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Apr 23 2014

how to rebuild a lampshade

Posted by hayley
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In it’s former life, this cute lamp was my desktop companion, but now that it’s in Songbird’s room I knew I had to figure out how to rebuild the lampshade. Originally I tried just taking the fabric off, but the existing plastic was so brittle it busted into a hundred pieces. I saved the wire frames and started over.

how to rebuild a lampshade  |  greyhouseharbor.com

Start by measuring the height and circumference of the existing shade (pre-demolition). Add 1.5″ to the length for overlap (instead of 31″, it would be 32.5″ long).

how to rebuild a lampshade  |  greyhouseharbor.com

Use a straight edge and an Xacto knife to cut a white posterboard into 2 rectangles the same size as your existing shade. My posterboard was too short, so I used spray adhesive to glue four pieces together like this:

how to rebuild a lampshade  |  greyhouseharbor.com

Then I re-enforced the seams with white artist tape.

how to rebuild a lampshade  |  greyhouseharbor.com

If you want a typical shade, now is the time to use permanent spray adhesive to adhere fabric to one side of your posterboard. This tutorial goes on to describe the fishscale look, but the steps are essentially the same.

Start with a small bead of hot glue at the corners of your posterboard. Hold your wire frames on and give it a couple minutes to harden. Working very slowly, run the hot glue along the edge only a couple inches at a time. Roll the wire frames in unison along the glue.

wpid3339-how-to-rebuild-how to rebuild a lampshade  |  greyhouseharbor.coma-lampshade-3.jpg

how to rebuild a lampshade  |  greyhouseharbor.com

Once dry, be sure to cut off any glue that dried above the edge.

how to rebuild a lampshade  |  greyhouseharbor.com

Too create the scale look you will need this Craft Fuse Iron-On Backing from Pellon. It gives lightweight cottons some body and keeps your circles from fraying.

how to rebuild a lampshade  |  greyhouseharbor.com

Iron the Pellon to the back of your desired fabric, making sure to fuse every inch!

how to rebuild a lampshade  |  greyhouseharbor.com

how to rebuild a lampshade  |  greyhouseharbor.com

Trace circles on the back side and cut with fabric scissors. My circles were about 1.5″ wide.

how to rebuild a lampshade  |  greyhouseharbor.com

how to rebuild a lampshade  |  greyhouseharbor.com

Starting on the bottom of the shade, use small dabs of hot glue to adhere a row of cut circles facing up.

how to rebuild a lampshade  |  greyhouseharbor.com

Overlap the next row of circles, only gluing the tops, so the bottoms are free to sway. Keep going up, up, up!

how to rebuild a lampshade  |  greyhouseharbor.com

At the top, do another row of semi-circles.

how to rebuild a lampshade  |  greyhouseharbor.com

To create a finished look, use 3/4″ fusible hem tape to make a hem along one side of fabric that’s been cut slightly longer than your shade circumference. Then cut that strip 2″ wide.

http://www.joann.com/reg-wt-hem-adhesive/prd48914.html#q=heat+n+bond&start=11

Hot glue the strip first to the outside, stopping just short of the end. Then hot glue the inside too. Fold over the last bit and secure in place.

how to rebuild a lampshade  |  greyhouseharbor.com

how to rebuild a lampshade  |  greyhouseharbor.com

wpid3373-how-to-rebuild-a-lampshade-4.jpg

how to rebuild a lampshade  |  greyhouseharbor.com

Go back and trim the inside fabric.

how to rebuild a lampshade  |  greyhouseharbor.com

For a cleaner line, I covered my inside edge with artist tape.

how to rebuild a lampshade  |  greyhouseharbor.com

Repeat this edging along the bottom of the shade too! Don’t forget to tuck it under that first row of scales.

how to rebuild a lampshade  |  greyhouseharbor.com

It wasn’t the easiest project I’ve ever tackled, but I’m very please with the outcome.

After buying the posterboard at the Dollar Store and using coupons for the fabric and pellon backing, the new lampshade cost me around $5. Heckofalot better than the $40 that online shops wanted. And waaaaay more personality!

cinderella lamp  |  greyhouseharbor.com

 

Tags: diy, diy home improvement, tutorials

Comments (5)

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  1. Pingback: DIY-Infused Girl's Room - Project Nursery October 24, 2014

    […] Customize an ordinary lamp with this scalloped lamp shade tutorial. […]

  2. Elliott Olson (@AmigaDragon)
    November 24, 2014

    Okay, now how about the tapered shades?

    Reply
  3. Pingback: Amazing The Sea Decorations for Your Little Mermaid Bedroom April 25, 2019

    […] (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); via greyhouseharbor […]

  4. Pingback: 20+ Under The Sea Decorations For Your Little Mermaid’s Bedroom : News Readly April 9, 2020

    […] This project is similar to another lamp we’ve already looked at, except in this case the scales are solid light blue felt circles which were layered over the lampshade to create this Ocean-inspired effect. via greyhouseharbor […]

  5. Pingback: Under The Sea Decorations For Your Little Mermaid’s Bedroom – dle-destek.com July 1, 2020

    […] This project is similar to another lamp we have already looked at, except that it is light blue felt circles layered over the lampshade to achieve this ocean-inspired effect. about Grauhaus […]

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I'm Hayley. Wife and mother by day, DIY enthusiast by night. Fueled by sweet tea and jelly beans, I own power tools and know how to use them. Consider yourself warned.

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