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Decorating

How To Upcycle An Old Lamp

June 15, 2012 By Tanya 32 Comments

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You may remember the Sofa Table Rehab from last week, this sassy little chica and her fab colors are the inspiration behind the color scheme for my new space I am working on.  I am so happy to share literally one of the fastest makeovers this side of the Rio Grande.  That’s right folks, the Old Lamp Upcycle!

Oooh La La! I ADORE this fabric, I will share a little secret about the “source” for the fabric in just a sec.  Here is the before, not bad but I wanted something with a little kick for the home office:

This project really only requires the lamp, shade, paint, fabric, hot glue and scissors.  When I was a little girl, my Grandma Edith never scared me except when it came to her sewing scissors.  Don’t mess with a sweet Swedish Grandma and her scissors.  These are my fave scissors below, I love them and in keeping with tradition everyone knows not to touch them.  Not to even think about touching them.  The few times I did break pretty much the only rule my Grandma had and used her scissors, it was on the smallest, tiniest piece of extremely thin paper.  It was almost like cutting one lone strand of hair.  But she knew I had used them on something other than fabric, and could tell the next time she tried to cut with them.  A wild six-year-old with a death wish had dulled the scissors. 

After I applied three coats of Krylon White Spray Paint (satin) I let the lamp dry for a bit and poured a dab of pewter grey acrylic paint into a dish.  I am liking the direction this is going, I am thinking this will compliment the Rustic Modern Mirror we made a couple weeks ago pretty well.

With a dry foam brush, I loaded a bit of paint onto the brush and reverse-distressed the lamp around the edges and in any areas where there was a bit of detail.  If I applied too much paint, I just blended it with with my fingertips.  No biggie.  This is why it’s fun to make stuff!

Remember my source for the fabric? It is the most amazing blouse that I love, but the edges were beginning to fray a bit and I just didn’t have the heart to say good-bye.  So, one of my favorite tops is now being cut into long rectangles so she can become lovely ginormous roses for my lamp!

I pinched and gathered the fabric down the center of the rectangle, hand-stitching as I went along.

Once I had the center gather done, I kind of ended up with a big, floppy tassel-like mass of sheer fabric.  I fired up the glue gun and glued the center down to the edge of the new lamp shade.  From there I just tucked, twisted, and glued each area into place forming a really pretty, big, modern looking flower. 

Here is how it turned out and I will break down the cost for the project:

  • Lamp base: Free, pilfered from Master Bedroom.
  • Lampshade: Somewhat free, purchased about three months ago and never used for intended purpose.
  • Blouse: Free, retired from my wardrobe and now a cool flower, sweet!
  • Paint, glue, electricity: All things I had on hand already.
  • Total Cost: a big ol’ ZERO baby!

Isn’t she just a bunch of happy?
Wishing you a blessed day, and hoping you just plugged in your glue gun. You can’t make a mistake with art, the only regret you will have is not starting sooner.
xoxo, Tanya 🙂
~Linking Up To~

Friday
Two Thirty-Five Designs, Live Laugh Love Craft, Doodles & Stitches, MyRomantic Home, Whipperberry, Redoux Interiors, Sassy Sites, Thirty Handmade Days
French Country Cottage, Simply Designing, 504 Main, Tatertots & Jello,Chic On A Shoestring
Common Ground, Shabby Nest, At The Picket Fence, Serenity Now, Junk In Their Trunk
Blissful & Domestic, Naptime Crafters, Addicted 2 Decorating, Simple Home Life
The Not So Functional Housewife, Rooted In Thyme, Craftionary, My Turn (for us) Freedom Friday, Five Days Five Ways

Saturday
Funky Junk Interiors, Positively Splendid, I Heart Naptime, Family Ever After, Too Much Time
I Can’t Stop Crafting, Be Different Act Normal, Six Sisters Stuff, Serenity You
Love Notes By Lauryn, Craft Envy, Homemaker In Heels, Natasha In Oz

Sunday

Lolly Jane Boutique, Sisters Of The Wild West, Just Us Four, Nifty Thrifty Things
Cherished Treasures, Under The Table And Dreaming, Shaken Together, Polkadot Pretties

