I’m usually really good at saying no to impulse buys.
Well, except for when something is on clearance. If its on clearance and I love it, but have absolutely no need for it, its definitely coming home with me.
I have a fabric hoarding problem as well.
Its all just so pretty and colorful and pattern-ful. (That’s totally a word.)
And so when I saw this cowgirl fabric this past spring, I had to have it.
I also had no use for it whatsoever.
Until I found this gold lamp on clearance at Target.
And I didn’t have a use for it either.
But I bought it anyway.
And then I needed a shade.
And then Kiri from i like that lamp sent me a lampshade kit.
And then I thought of the cowgirl fabric.
And then a cowgirl lampshade was born.
And then all was right in the world.
Disclosure: i like that lamp provided me with supplies for this project. However, all opinions and cowgirl fun is 100% mine. This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
How to Make a Lampshade
With this kit, its really easy to turn any fabric into a lampshade! Here’s what you’ll need:
- DIY Lampshade Kit (Mine was the 12 x12 one, there are other sizes available as well)
- Fabric of your choice (I think I used about 1/2 a yard or so. This is a similar fabric to the one I used. It doesn’t look like they are selling mine anymore.)
- Scissors
- An old paintbrush
Steps
Step 1:
Open up your kit and remove the styrene sheet.
It’s wrapped in the tissue paper. 🙂
Lay your fabric facedown on a flat surface. Make sure its free from wrinkles. Remove six inches or so of the backing from the styrene and place the styrene on the fabric (its sticky). Slowly remove the rest of the backing while you are sticking the styrene to the fabric.
Cut out the fabric, leaving an inch or so around all edges except for one short edge.
Step 2:
On the short end where you did leave some fabric overhang, go ahead and glue (the glue is included in the kit) that fabric edge down and over the styrene.
Step 3:
Stand the styrene up and shape it into a lampshade. Use the included clips to hold it in place. Attach more of the clips along the top edges of the lampshade and place one of the rings on top of the clips. If your fabric has a pattern that has a definite “right side up” motif, make sure you place the ring with the finial attachment (center ring in middle) on top. See photo #1 below. Make sense?
Run glue around the edges of your fabric and spread it around good with the paintbrush (#2). Pull the fabric over and under the ring and push it in tight with the wooden stick included in the kit (#3).
When you have one end done, flip the shade over and do the same thing on the other end.
Finally, run glue between the two end edges on the side of the lampshade and push firmly together.
Let it dry well before placing it on the lampshade.
And as if it could get any better than a cowgirl lampshade, how about a horse finial to top it off?
Honestly, I think I may have been more excited about the finial kit than the lampshade because I love finials, but they are so overpriced. The finial kit is only $5. Yep, $5.
All you do is choose a small object to put on the finial, put a bit of super glue (included in the kit) on the gold hardware piece in the kit and stick your object on there. I just spray painted a plastic horse red.
There are many more finials in my future.
Big fan of lamps? Me too. See these then…
How to Make Lamp Tassels in Five Minutes– gorgeous, simple to make tassels to easily dress up those lamps!
DIY Agate Slice Lamp Finial – easy to make agate finials that are loads cheaper than what you’d find in a store!
16+ Lamp Ideas and Makeovers – the ultimate list in lamp makeovers and genius lamp ideas!
Giddy up!
You know you don’t wanna miss any of this crazy.
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