Instead of purchasing new art deco table lamps, have you considered designing your own? If you are able to track down some glass lamp shades, you can easily turn them into some of the most elegant, hand designed Tiffany style art deco lamps. With a bit of planning, and some artistic creation, you can have truly one-of-a-kind lamp shades that match your decor perfectly. The best part about the project, is that it can be completed for less than $20 if you do it right.
Step 1: Clean the inside of your lamp shade.
You are going to need to go over the glass with an alcohol based cleaner to remove any grease or dirt buildup. The types of paints that you are going to use will not adhere to the glass properly if the glass has a film on it. To ensure the project lasts for many years, spend plenty of time preparing for the project.
Step 2: Get your design scaled down.
Take the design that you have created to a print shop, and have it scaled down. Make sure that it is small enough to transfer onto the glass, and that it is not so rich in detail that you will have a hard time covering it properly. Simple designs are usually easier to work with.
Step 3: Transfer the design onto the glass lamp shade.
Once you receive the scaled design, you need to transfer it to the glass. Using a permanent or fabric marker, outline the design onto the glass. Take your time, as these black marks will show through when you place the shade back onto the lamp. Once you finish, allow them to dry overnight. After the marker has dried properly, you should apply a bead of silicone or other removable glue onto the lines, unless you are an accurate painter.
Step 4: Cover the art deco table lamp design using window paint.
Apply different colors and patterns of window paint to each section of your design. As always, take your time, ensuring that each section looks even, compared against the rest. Once the paint has had a few days to cure, you will need to remove the silicone glue.
Step 5: Examine the shade, and install it onto the lamp.
Peel off the glue lines once the paint has adhered to the glass. You need to ensure that you have removed every piece of glue, to avoid having it melt when you reinstall the shade. If your art deco lamp shade has dried properly, and you have removed all of the glue, reinstall it onto the lamp and turn on the light. You should be able to begin enjoying the fruits of your labor!
Fri, Aug 6, 2010
Indoor Lighting