Monday, July 19, 2010

~HOW TO MAKEOVER A LAMPSHADE - A Tutorial For You~

~How To Cover A Lampshade~
(and make it look fabulous!)
 **Left Click Pictures to Enlarge**

Ever see those lovely little lampshades in those charming boutiques that are decorated with the latest fabrics and trims and found yourself wondering how they were made?  Well have I got a treat for you today!  I'm going to show you how and share with you some tips on how I get mine to look the way I do.

I've made and sold refashioned lampshades for over 20 years and the basic way of covering them hasn't changed much at all.  The fabrics and trims have changed, but not the instructions!  So...I've a put a little tutorial together for you with seventeen pictures with notes at the bottom of each one and hope you'll try your hand at making a few for your own home.  The tutorial is for the shabby cottage chic shade you see above, but you can tweak it for any style you like best!
You will need the following:  Lampshade, Scissors, Fabric, Ribbon, Gimp and/or Braid(several kinds), Hot Glue & Gun, Sewing Machine (or needle and thread for gathering ribbon), pen and paper and a tape measure.
Begin by removing the binding from around the bottom of the shade.  Be careful not to pull too hard or you may tear the inside lining of the shade.
Next make a paper template by tracing around one section of the shade.
Cut out your choice of fabric making sure you have enough to cover all sections of your lampshade.
Next, using the Spray Adhesive (DURO) you see above, on the back side of the fabric spray ONE PIECE (more will dry out) at a time making sure the glue generously coats the fabric.  Use too little and the fabric will pucker on the shade.  Use too much and the glue will come through to the other side. 
Begin covering your shade until all sections are completed.
Next, hot glue your gimp (braid) down the spines of the Lampshade cutting it off just short of the top and bottom edge.  Do this until all the spines are covered
Your Shade should look something like this!
There are lots of things you can use to embellish your Lampshade.  Ribbon, Lace, Rickrack, etc.  Use your imagination!  I chose to use loops of ribbon around the top edge and base of my shade.  However, lots of things will work.  You may even choose to leave the top edge plain.
After hot gluing your top/bottom trim in place, use a complementary trim to cover your raw edges.  Hot glue in place.
After hot gluing your top/bottom trim in place, flip the lampshade onto it's top and begin hot gluing your choice of gimp (braid) in place.  This covers up any old glue residue from the original banding.
It should look something like this when you are done.
Your final touch can be either ribbon or braiding (tassels, etc.)!  Just tie your favorite little find around the top edge and you are done!
Here's mine again...
And with the light on...
And here's one I have in my studio!  They can be made to fit into any decor and look beautiful in most any color!

My only word of caution comes regarding the thickness of fabric.  The best fabrics for this kind of shade covering are light to medium weight cottons.  Anything thicker just doesn't want to stick!

Hope you enjoyed a peek into one of the many things I love to do!

Blessings for a wonderful day.  I'm going to take a nap now!

Love to you~

43 comments:

Kim said...

So easy a caveman can do it! Love it Rebecca. I appreciate the How-To, cause I'm worse than a caveman sometimes! Ha!
xoxo,
Kim

Julie Marie said...

Oooh... I am going to make one!!! No sewing even, I can do that! You make the most beautiful things my friend... mine won't look gorgeous like yours, but it will be fun! Thanks for sharing such a fun project! xoxo Julie Marie

Anonymous said...

O.K. Now I gotta' go get out all my lampshades from the closet...and fabric...and braid...& hot glue!! Thank Goodness for Hot Glue!! (whew...puff..puff...) Oh! I am so imspired Rebecca!!
Thanks for this great tutorial...
You are the BEST!!
Love,
Marilyn
XXOO

Deanna said...

Darling lampshade!
Very sweet,
d

Mosaic Magpie said...

Thank you Rebeccaa, for taking the time to share this with us. Taking all those photos and writing the how-to in such a clear easy to read way. That lampshade is as cute as it can be. Now I will have to add look for lampshades to my list. I am already looking for old lamps. Thanks again friend,
Love yo you,
Debbie

Heaven's Walk said...

Rebecca - what an amazingly easy way to remake a lampshade! Thank you for sharing this today! Excuse me....I must spend time eyeing my shades and deciding how I can change them up..... lol!

xoxo laurie@heavens-walk

PS Love your Playlist too! :)

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Great lesson...I have a lamp as we speak that could use some updating...thanks!!

Stacey said...

What a beautiful difference. I love that you used the trim inside to make it pretty too. You are so talented.

