Garden Lamp-scapes
Your kids will really dig transforming a plain lampshade into a spring gardening scene like this one. The best part is turning on the light to reveal the colorful veggies growing "underground." Although the following directions are for a medium-size lampshade, you can use this decoupage technique to decorate one that's almost any size or shape.
| Prep Time: About 2 to 3 hours | |
| What you need: | |
| Large sheet of plain paper, 36 by 25 inches, and tape
Plain white lampshade, 7 inches tall and 10 1/2 inches wide at the bottom Pencil Scissors Ruler Brown tissue paper Lightweight colored paper Permanent markers All-surface sealer glue and finish (we used Plaid brand Mod Podge, which is sold in most craft or artist supply stores) Paintbrush | |
| Seasons: Year round | |
| Materials: lampshade | |
| Instructions: | |
| 1. |  Make templates for the tissue paper dirt hills by first
taping the large sheet of plain paper to your work surface. Set
the shade, seam up, on top of the paper and roll it one full
revolution, tracing along the lower edge as you go. Then draw a
straight line connecting the beginning (A) and ending points (B)
of the traced line. Cut out the template and mark several points
about 3 inches up from the rounded edge. Draw a curvy line
connecting the points to create the dips and the peaks of the
dirt hills, then cut along the line. Wrap the strip of paper
around the bottom of the shade, curvy side up, and use your
pencil to lightly trace along the top edge of the strip on the
shade. Finally, cut this strip into 6-inch-long pieces and use
them as templates to cut identical pieces from the tissue paper
for hills. Set aside the hills. |
| 2. |  Next, your child can cut basic animal and vegetable shapes
from the colored paper. Use permanent marker to add details to
your paper shapes, such as eyes, whiskers, or bumblebee stripes.
Once you have all the shapes ready, brush a layer of clear sealer
onto the shade and press on the paper shapes, using the pencil
line as a guide for placement. For instance, a carrot root should
be below it, whereas a bird would be placed above it. Gently
smooth out the shapes with your finger to remove any air bubbles
trapped underneath. Apply another layer of sealer over the shapes
and allow the shade to dry completely (about 1 hour). |
| 3. |  To finish the scene, attach the dirt hills by applying an
even coat of sealer along the bottom half of the shade and
carefully pressing each tissue paper panel in place over the
shapes, lining them up with the pencil line and flattening them
with your fingertips as you go. Allow for the dirt panel ends to
slightly overlap and trim where needed. Dab sealer along the
seams where the tissue papers meet but do not brush a layer of
sealer over the brown tissue, as the color may run.
|
Member Comments On...
Garden Lamp-scapes
0 |
vance999 says:
Very nice article. I was looking for tiffany lamps for a while and got them. Apparently i am very happy with them. They have their own style and elegance.
http://justmeydatiffany.com/
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