Make Your Own Bottle Lamp

atla- 022608-diylamp01.jpg Reader djs's comment on last week's post about sprucing up the bedroom got us intrigued with the idea of making our own lamp. Coincidentally, our friends over at Hallmark Magazine had the solution for an easy do-it-yourself lamp-making project that does not require a drill...

The basics are easy: choose a base, pick a shade and buy a lamp-making kit. They suggest using the Bottle Lamp Kit , available at National Art Craft, to avoid the tricky task of having to get out the drill, an idea that definitely appeals. We're going to put this on the list for our next rainy day project (and a little bummed that we missed an opportunity this weekend); we know a few vases that we own that would work better as lamps than they do for flowers. For complete instuctions, check here.

Related Links:

Milkit Lamp Kits

Make Your Own Bent Acrylic Lamp

[Image Courtesy of Hallmark Magazine]

Comments (10)

This is *perfect* for those ginormous demijohns! Oh! Those would make amazing lamps!! Craigslist, here I come!

posted by artnerd on February 26th 2008 at 11:39am
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Where can you find decent lampshades though? I've been on the lookout for a white drum shaped shade for a base I bought at Salvation Army this weekend (which, incidentally, looks just like one of these bottle lamps).

posted by spaceagemouse on February 26th 2008 at 12:31pm
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I have the same problem, spaceagemouse. I bought two awesome lamps with hideous shades from Marshalls, and I've suddenly come up dry on 10" white barrel shades that don't cost $300.

My grandparents used to make lamps out of logs that they had polished and varnished, then drilled holes for the cord and socket.

posted by Caitlinella on February 26th 2008 at 1:26pm
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Target sells very simple drum shades for around $25. I've also found some nice vintage shades at flea markets...

posted by my little apartment on February 26th 2008 at 1:45pm
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I find the "stand alone" lampshade selection at most retailers to be really boring. The best bet, short of customizing, is to check out the lamp selection at Target, Smartbargains, Overstock, etc... and buy a lamp that has a lampshade similar to the one you are looking for. Toss the lamp the shade came with and put the nice shade on your lamp. Its way cheaper than customizing.

I had custom lampshades made at Fantasy Lighting on Melrose just west of La Brea. They did great work but its not cheap. A small basic shade in linen ran $125 each. Fantasy Lighting also has a collection of premanufactured shades that might be worth investigating.

posted by RichardinLA on February 26th 2008 at 2:18pm
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Alluminaire.com ?

posted by lmsparkie on February 26th 2008 at 3:00pm
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I recently saw a segment on Martha Stewart Crafts on HGTV about how to make your own lampshade. Here is a link to the instructions on Martha's website. http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.3a0656639de62ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=2d9752a59a62f010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default

posted by oandel on February 26th 2008 at 3:17pm
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Try lampsplus.com for lampshades.

posted by d in dc on February 26th 2008 at 4:16pm
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Restoration Hardware has some great shades. They're not cheap, but they're not obscenely expensive, and they come in great colors. I got tall drum shades [10", I think] for $50/each.

posted by visualingual on February 26th 2008 at 4:56pm
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just searching sales and came across these http://www.pbteen.com/products/p1629/index.cfm?pkey=csalclr

posted by Lizzykewl on February 26th 2008 at 9:20pm
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