Chevron and "Mercury Glass" Lamp Makeover {Favorite Post From The Past}

 

Hi y'all! Today I am going WAY back to 2012 and sharing my favorite DIY project ever posted at Homemaker in Heels!

 

  

  One of my favorite things to do is take old lamps and make them beautiful again. I was given this old, and not so pretty, lamp a little while back... {People seem to give me things like this all the time now...} Well, I could have tossed it or given it to Goodwill, but I knew this baby had potential.
  A few months ago I bought a can of Krylon Looking Glass Spray Paint. I knew I wanted to use it to make a "mercury glass" lamp like the ones I've seen at Pottery Barn and Ballard Designs, I just had to decide how I wanted the shade to look... Then, I remembered having this dusty blue chevron fabric leftover from some pillows I made a while back... Perfect? Oh, yes... Perfect, indeed. :)


So, here are the exact materials I used:

• Lamp
• Krylon Looking Glass Spray Paint
• Blue Chevron Fabric ~ about .5 yd (Exact amount depends on the size of your shade. Just measure the shade and add at least 3 inches to the length and 4 inches to the width to see how much fabric you need)
• High Temp Hot Glue Gun with glue sticks
• Scissors
• Iron

Soo, here is the original lamp... Yeah, I know. Not too pretty, right? Loads of potential, though...

  First, I used a damp cloth to clean the entire base of the lamp, then dried it. Next, I took a plastic bag and wrapped around the top since I didn't need to paint that part. I just used blue painters tape to secure it. I also wrapped tape around the power cord. You can also use masking tape for this.

  Now for the fun part. I used Krylon Looking Glass Spray Paint and applied 3 VERY thin coats in a horizontal motion. Seriously, I mean, like, extremely thin coats. I waited about 1 minute between each coat for the paint to evaporate. This will make sense once you use this type of paint. You can literally see the paint evaporate. 

That's all I did to the base... and just waited for the paint to dry, which didn't take long at all.

**FYI~ I know this paint is a little more expensive than typical spray paint, but it is well worth it. Don't just buy silver or chrome paint and expect to see the same results. One can was enough for 2 lamps. The other lamp, I will share soon. :)

  Now for the shade... This part should be fairly simple if you're using a drum shape. A drum shade is one that has the same circumference throughout. (the top and bottom are the same size ;))

First, I peeled the cruddy old trim off the shade... I was lucky that it came off with no problem. :)

  Next, I basically wrapped the fabric around the shade to see how much I would need. I added a couple of inches at the top and bottom, and about 3 inches to the length...

  Before actually gluing the fabric to the shade, I did a little trial run, so to speak... I just used clips and attached the fabric to make sure my length, width, etc. looked ok...

  Then, I ironed the fabric really well and attached it to the lampshade using my handy, dandy little hot glue gun... A high temp glue gun works much better for this... You don't want to take a chance of the glue drying too fast and having lumps on your pretty "new" lampshade.

  Starting at the side of the shade that already had a seam, I put one long strip of glue and secured that end of the fabric.

   I, then, started wrapping the fabric and gluing as I went... I personally found it much easier to glue the outside of the top first, then fold the fabric over and glue to the inside of the top. Be sure to pull your fabric very tightly and keep it straight as you do this step. You don't want any creases or wrinkles.

  I hemmed the overlapping end of the fabric using my glue gun (or you can sew it, that's just up to you). I finished attaching this end by overlapping and gluing on the same side I started. I just used one long strip of glue. Lastly, I folded the bottom fabric under and glued it the same way I did the top.

  It may seem like several steps, but, trust me... this is a very simple project. I think it took me less than 45 minutes, total.

  Soo... The next time you're about to throw a pitiful looking lamp to the curb or pass one up at a yard sale, I hope you'll remember this little lamp and choose to give it a little makeover, instead!

   All my years of DIYing, lamps are my favorite! It is so easy to find a cheap lamp and fancy it up! What is your favorite type of crafty/DIY project?

No-Sew Ruffled Patriotic Lamp

   In the light of our Military finally taking down Osama bin Laden this week, I am feeling full of patriotism. I don't think I have ever been more proud to be an American. I actually started working on this lamp using dropcloth and a floral turquoise fabric. As lovely as it was, I decided to change the fabric up a bit for a little more of a patriotic look. Now it is red, white, and turquoise blue. :) Since doing No-sew Burlap Rosette Lamp project, I have had some request for more "no-sew" projects. This cold easily be made by using a sewing machine to make the ruffles, but for all of you who do not sew, I created this tutorial for you. :) Please excuse the picture quality. I had to use the camera on my phone for the finished project pics.

Materials I used:
Lamp
Spray Paint (Krylon Blue Ocean Breeze)
3 inch wide strips of fabric
hot glue gun

First, I  sanded the base of the lamp. I did this because the paint will adhere to the rougher surface much better. Next, I painted the lamp base. I used 2 coats of Krylon Blue Ocean Breeze.
There was an old pleated plastic cover over the actual lampshade. I was able to simply pull it off.

Now, onto the fun part! :) Creating the ruffles without using a sewing machine...
**I only have photos on this computer that were taken when I started the lamp using the other fabric. I am posting these for now, but I promise my other pics uploaded soon. The tutorial will make more sense when I have all pics added.
I cut the fabric into long, 3 inch wide strips. Using my hot glue gun, I glued the end of the strip of fabric onto the bottom of the lampshade. I let the fabric overlap the bottom of the lampshade by about an inch and a half.
   To create the ruffled look: As I began gluing the fabric around the lamp, I "pinched" the fabric about every inch. Between where I would pinch it into a ruffle, I applied a little hot glue. I continued this all the way around until I got to the top. I overlapped each row about an inch over the row below it. Around the top, I had about a half inch left, so I used some ruffled lace and glued it around the top on the inside. This seems to add to the patriotic look. :)
   I love the end result and and I will be making over a few more lamps this way in the near future using different fabrics. :)