Monday
Making The World Cuter, Be Colorful, DIY Home Sweet Home, Polish The Stars
You Are Talking Too Much, Covered in Grace, An Original Belle, Between Naps On The Porch
Burlap & Denim, Tidy Mom, Mod Vintage Life, Craft O Maniac, Sew Can Do , Ask Anna
Debbie Doos, My 1929 Charmer, The Southern Institute, Keeping It Simple, Skip To My Lou
Brassy Apple, Delectable Home, C.R.A.F.T, Get Outta My Head Please, DIY Showoff
Singing Three Little Birds, Around Tuit

Tuesday

Blackberry Vine, Elizabeth & Co, Coastal Charm, http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Today’s Creative Blog, Tip Junkie, Creatively Living
Sugar Bee Crafts, A Diamond In The Stuff, Home Stories A to Z, Reasons To Skip Housework
Blessed With Grace, Domestically Speaking, How To Nest For Less, Organize &DecorateEverything
Kammy’s Korner, Ladybug Blessings, Cherished Bliss, Confessions of a SAHM
A Bowl Full of Lemons, The DIY Dreamer, Like Gramma’s House, Stringtown Home, The Sasse Life

Wednesday
Savvy Southern Style, Someday Crafts, Restore Interiors, Primp, Ginger Snap Crafts
Primitive and Proper, The NY Melrose Family, Clean & Scentsible, Polkadots On Parade
Night Owl Crafting, The Trendy Treehouse, Uncommon Designs, Southern Lovely
Sew Much Ado, Family Home and Life, Practically Functional

Thursday
Tidy Mom, Delightful Order, My Repurposed Life, The Shabby Creek Cottage
Yesterday On Tuesday, Between Naps On The Porch, Somewhat Simple
Embracing Change, House Of Hepworths, A Glimpse Inside, 52 Mantels,                                        The Bramble Berry Cottage, hrifty Decorating, Not Just A Housewife, The Crafty Blogstalker
The Shabby Creek Cottage, Beyond The Picket Fence, AKA Design, Crafty Scrappy Happy
Christina’s Adventures, The 36th Avenue, No Minimalist Here, LiveLaughRowe
Practically Functional, Katherine’s Corner
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Filed Under: Decorating

Comments

  1. Tani@Tagana Rose says

    June 15, 2012 at 11:07 am

    What a great idea!! I especially love the fabric roses you did!

    Reply
  2. PitterAndGlink says

    June 15, 2012 at 1:56 pm

    I really like how this turned out!

    Reply
  3. Bronwyn says

    June 15, 2012 at 6:50 pm

    Totally different lamp! Well done!

    Reply
  4. Mary Anne Komar says

    June 16, 2012 at 2:33 am

    wonderful vision from drab to fab!

    Reply
  5. Gypsy Heart says

    June 16, 2012 at 2:50 am

    I love it! You are very creative. Of course, the colors are my cup of tea. 🙂

    Pat

    Reply
  6. Chase the Star says

    June 16, 2012 at 7:04 am

    Love the lamp! Great job! I've nominated you for the Sunshine Award! Check it out here: http://chase-thestar.blogspot.com/2012/06/fun-post-sunshine-award.html

    XO, Barbara

    Reply
  7. Hubba says

    June 17, 2012 at 4:02 am

    Nice job it looks great. Thanks for sharing, im a new follower and would love if you followed me at http://iheartpears.blogspot.com

    Reply
  8. Jamie says

    June 17, 2012 at 4:50 pm

    I love this!!! Great use of the favorite blouse… it gets to live on now 🙂

    Reply
  9. Debbiedoo's says

    June 18, 2012 at 12:08 pm

    Thanks Tanya for joining the newbie party. This is the cutest lampshade ever. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  10. melissa @ daisymaebelle.com says

    June 18, 2012 at 12:36 pm

    Love the lamp! The lampshade makes it!

    Reply
  11. Cynthia says

    June 18, 2012 at 1:40 pm

    Clever Idea. I really like. I saw you at Debbiedoos.

    Cynthia

    Reply
  12. Our Pinteresting Family says

    June 18, 2012 at 6:45 pm

    That turned out fantastic! What a transformation. 🙂 Newest follower from the Live Laugh Rowe blog hop. Megan

    Reply
  13. Heather Graham says

    June 19, 2012 at 3:23 pm

    I am in LOVE with this lamp! So glad I found you at "Thee Networking Blog Hop!" Would love to have you join me at my blog, soon!

