50 (as of 02/14/2012)Buy Now

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