Transform a plain, inexpensive lampshade into a one-of-a-kind accent piece. Turn on the light and the effect is magical!
Tips:
1
For this project, I’ll be using Sakura’s Permapaque® Dual Point Paint Markers. They contain pigment ink, which means the colors are rich and vibrant, and the ink goes on smoothly like paint. But the chisel and point tips give you much more control than a brush, and it dries quickly.
2
I bought this lamp, including shade, for only $10 at Home Depot. Plain shades are very inexpensive and can be bought at most retail stores.
How to:
1
First you’ll need to choose an image to print. Pictures with bold outlines are easiest to work with. You might select a scene from a fairy tale for a nursery, or maybe an owl and stars for a child’s bedroom. I’ve chosen birds on a branch for my craft studio. (A great website for copyright-free, public domain graphics is GraphicsFairy.blogspot.com.)
2
Cut your image into a workable size. You need to be able to tape it flat to the lampshade. Add adhesive packing tape to the back of the printed paper, and tape the graphic face-down onto the outside of the lampshade.
3
You’ll need to work in a well-lit area. Turn the lampshade towards the light so that you can see the silhouette of your graphic. Trace the outline of the image with a Permapaque® Dual Point Paint Marker. Use the fine point for tracing. The chisel point is perfect for drawing the branches.
4
If you’d like, you can add more color to your lampshade. I decided to color my birds blue. The Permapaque® marker is great for this, because the color goes on smoothly and consistently, even when you’ve been coloring for a long time. Unlike other brands of permanent markers, the tip doesn’t dry out while you’re using it. And unlike paint, the ink dries almost instantly.
5
When the lamp is off, the image is barely noticeable. But turn the light on, and the effect is magical! To protect your artwork, dust with a dry cloth. Liquid cleaners are not recommended.
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Finished?
Show it off!
great idea
This is such an awesome idea! I have a lamp with a guitar for the base, and the shade is plain white except for black trim on the top and bottom. I think I’m going to look up some guitar images now. =)
I really love your idea it looks great, you could do it for cheap and make look good for any room of your house. I know that when you are trying to do a room its had to find just the right decorations this would wonderful.