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Rebecca, darling, you make this look so easy, but......I doubt that it is. I would burn my fingers, drop the trim on the floor and mess it up, measure the fabric wrong and never, ever figure out how to make that cute
ribbon trim! Soooooooooooo, I'll just have to be happy looking at yours!
Your tutorial is great and maybe some of our wonderful bloggers can follow instructions and turn out a beautiful one like yours.
I love it.

hugs
Sissie

Susan said...

Rebecca , I love the fabrics you chose for the lampshade!! What a wonderful transformation!!

Anonymous said...

Rebecca thank you for the great tutorial! I have several lamps that are in dire need of dressing up!! You did such a wonderful job on this shade!! So sweet!!

Sorry I haven't been around much- we have been busy with camps and such this summer!

bee blessed
mary

Simply Debbie said...

DEAR PRECIOUS REBECCA,
I SURE AGREE WITH SISSIE,...YOU MAKE IT LOOK SO EASY BUT THAT MEASURING OF THE SHADE AND DRAWING A TEMPLATE AND THE SPRAY GLUE....YOU JUST GIVE SUCH BEAUTIFUL INSTRUCTIONS IT LOOKS A WHOLE LOT EASIER THAN IT IS.
NOW I HAVE USED A GLUE GUN SO MUCH IN THE PAST THAT I HAVE ALTERED MY FINGERPRINTS FROM BURNS...ONCE I WAS SETTING ON THE FLOOR AND THE HOT GLUE DROPPED OFF MY PROJECT ONTO MY ANKLE AND LEFT QUITE A BURN...I KNOW YOU KNOW ABOUT THOSE BURNS.
I HAVE SEVERAL LAMPS THAT NEED NEW SHADES.
SINCE YOU ARE NOT BUSY...HAHAHA...TO START OUT GIVE ONCE A MONTH LESSONS IN PERSON WHERE WE CAN MAKE SOMETHING IN ONE DAY...OF COURSE CHARGE FOR THE LESSONS...I KNOW I WOULD ENROLL...THERE WOULD BE ALOT OF US....THERE USE TO BE A SHOP HERE IN ENID, I DEARLY LOVED...AND WHAT CARRIED HER SHOP IS SHE LET PEOPLE USE PART OF IT FOR PRIVATE TEA PARTIES AND THEN AFTER THE MEETING THE WOMEN COULD GO DOWN AND SHOP...BUT THE STORE WAS CLOSED....THIS WAS DONE AFTER HOURS. JUST SOMETHING TO GIVE YOUR OVER ACTIVE BRAIN SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
LOVE AND HUGS
SIMPLY DEBBIE

Shanna Brooks said...

Lovely Lamp! I am a new follower and a new member of the Bloggerette Society. I am making my rounds to "meet" all of the lovely ladies in the society. I would love for you to visit me @ www.mommiesandbeyond.com

A Southern Rose said...

Thank you for this. I'm ready to get started now. I have several that need to be covered to match my new decor. Also thank you for asking about Cole and his music. He is still working on everything. Hope to know more soon. I told him what you said and he got the biggest smile on his face.

Hugs,
Lee Laurie

Unknown said...

Thans for this great tutorial!

Hugs
Charo

Theresa said...

Holy cow, Rebecca... that is gorgeous! Girl, great tutorial and it turned out so beautiful. I must give that a try:)

Have a blessed day my friend! HUGS!

Ginger said...

I have GOT to try that. Your lamp is just soooo beautiful, want mine just like yours. Your fabric is to die for. Wish I could find all that beautiful fabric you use.

Had to take my Tea book post off my blog. I was TOLD to, guess I overstepped my bounds unknowingly. Long story. Thanks for the wonderful tutorial.
Hugs to you,
Ginger

Cottage Rose said...

Oh Rebecca,,you make it look so easy... I love how it turned out,, I might have to give it a try,,, my luck I will spray glue me to the lamp shade,,lol,,,, love it.... so lovely thanks for giving us all the know how...

Hugs;
Alaura

Tanza said...

Okay my seweet talented friend !! You are too good, I was lost after the first direction .. You make everything look soo easy !! I wish I was half as talented as you, I would save soo much money, doing pretties for myself !! I have bright ideas believe me, BUT, that's just what they stay !! You are amazing and to the moon and back gifted .. DO you KNOW that !? I don't think there is nothing you can't DO !!

This lamp is soo pretty, and I LoVe the way it luminates the room .. soo softly !! As I get older, Nooo bright lights, hahaha .. Thanks for sharing, and trying to make me think I can do this !! xo

You are the BeSt, have a happy evening ~
Huggers ~TeA~ xo

Unknown said...

