Shabby Lampshade Tutorial

Good Tuesday Morning!

Please hang with me while I mostly explain how to make my nifty little lampshades.

I had not planned a tutorial so most of the pictures that I am going to use were made "after the fact". Since y'all are so smart....and these are soooooo easy....I know we can figure this out together!

Of course, if I miss something or something is unclear to you please contact me directly and I will answer your questions asap.

I was quite pleased that these lampshades got as much attention as they did on the link parties that I attended!  In fact, I was even "featured" over at Linda's.

If you have a chance go and check it out.

Linda has an AH-MAZING blog and I am sure you will want to "follow" along with her....

Thanks Linda!

Ok....let's get started, shall we?

List of items needed:

Wire lampshade
Dropcloth (laundered)
Scissors
Fabric tape measure
(Seriously....that.is.all.)

Step 1:
 Launder your dropcloth so that it is soft and you are able to easily tie it.
I buy all of my dropcloth at Lowe's, 8 ounce variety.
They come in many different sizes and even various tones/shades of cloth.

For my lampshades (which are 11 inches diameter x 12 inches in length) I chose a 4 x 15 foot dropcloth.  That worked best for my shades because I needed 4 foot strips to make my ties.

Step 2:

Remove all of the cloth or current covering that is on your lampshade. 

Take it down to the wire frame.

(this is not the lampshade that I used....just for illustration purposes.  Cool lampshade, though, huh?)

Step 3:

Put your lampshade back on your lamp as it will be easier to work on.

Step 4:

Measure your shade to decide on the length of dropcloth strips that you will need.

You can measure the length (ie. 12 inches) multiply x 2 (24 inches) and then give yourself enough material to tie a knot and cut each end to your desired length.

For my project I went with 4 foot strips but had quite a bit to cut off at the end. 

3 feet would probably have been plenty. (but I'd rather be too long than too short!)

Step 5:

Now lay out your dropcloth and cut 2 inch strips by whatever length you have decided on.

Again, mine were 2 inches x 4 feet

Step 5:

Prepare to start tying!

Wrap your first strip around the wire and pull the ends to the front of the shade.

and then.......TIE a knot!

I kind of varied the height of my knots all the way around the shade.  Be creative!

Once you get the knot where you want it then you can decide on the length of the ends that you want.

Just cut off the excess and you are on your way!

Step 6:

Repeat the process of tying until you go all around your entire shade and VOILA....

you have an amazing Shabby Lampshade!

I kind of overlapped the strips alittle to make a fuller look....you can do what you like here.

For my shades it look about 26-30 strips of dropcloth.

And because I have not said it yet on this post.....

I LURVE these little creations!

Now get busy and be CrEaTiVe......

and don't forget to send me pictures of your finished materpiece!

I cannot wait to see what y'all come up with!

Blessings Abundant.....