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.

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

DIY a Stunning Gold Bookcase for Under $52 By: Barbara Miller

Materials:

1 Vittsjo bookcase

4 8′ lengths of 3/4″ screen molding

Loctite Power Grab adhesive

Bright orange spray paint/primer

Rustoleum hammered gold spray paint

You will need to have a saw or a friend with a chop saw to cut the molding

Process:

First, I assembled the book shelf, leaving the glass shelves aside for installation at the end.

Next I measured and cut the lengths of screen molding. I cut them one at a time

I used the Loctite adhesive to put each piece into place before I cut the next length so I knew I always had the right direction of 45 degree angle because the screen molding has a right side and wrong side

Once all the wood pieces were in place and the adhesive had set I sprayed the entire piece a BRIGHT orange. I found that the gold paint on the black looked dull but if I put a bright, warm color on first I had a warmer gold finish.

Next, I sprayed the entire thing with the hammered gold paint (always follow the directions on your paint or other materials)

I put the shelf into place inside the house and then added the gold shelves

See tutorial.

Here is a link to the video tutorial.

The post DIY a Stunning Gold Bookcase for Under $52 appeared first on IKEA Hackers.

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

DIY: How to Build an Indoor Sandbox For Less Than $52 By: Barbara Miller

Materials:

• 1 LACK coffee table


• 1 KOMPLEMENT drawer, or look for another drawer in the As-is department and match it to a table size


• Loctite Power Grab


• Art materials of your choice. I used Kinetic Sand but rice, beans or dried noodles could be a less expensive alternative

• Paint any unfinished edges on your drawer — often the part that faces the back is not completely finished. I used black and it blended right in


• Put together the LACK coffee table following the IKEA instructions


• Make small piles of adhesive around the top of the coffee table. They need some height because the bottom of the drawer is recessed slightly and a flat bead of adhesive will not reach the bottom of the drawer


• Put any art materials you like in the top tray and have fun!


• I recommend using a container or a tray so you can easily remove the sand and toys when you can control their use

Link to the full tutorial.

Link to the video.

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