DIY Cardboard Pendant Light


DIY Cardboard Pendant Light

Hi all! Chelsea here from Lovely Indeed, happy to be joining the amazing DIY squad at Poppytalk! I'm a big fan of recycling and repurposing, so I decided to get to work on some cardboard boxes I had laying around the house. As it turns out, cardboard makes a pretty sweet little pendant light.




First, gather your materials.

  • Corrugated cardboard, 25" wide and as tall as you'd like your light
  • Spray paint
  • Yard stick
  • Box cutter
  • Glue gun
  • Pendant light cord (this one from Ikea is only $5!)
Step 1: Start by spray painting one side of the cardboard. Let it dry thoroughly and turn the cardboard painted side down. 

Step 2: Mark the cardboard at 5-inch intervals lengthwise with the box cutter. On each mark, make a vertical cut with the box cutter so that the top side of the cardboard is cut but the bottom side remains intact.

Step 3: Lay the cardboard flat again and cut it into strips lengthwise by tracing along the yard stick with the box cutter. 


Step 4: Once your strips are cut, hot glue the ends of each strip together (painted side in) so that you have pentagons. Then begin making a staggered stack with the pentagons and securing them in place with hot glue.


Step 5: Finally, cut a solid pentagon out of cardboard for the top of the pendant. Cut a hole in the top just wide enough to fit the light socket snugly. Secure this to the top of the pendant with hot glue, and light it up!


DIY Cardboard Pendant Light

Not sure yet where this little guy is going to live in my house, but I have a feeling he'll brighten the perfect corner. Have fun!

DIY Cardboard Pendant Light


Contributor Post by Chelsea of Lovely Indeed
Follow Chelsea at Lovely Indeed, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest!

Jan Halvarson

23 comments:

call me debbie said...

genious! all these tops from the pizza boxes will find a a new way of living with this diy.

Katlyn Larson said...

This is so cool! I wish I had my own place so I could make this!! Onto Pinterest it goes! :)

Katlyn
www.thedreamymeadow.com

Mishka said...

This is brill. Thank you so much for sharing this, we're moving soon and this is definitely going on the decorating list.

Unknown said...

great idea!

bavardises said...

Love it, I'll definitely try this!

One bolt short of a toolbox said...

fantastic idea!!

Unknown said...

Before continue reading, I think the material is from wood (because I don't read the tittle before), but I'm wrong...:D

What a beautiful Light...^^

Regards,
www.accdiy.com

Anien Wahyu Ningsih said...

Before continue reading, I think the material is from wood (because I don't read the tittle before), but I'm wrong...:D

What a beautiful Light...^^

Anouk said...

Absolutely brillant !!

Anonymous said...

If you use hot glue, be sure not to use a bulb that gets hot! The heat form the bulb will reactivate the glue, causing the pieces to separate.

Dave said...

fantastic idea. whats that typo-thing in the background?

Unknown said...

Hahahah what an AWESOME idea... I think this is going to have to be one I will try myself! ...and talk about being green AND budget friendly! Way to add "little luxury" to your life on a shoe string! :o)

Thanks for the idea!

Ann Martin said...

Lovely idea, Chelsea - it looks so nice!

Diana said...

fire hazard factor?

Marie Vilanova said...

Fantastic upcycling...looks great...but I was wondering the same thing...would it be a fire hazard??

Andrea said...

I love this this is soo easy to make. No need to own or use a lazer cutter.

Cardboard is one of my favorite materials. Nicely done!

Lady Cobra said...

If you're worried about fire hazards and glue melting, don't panic. Get one of the high efficiency bulbs [they don't put out nearly as much heat] and if you're -still- worried, make the design bigger in order to give the bulb a little more berth. Typically you can have paper/cardboard/other flammables around a bulb so long as it's more than 2 inches away from it.

Unknown said...

Love this project SO much! I even featured it on my Facebook! You have a new follower and admirer!

xo Sam

DIYhuntress.com
facebook.com/DIYhuntress

elenoula said...

love it!!love it!!love it!!will dedicate a corner at my house for this buddy!

Unknown said...

This is so cool! Great idea!! I'll try to make some...thanks!!

Unknown said...

My wife have done this thanks to your instructions, see the result here:
http://www.lazyinvstor.com/2013/10/diy-lamp-unapologeticallly-cardboard.html

We have referenced your blog :)

LocoLefty said...

I'm not sure, but....... isn't this something that wouldn't work if you rent an apartment? I don't own the house that I live in, so I don't think I am able to do this lovely DIY project! Any alternatives?

Unknown said...

You could easily build this with the plastic bit in the top that screws on under the bulb (like most lamp shades fit on!)

Personally, I'm doing this twice for a pair of lamps that I currently DETEST! Been looking for a cheap way to change them for forever!