DIY a Mercury Glass Lamp with a Custom Fabric Shade for Less than $52 By: Barbara Miller

Materials: IKEA Bran lamp base and 1 IKEA Hemsta lamp shade

I needed to find a simple glass base that has an opening large enough to allow me to paint inside and a lamp shade frame. I decided to use all IKEA for these pieces because even though you can get a lamp shade at any thrift store and remove the old fabric to get to a frame, not all of those shades fit an IKEA base. (IKEA does that on purpose and let’s face it – it’s annoying)

I wanted to create a unique lamp shade that required no high level DIY skills, if you build a sleek lamp shade any imperfection will show so why not design something that celebrates those imperfections as part of the artistic process!

Watch the video first, these instructions are meant to help you remember the order or answer any additional question:

Remove the base from the box but save it to use in the painting process

Tape the cord that is extending from the base and anything else you want to protect from paint spray

Clean the inside of the lamp and let dry (409 or similar is fine)

Invert the base inside the box so the opening on the bottom is facing up – stand up the box to support the base during painting

Using MANY, MANY light coats cover the inside with the looking glass paint, any imperfections add to the antiqued look

Tear fabric into 2-3 inch strips

Wrap the end of the first strip around the bottom of the shade and stitch it in place by hand

Wrap the strip over the top and back down until you reach the end, sew to the top or bottom rail and start a new strip in the same place

Continue this wrapping, overlapping each piece by at least 1/2 an inch until you get back to where you started and stitch this end in the same way as you started

Make sure you stitch neatly as the inside of the lampshade will be visible

When the base is dry put the base and top together and light it up!

Watch the video if you are confused about any part of this process, or comment and I will respond!

See the tutorial here.

The post DIY a Mercury Glass Lamp with a Custom Fabric Shade for Less than $52 appeared first on IKEA Hackers.

via IKEA Hackers http://ift.tt/1M5Cx5H From Barbara Miller