    Have a great week!
    -Heather
    stringtownhome.blogspot.com

    Reply
  14. Jonell says

    June 19, 2012 at 5:21 pm

    I am just "dumbfounded" [is that a southern word?] that you actually turned THAT into THIS!! Mpressed,lady.
    Jonell

    Reply
  15. Kristina says

    June 20, 2012 at 12:14 am

    What a beautiful lamp! Thanks so much for following. Happy to follow back! 🙂 And yay for homeschooling!
    xoxo

    Reply
  16. Amy - while wearing heels says

    June 20, 2012 at 12:35 am

    Your lamp make over looks GREAT. I loved the story you shared about your grandma and her beloved scissors. I had a pair of scissors I was forbidden from as well. It's amazing, now that I am a crafter, I can totally understand but back in the day, I just didn't get it!

    Reply
  17. Jill says

    June 20, 2012 at 12:37 am

    Love how you upcycled this lamp! It is darling! And using the blouse for the embellishment? Genius! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! Following you back! =)

    Jill @ Create.Craft.Love.

    Reply
  18. Michelle says

    June 20, 2012 at 12:48 am

    Very cool, love the fabric!

    Reply
  19. Six Sisters says

    June 20, 2012 at 1:33 pm

    What a great idea! Thanks for sharing on our “Strut Your Stuff Saturday”. Hope you come back next week. -The Sisters

    Reply
  20. Laurel @ Ducks in a Row says

    June 20, 2012 at 1:44 pm

    I love that you used a shirt – the fabric is awesome! Way to go!

    Reply
  21. keri @ shaken together says

    June 20, 2012 at 5:48 pm

    Way to recycle a favorite piece of clothing … I have a pair of jeans that I can't bear to part with just yet 😉 Thanks for sharing this awesome makeover at the {what's shakin' link party}!!

    Reply
  22. Nicole Estes says

    June 21, 2012 at 1:01 am

    This turned out so sweet! Thanks for linking up at Doodles & Stitches 🙂

    Reply
  23. Jessi W says

    June 21, 2012 at 4:53 pm

    That fabric is totally awesome, I love it! Glad you could re-use the blouse for something fun.

    I got my own nice pair of sewing scissors when I was in high school, and my younger brother used them for a paper project he had to do for school. I was sooo furious! Cuz you really can tell the next time you cut fabric with them 🙂

    Thanks for linking this up at The Fun In

    Reply
  24. Lissa @ The Looking Glass says

    June 21, 2012 at 6:19 pm

    such an AWESOME idea! thanks for the inspiration. found you via the blog hop and am excited to follow along! xo

    Reply
  25. Becolorful says

    June 22, 2012 at 7:21 pm

    Big smiles. What a fun way to hold on to an repurpose something you love. Thanks for sharing this week on BeColorful
    p

    Reply
  26. Natasha in Oz says

    June 23, 2012 at 11:07 am

    That sure does look amazing Tanya. You are very clever indeed. I'm going to Google + this post right now.

    Thanks for linking up to Say G'day Saturday. This week's post is now live so I hope that you can join in again this weekend!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha in Oz

    Reply
  27. Confessions of a Stay at Home Mommy says

    June 25, 2012 at 1:04 am

    Thanks for linking up to last week's Tuesday Confessional link party! You've been featured so stop by and grab a brag button!
    http://www.craftyconfessions.com/2012/06/amazing-tuesday-confessional-features.html
    ~Macy @ Crafty Confessions

    Reply
  28. Confessions of a Stay at Home Mommy says

    June 25, 2012 at 1:04 am

    Thanks for linking up to last week's Tuesday Confessional link party! You've been featured so stop by and grab a brag button!
    http://www.craftyconfessions.com/2012/06/amazing-tuesday-confessional-features.html
    ~Macy @ Crafty Confessions

    Reply
  29. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. says

    June 25, 2012 at 9:36 pm

    Really pretty transformation!

    Reply
  30. Jennifer says

    June 27, 2012 at 5:06 am

    So great! Love that you repurposed a beautiful blouse! I need to spruce up my lamps, great inspiration!
    Thanks for sharing at Show & Share!
    Featuring this tomorrow.

    Reply
  31. The Bean Sprout Notes says

    July 14, 2012 at 8:16 pm

    what a fun way to display an old favorite blouse in a new light (ha! my comment has become an unintentional pun)

    Reply
  32. suba lube says

    August 15, 2018 at 3:57 pm

    DnlnbW Very good article.Really looking forward to read more. Awesome.

    Reply

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Welcome to twelveOeight! I'm Tanya and I am so glad you are here. If you are ready to start loving the home you have now, then join me on my mission. One thrifty project at a time we can make our today homes our dream homes.

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