New Life for a used Lamp

SKU#:

v14451

New Life for a used Lamp

SKU#:

v14451

This table lamp is made from a shade, a lamp socket and a wire with a plug. All parts are from an old lamp. A new lamp base is cast in concrete. Large wooden balls are placed on top of the base. The shade is covered with decoupage paper.

Creative idea

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How to do it

Stand with a base: Cut 4 pieces of thick bonsai wire, each approx. 1 m.

Assemble the four wires by twisting in the middle with one of the four wires, twisting it around itself and the others.

Twist the four ends at one end into flat coils as illustrated, enabling the stand to stand upright.

Use a round papier-mâché box as a mould. Varnish the inside with decoupage lacquer, making the box stronger and preventing the wet concrete mix softening it. Leave to dry.

Coat the mould/box with ordinary cooking oil prior to casting, to easily release the moulded shape when dry.

Attach a piece of wire (only to be used for casting) onto the stand using masking tape. Place the stand inside the mould as illustrated.

Attach masking tape on top of the wire at the bottom of the box. NB: the wire must go all the way to the edge.

Mix the concrete powder with water following the instructions on the packaging. Pour the liquid concrete into the mould as illustrated. Leave to dry for 24 hours.

Remove the cast lamp stand from the mould. It may be necessary to cut/break the mould.

Remove the tape and the small piece of wire that was used in the casting.

Feed a wire with a plug through the hole on the stand as illustrated.

Thread large wooden balls (beads with a hole) onto the stand.

Finish with the lamp socket which is connected to the wire and then secured by twisting it onto the stand, using the loose bonsai wire ends.

If the chosen lamp shade is not already white, prime it with Plus Color craft paint. Leave to dry.

Divide the shade in the middle with masking tape as illustrated. This is to achieve the best possible joint in the decoupage paper, which is subsequently applied from each side of the division.

Attach the decoupage paper onto the shade with decoupage lacquer, first on one side of the division and then the other side.

Remove the masking tape.

Gather the decoupage paper from both sides of the shade, trim and attach with decoupage lacquer, which is also used for varnishing the entire decoupaged lamp shade. Leave to dry.

Screw a bulb into the socket and attach the shade. A TIP: glue small pieces of felt onto the underside of the concrete base to prevent it making scratches.