3 Easy Lampshade Crafts
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Turn lampshades into works of art with these simple techniques. Each one requires little more than colored craft paper and glue -- and the creative touch of a young artist in residence. (Note: as with any lampshade, use only the recommended bulb.)
What you'll need
- Lampshade
- Scissors
- Brush
- Glue (we recommend Mod-Podge)
- PAPER MOSAIC:
- Mulberry paper (sold in craft and art supply stores)
- SIMPLE STRIPES:
- Crepe paper
- PINHOLE PUNCH:
- Colored paper (large enough to wrap around the lampshade with an inch or so of overlap)
- Craft scissors
- Foam stamps
- Corrugated cardboard
- Craft foam
- Pushpin
How to make it
PAPER MOSAIC: Choose an image from your child's artwork or a coloring book to use as a pattern for your central design. Trace the individual elements of the image onto mulberry paper (sold in craft and art supply stores), and then cut them out.
Apply the design to the lamp by brushing glue (we recommend Mod-Podge) onto the appropriate portion of the shade. Use your fingertips to gently press the paper pieces in place and to smooth any air pockets. Once you have the design positioned, randomly fill in the surrounding area with mulberry paper triangles.
When your decoration is complete, brush a top coat of Mod-Podge onto the entire outer surface of the shade.
SIMPLE STRIPES: Spread a small patch of glue (about 1 1/2 inches square) on the lower edge of the shade. Press the loose end of a roll of crepe paper onto the glue to stick it in place, making sure it doesn't extend below the shade.
Gently but firmly wrap the crepe streamer around the shade, overlapping the edges as you go. Don't be too fussy -- part of the charm of this design is the variation in the stripes created by the layers.
Once you've reached the top and the entire surface is covered, cut the streamer from the roll. Fold over the end and use a bit of glue to stick it in place, making sure none of the paper extends above the shade.
PINHOLE PUNCH: Cut a piece of colored paper large enough to wrap around the lampshade with an inch or so of overlap. Trim the paper so it doesn't extend above or below the shade (we used craft scissors for a decorative edge).
Unwrap the paper and lay it flat on a tabletop. Decorate it with foam stamps (for our sky motif, we used a large airplane, stars, and a white ink pad).
Working on a piece of corrugated cardboard topped with a sheet of craft foam, poke a line of holes along the edges of your designs. A pushpin works well for this.
Wrap the paper around the shade and secure it by gluing the overlapped edges together.
