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Project Difficulty:
Moderate
Estimated
Project Time: 3 days, including drying time
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Unfinished wooden lamp base
Sandpaper and tack cloth
Multipurpose primer
Flat foam paintbrushes
Metallic acrylic craft paint in French vanilla, antique gold and old ivy
Masking tape
Antiquing medium in brown
Soft lint-free cloths
Stencil blanks or paper
Transfer or tracing paper, as needed
Pencil
Spray adhesive
Gloves
Safety goggles
Craft knife
Stencil brushes
Paper towels
Artist's brush
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Decorator glaze in russet brown, Italian sage, deep woods green, and patina
Rubber eraser
Lattice stencil
Gold wax
Liquid leaf in classic gold
Sealer
Self-adhesive lampshade, 8 x 14 x 11 inches
Fabric with topiary print
Scissors
3/4 yard of flat braid trim in a shade to match the fabric
Hot-glue gun and glue sticks
1-1/4 yards of fringe trim in a shade to match the fabric
Ruler or straightedge
Bulb
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Add a personal touch to your décor, as well as practicality, with a lamp decorated in a theme of your own choosing. This project involves a wooden lamp base on which you can paint any design, and a self-adhesive lampshade that accepts almost any fabric and fringe you desire. The instructions below discuss using topiary shapes, but your options are endless. You can choose from such topics as landscapes, flowers, sports, clowns, animals, fruits, shells, or whatever suits your fancy.
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1.
Sand the Base
Sand the lamp base to create a smooth surface. Wipe it with a tack cloth.
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2.
Apply Background Color to the Base
First, apply two coats of the primer to the lamp base. Let them dry.
Then paint the two side panels (not the front or back panels), flat bottom, and top of the base with two coats of old ivy paint. Let the paint dry.
Next, mask the edges of the green areas, and then paint the front and back panels with two coats of French vanilla paint. Let them dry.
Finally, apply a coat of antiquing medium to the front and back panels. While the medium is still wet, rub some off in an uneven manner with a soft cloth. Remove the masking tape.
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3.
Make the Stencil Template
On a photocopier, resize the topiary and lattice stencils (see Figures 1 through 4 or use another design if you desire) to a size suitable for your lamp base.
Apply spray adhesive to the back of the paper with the image on it, and adhere the paper to the stencil paper. (When working with spray adhesive, work in a well-ventilated area, and follow other safety precautions as recommended by the manufacturer.)
Place the stencil paper and design on a clean, level surface, and cut out the design using a sharp craft knife. If you make a mistake, don't attempt to cut the same line again. Cut a new line to ensure clean, even edges. Move the stencil around as you cut, so that you are always cutting at an angle that gives you the most control over the blade.
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4.
Stencil the Design
Create the topiary for the front and back panel.
Begin with the plant container (Fig. 1). Spray the reverse side of the stencil template with spray adhesive to keep it from slipping while working. (Follow manufacturer's instructions when using spray adhesive.) Position the template on the panel, and tape it in place. Mask any areas you are not working on.
Dip the stencil brush into the antique gold paint, and then blot it on a paper towel. You want to use a small amount of paint.
Pounce the brush up and down on the template to make crisp, clean edges. Work from the edges toward the center. Use less paint, and build up layers for a clean professional-quality finish. Wait for the paint to dry before continuing.
Next, use a clean brush for applying the russet brown paint to the stem template (Fig. 2). Follow the same procedures as for the antique gold paint.
Finally, stencil the round topiary forms (Fig. 3). Use a pale mixture of the green and neutral glazes applied with an artist's brush. Paint one above the other, making the top form smaller than the other. At this point, you're just adding background color to the topiary shape, not the actual leaves.
As you work, wipe off any excess paint from the template to prevent undesirable smears and smudges on your surface.
Allow the paint to dry before going on to Step 8.
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5.
Add the Leaves
Make your stamp for the ivy leaves. With a craft knife, cut a small leaf shape into an ordinary rubber pencil eraser. Wear safety goggles when carving.
Then load the carved eraser with the various green glazes and randomly fill in the topiary balls with leaves. Be sure to cover the whole design on the eraser with glaze so that you're not left with gaps in the impression. Press the stamp firmly onto the surface. Reload with glaze before each application. Overlap and change direction for a realistic look of intertwined ivy.
Repeat the design on the back panel.
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6.
Stencil the Lattice
Using antique gold paint, stencil the lattice on each of the green-painted side panels (Fig. 4). Let the paint dry.
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7.
Add the Gold Finish
Make sure the surface you will be working on is clean, dry, and already painted. Then rub gold wax along the edges of the lamp's base, using a soft, lint-free cloth. Work with the grain.
In this case, the base is attached to four wooden balls, which have been painted with liquid gold leaf.
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8.
Seal Your Work
Finish the lamp base with two or more coats of sealer.
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9.
Attach Fabric to the Shade
Remove the protective paper from the self-adhesive lampshade. Using the paper as a pattern, cut the topiary fabric to the same dimensions. Following the shade manufacturer's instructions, smooth the fabric in place on the lampshade.
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10.
Attach Flat Braid
Cut a length of flat braid to fit around the lampshade's top edge, overlapping the ends. Using the hot-glue gun, glue the flat braid in place.
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11.
Attach Fringe
Cut a length of fringe trim to fit along the lower edge of the lampshade. Glue the fringe in place.
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12.
Final Touches
If your lamp base is already wired, just put a bulb in the socket, plunk the shade on top, plug the lamp in, and it's ready to go! (Fig. 5)
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