Show & Tell

Remember these...?

I can't wait to show y'all how they came together to make a really fun project! I get so excited about making things these days! It seems that I've been getting inspiration from every magazine I read, blog I follow, and crafty thought that pops in my head. This project happens to be something I just dreamed up one day. This sad old lamp had definitely seen better days and I decided to spruce it up a little.

So, without further ado, here's an informal tutorial on bringing a worn lamp back into the spotlight! :)

I made a template of the circular lamp tray and then folded it in half repeatedly until I had 8 equal (well, sort of) triangles. Then, I traced them on the back of my scrapbook paper.

I taped the pieces together on the back to keep them together while I continued working. Oh, and just to add some color, I printed out some letters on my computer to make our monogram. Because you can never have enough monogrammed stuff, right?

After I decoupaged (love that Mod Podge!) the monogram onto the circle, it was time for the embellishment. The seams of the paper looked a little plain to me, so I decoupaged some thin chocolate brown ribbon directly on top of them.

Whew! That was tricky!

Next, the whole thing got a coat of Mod Podge to give it uniformity of color. Once that was dry, I very carefully cut one of the seams and slid it around the lamp post on the under-side of the tray. After cleaning the glass & applying a layer of M.P., of course. An old gift card served as my bubble-getter-outer and the seams got one more coat of M.P. for reinforcement. Which brings us to this...

A fresh new lamp tray! But wait! I'm not done yet. We still have to paint the lamp a more appealing color! I'm sure you all know how to tape off so I won't bore you with those pics. But, after a light sanding and a few coats of gray primer, this little beauty got several coats of Rustoleum's Dark Bronze spray paint. I wasn't crazy about the color at first. It was not the color I had envisioned at all--too dark and not enough brown in it. After a few days and the right lamp shade though, it's grown on me. There actually is some sparkle to it...if you squint & get real close. Ha! Wanna see?

In all it's glory...

Now for the close-ups, Mr. Deville...

The shade~~such a great faux suede!

And the tray...

Can you see the color a little better?

No? How about now?

Yeah, I think I can live with this! Goodbye, ugly gold lamp, hello lovely bronze lamp! I love how the shade comes to life when the lamp is lit. It's so warm and cozy feelin'! Hope this leaves y'all with a warm fuzzy!

 

Now, go create something! Even if it's just a paper chain! You'll have fun, I promise!

Be sure to check back soon, I have a few other pretties in the works! Bye now!