That's so pretty, Miss Rebecca...I really love it.
And thank you for the link to my blog the other day...I appreciate it so much. You are a sweet special friend.
hugs,
glenda

Cathy~Mille Fleur said...

Thank you thank you thank you!!! You are the sweetest thing ever! I soooo appreciate your kind words!

Your lampshade is beautiful! I just love it! I have a girl that makes my shades for me...I wonder if that is how she does it?

God bless you dear friend!
Cathy

Victorian1885 said...

Lovely Rebecca thanks for sharing..

Wanda

stefanie said...

beautiful and perfect as usual!!! thanks sooo much, its gorgeous!

Laura said...

Rebecca-
What an amazing tutorial!
You have inspired me-
I can do this!

yea!

Laura

Rita said...

Thank you Rebecca for the wonderful tutorial. It looks great!

debi said...

Your lamp is gorgeous!! I've got to try that. Thanks for the beautiful tutorial.

Dorthe said...

Rebecca ,you did a wonderfull tutorial for us ,thanks dear, your lampshade is so beautifull and pretty sweetie, I love it.
Rebecca, I don`t remember if answering you ,about you telling me doing a little swap,together,-I would so love that, sweetie.
Have a lovely tuesday, dear.
Hugs,Dorthe

Lori @ Katies Rose Cottage Designs said...

Rebecca ~
This is such a beautiful tutorial ~ Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful talent with us ~
I cannot wait to try it ! I kind of got stuck on cutting the pieces out ~ Is it hard to get an exact pattern just by holding the paper up to it to trace?

hugs,
Lori

Grandma Yellow Hair said...

Honey your not going to believe this but while lying around these last few months and especially these past few days I have had LAMP shades on my brain. Have always wanted to learn to do this and was thinking if God lets me get back on my feet I am going to learn how and then this morning I come by here to check on you and to tell you how much your encouraging emails mean to me and I find this. OH my Gosh it just blows my mind ...what there is left of it.
You are a sweetheart to share this and I can't wait to see if I can do it.
I love you honey
Maggie
PS
These shades are almost as beautiful as you...not quite

Oklahoma Granny said...

Thank you very much for the tutorial! It makes me think I can do it.

Unknown said...

G'day Rebecca ~ This is a lovely tutorial ... very similar to the ones we used to crete & sell in our shops. Haven't done the loops tho, cute touch ... may give it a whirl.

Have a great summer's day ~
TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon

Debbie said...

How pretty!!! Thank you so much for showing (step by step) how to make such a lovely shade. Yours look wonderful!!!
Debbie@houseatthelake

Laura's Rose Garden said...

Brilliant tutorial, Rebecca!! Thanks so much for sharing. You make it look so very easy!
Laura

Rose said...

a masterpiece very beautiful

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for this rebecca.Id love to make one, and no sewing involved??Wow! I dont like sewing machine type things, I never did.But this sort of lovely craft if you will is awesome.Thanks again.I will probably keep checking back and forth til I can copy it all lol.

Happy Wednesday ahead!

Anonymous said...

First question real quick A paper template???Im a very beginner crafter Rebecca so bare with me,lol.Im also trying to get together a pillow case to amke the most gorgeous apron I saw on someones blog I forget who.So cute its a half one with a tie and lace and some yo yos.Im learning how to do them now.Oh If I werent a nurse too,lol.

Lori @ Katies Rose Cottage Designs said...

Rebecca ~ I did it, I did it ~ I am so excited and your tutorial made it fun and easy !
I posted a pic on my blog if you want to see :)
Thank you !

xoxo
Lori

Unknown said...

Very beautiful, thanks for sharing, I'll need to give my sewing room lampshade a make over down the line. What fun!

The Polka Dot Closet said...

Thank You! this was a wonderful tutorial! I will definitely try this!

Carol

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

Yep, Miss Rebecca.... You CAN make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. LOVE this! I've done a few lampshades too...they are so much cuter than the standard fare, aren't they? Pat on the back for you....and huggies too..

Spence

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

I am not the only one jumping up and down with joy that there is something I can..and WANT to do! I can't wait to try this! How cute..I am just all atingle! LOL
Love and hugs,
Mona

CIELO said...

Wow, I want one just like it! Gorgeous... you're very talented, wish I could do something as pretty and inventive as that!

cielo

Sarah Tavanello said...

This is such a cool idea! Thank you for sharing your craft of how to refinish a lampshade. I appreciate it a lot and am excited to make one myself with your instructions. You're awesome! And by the way your lampshade is so cute and pretty!

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