PRINTFRIENDLY

Print Friendly and PDF

Lampshade Makeover

Ephemera is one of my favorite things to collect and  I have quite a stash of old cards and letters. My intention has been to use them for an art project, however when it comes right down to actually using an original piece of ephemera I'm ALWAYS hesitant.  That's one reason I love the Graphics Fairy ... now I can print out beautiful graphics and feel completely guilt free to cut and paste to my hearts desire.

Like this new piece she featured Today

I used it on a lampshade that I had started working on a couple of days ago... 
Let me show you what I did.
I don't like cutting up books either...but I found three old encyclopedias that have given me that same guilt free freedom to cut away.
  • I cut the pages into strips and glued them onto my old paper shade with mod podge, carefully pressing out all the air bubbles and making sure all the edges were secure.
  • Once the entire surface of the shade was covered with book pages, I put a coat of mod modge over the entire surface of the shade to seal it.
  • I glued cording at the top & bottom rim of the shade...just to finish it off

Yikes!
I had never done a project like this before, so when I tested the shade for the first time I was surprised by what I saw.  A coat of black paint inside the shade solved my see-thru problem.  I think gold would have been nice too.  (maybe next time)
Whew!!!  
For a minute there I felt a little defeated by this project.
It was at this point that I added the Graphic
  • I printed the graphic as a 5x7 onto a piece of regular printer paper  then carefully cut around the silhouette. 
  • used mod podge to adhere the graphic to the shade with another coat on top to seal it...(being careful to remove all air bubbles).
  • Once everything was dry, I added a couple of different antiquing glazes to the surface of the entire shade to give it a little more character...(one being turquoise, which I'll admit was a little risky).

  I really like the way it turned out

My tired "old" lampshade has a "new" life!
":o)
Join The Party!

Comments

  1. This turned out just lovely:)! I love the addition of the second graphic piece!

    ReplyDelete
  2. It would be fabulous with only the encyclopedia pages but that with the graphic really makes the shade!!
    Kelly

    ReplyDelete
  3. such a wonderful idea. I have a bunch of mortgage chattels from the 1800s that I have no idea what to do with and they mean nothing to me except their age..this could be the fix!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How Neat! With your talent & imagination I know you'll do something wonderful with them!
      xo
      Geneva

      Delete
  4. That looks great Geneva! Seeing it without the inside paint was funny! I can imagine how you felt when you saw that after all your hard work! it looks wonderful now!
    Blessings, Lorraine

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Geneva,

    Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. Your lamp shade turned out great ~ mistakes always help us create prettier things, don't you think?

    Ciao,
    Suzanne

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love your darling little lampshade and I also love your header where all the vintage babes are wading!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Geneva It is simply beautiful!! Painting the interior is a great tip for future projects!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena
    2012 Artists Series

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love the book pages lamp shade. Really looks great!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Geneva, This turned out beautifully. Love the old encylopedia idea and the graphic was perfect. Nice save painting the interior of the shade. I will have to remember that.
    Blessings,

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh I love this idea and it looks amazing. So pretty with the light on too. Thanks tons for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty

    ReplyDelete
  11. What an awesome project, and I love how your lampshade turned out! What fun!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Geneva,
    I LOVE this lampshade. You did a beautiful job...have to say, too, I sure enjoyed your lovely music today.
    Blessings~

    ReplyDelete
  13. Geneva,
    Your lampshade has a whole new look! I love the way you used part of a book to cover the lamp. You did a great job on this. It goes really well with the base too. You are very creative.
    ~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Geneva! Wow, your lampshade turned out beautiful!!! Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have fun with PicMonkey!!... Donna

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love this project and your tip on the black paint on the inside! I made some chandy shades similar to this a have never used them because you could see all the lines. I will have to try your trick.

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is lovely....so creative and packs a wonderful punch.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Nicely done! Great tip about painting the inside of the shade. Thank you for sharing this at Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House. I hope to see you again on Monday. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh Geneva, I'm in love with that lamp! I saw that butterfly graphic at The Graphic Fairy and it immediately caught my eye. I'm glad someone used it in such a pretty way. I had to laugh when I saw your "mistake." LOL. I would've done the same thing. At least you found a solution for it. Really, the lamp is just beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Geneva girl, you are so talented. I love your shade! I don't know if I would have thought to spray paint the inside, but it sure did the trick. I love the old book look and the graphic is wonderful. I really like the textures that you gave to it. Thanks for sharing with Share Your Cup.
    Hugs,
    Jann

    ReplyDelete
  20. This turned out fantastic...I just love this look. you did an awesome job, girl.

    So, tell, me...you just copy a graphic on regular copy paper and cut and mod podge?

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh, I love this on a lampshade!! It is really cool!
    Sherry

    ReplyDelete
  22. Fun new look for your lampshade! I like how the edges are the charcoal color of the lamp base.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hi Geneva, The lampshade is fabulous and I love the graphics you used. Thanks for joining the Open House party and have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  24. It really turned out nice! Great idea for painting the inside to hide the shadows. Thanks for linking up to Share the Love Wednesday!
    Mary

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wow Geneva, your lamp looks wonderful! I would never have even thought about having to paint the inside of the lamp...you are clever for spotting that!

    Thanks so much for joining in with my Say G'Day Party. I hope you can link up again this weekend!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha in Oz

    PS I'm Pinning this!

    ReplyDelete
  26. What a great lamp this turned out so great! I'm a new blog follower and can't wait to see more of your great ideas. I would love if you followed back at www.iheartpears.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. So cute! I love that you didn't give up & found a solution to the see-through issue. Thanks so much for linking up on Fabulous Friday to Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust.

    Warmly, Michelle

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thank you for your comment ... I always enjoy hearing from you.
Blessings!