DIY Lamp Lift

Hello! Janis here, from Pinecone Camp. Thought I'd share a little lamp lift with you. My friend gave me this vintage lamp but it needed some kind of a shade. I just used a roll of ribbon and in about 15 minutes it was done. The 10 yard roll of purple nylon ribbon, cost $5. Over the years, I've done a few lampshades this way. Easy, easy, easy.

Here she is. The very "open" lamp shade and lovely base.

The $5 roll of ribbon, and matching thread.

Attach the ribbon to the frame by just a few simple stitches (keep 'em small!)

Wrap the ribbon around the shade, keeping it tight.

Voila. She's finished. You could use two rolls of ribbon, but I prefer seeing a bit of the insides through the ribbon.


All images by Janis Nicolay.

Jan Halvarson

24 comments:

Laura said...

I absolutely LOVE this idea! I also love that I'm not the only one blogging at midnight :)

Treadgold said...

Fantastic! I have a couple of lampshades that have been sitting in the corner which could do with this kind of makeover...

Lady Grey said...

That's amazing! I love the fuchsia!

Shannon @ What's Up Whimsy said...

Wow Janis! That is such a great idea! I have a couple of these bare shades lying around and have been wondering what to do with them. Thanks!

k.miller said...

wow! i now need to do this! thanks for sharing

Bridget said...

so nice, good job.

Lisa said...

Love this idea! Unfortunately just threw away a bad lamp shade - it could have had such a better future. :-) Next time, it's me + ribbon to the rescue.

Anonymous said...

totally chic idea. thanks for sharing!

Pinecone Camp said...

Happy to hear you like the shade! It truly is easy....especially if sewing is not your, well, thing.
Have a lovely day everyone! Thanks Jan!

Heidi Adnum said...

What a great idea! Thanks for the tip.

Michele said...

LOVE that! Will definitely keep that in mind when I see a cute base...and not so cute shade.

Evita said...

Thanks for posting this! I need to find shades for our unfinished crystal lamps. Definitely inspiring.

Jeanee said...

cute!

Creative Mind said...

What a gorgeous Lamp shade..i love this great idea....waooooooooooooo

shopgirl said...

Very cool tutorial Janis! This totally takes lamp covers to a new level!

Katherine said...

I just repainted an old plaster lamp and was trying to figure out what to do with the shade. Thanks for the fabulous (and inexpensive) idea!

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

what a great idea...love the ribbon and the color..what FUN !!!

kary

percentblog said...

I love how you left it see-through. I'm not a pink girl, but I think it's a great color with that base.

Julie@beingRUBY said...

Fabulous idea... I love it... and just may try it out myself... xxx Julie

Yvonne - Frl. Klein said...

What a great idea!!!!!!!
The lampshade look so beautiful!
I have to try it by myself!
Yvonne

our little love nest said...

Wow! I'm a smitten for that shade. I love the see through look of the ribbon. I want to try this out on some smaller shades for a chandelier I am making. Awesome idea! Thank you!

elisa rathje said...

stunning! so simple.

Vintage Home said...

..smarty pants!

Carrie said...

gorgeous!