DIY Mod Podge Lampshade Makeover

I really like for my spaces to be light and bright. I prefer natural light but that isn’t exactly an option in the evening. Since I’ve got to go with manmade light at night it seems to make sense that I have developed a very strong addiction interest in cute or unique lamps. This is why my dad and I turned a pink poodle statue into a glossy white bedside lamp!

I can’t even tell you how many times I  get compliments on my lamps when company comes a callin’.

There are absolutely no boring lamps in my house and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

For this project you will need:

• Plain, inexpensive lampshade (cloth or paper doesn’t matter)
• Mod Podge & brush
• Fabric (I used 1/4 yard of stretchy calico)
• X-acto knife (super sharp)
• Iron

Iron your fabric flat. Any creases need to be smoothed out or they’ll remain on your shade.

Now I used regular Mod Podge because I could not find my fabric Mod Podge to save my life. The original works just fine but the fabric would have worked even better.

In the center of your shade (with the seam of the shade directly behind) glue the center of your fabric with Mod Podge. Give it some time to dry.

When the center has dried you can start to slowly work your way around to the back of the shade. Work with one side at a time and allow a few minutes between each little bit glued down for it to take hold.

I used a stretchy-ish calico fabric. Normally I get irritated when I have this kind of fabric with stretch but this time it worked to my advantage helping me to kind of sort of keep the pattern going evenly around to the back. This fabric came from Hobby Lobby (almost all their calicos have had a stretch that I have purchased).

When you reach the end of your first side finish it around the seam of the shade. Use a good amount of Mod Podge on the end piece to help it stick well.

When bringing around the other side, when you reach the back seam fold the fabric inward to create a straight seam. Use your Mod Podge to glue into place as busting out the iron right now isn’t the greatest idea.

Once the lamp is wrapped all of the ways around and the fabric is holding firmly, glue the fabric just to the very edge of both the top and bottom of the shade. It’s okay to go a bit wild with the adhesive because the firmer the fabric is the better your cuts will be in the next step. Be sure that the shade is completely dry before continuing.

Bust out a brand new blade, don’t cheap out on it or you’re going to have a cruddy-looking edge when you’re done. With a super sharp blade follow along the inside of the shade to trim away the excess fabric.

Pop your shade back on and get ready to bask in the glow of your new shade awesome-ness!

Part of why I love this itty bitty lamp is the glow that it casts below because of the funky, geo shape!

Isn’t that cool? It looks like a flower!

Accented with a box of black and white tissues and a very traditional painting that helps keep the decor looking more eclectic than modern and this little area is perfect for me!

Allison

A crafter since her earliest years, Allison spends a little time every day making something. She crafts, sews, paints, glues things onto other things, and is a firm believer that a life spent creating is a life worth living. Visit Allison’s blog, Dream {a Little} BIGGER.