I have a vision of making a dollar store version of the leg lamp from “A Christmas Story” with a Barbie leg (or the dollar store version of a Barbie) and a small lampshade. I scoured the internet for someone else who shared my vision, but found nothing. I’m pretty sure this would be the hit of your white elephant party.
Maybe I will make it for next year’s holiday blogs, but for now, I’ll just estimate the cost on it:
Dollar Store Mini Leg Lamp
Project Estimate:
- Fashion doll (Barbie-style), $1
- Barbie fishnet stocking, $1 (or more… not sure how hard it would be to find this or a suitable facsimile)
- Lamp kit, $6 or so at home improvement store
- Small lamp shade, $2-5
- Black 1″ fringe trim, .5 yard, $1
- Wooden plaque, $1
- Black paint, on hand
Total Cost: $12 or so
Or, how about these projects, inspired by the leg lamp?
Leg lamp felt ornament by craftster user lindsycarranza.
This leg lamp costume by craftster user Oakwood1 would be a hilarious thing to wear to a tacky Christmas party (along with your ugly sweater?)
2 Comments
Katie
I just recently discovered your blog and I love it! I love to make crafts but I am definitely on a Dollar Store budget!
This lamp will be hilarious and incredibly tacky – -I can’t wait to see it!
DorrieBelle
Actually, I did the ‘Barbie Leg Lamp’ as a joke for my Uncle – it didn’t light up, but it was a cute miniature ornament he keeps on his desk year-round. Unfortunately, no photos exist. But here’s a few things I did :
I used a real thrift-store Barbie, with wrecked arms and head. Cheap, and the knockoff dolls tend to not have well-shaped legs. Some don’t even bend at the knee, which you sort of want for that authentic “Christmas Story” look. Sawed off the legs with a steak knife.
Since I’m a doll hobbyist, I had a pattern for Barbie hosiery. But even lacking a pattern, it wouldn’t be too hard to stretch tulle or netting over the leg, stitch it up by hand, then take it off, and turn it inside out, putting the trimmed seam on the inside. Then put it back on. Cheep. Make sure, though, that the hosiery-clad leg still fits into the shoe you wanna use.
I printed out a lampshade from Jim’s Printable Minis (http://www.printmini.com/printables/pp.shtml) for free. He has several designs to choose from !
Attached seam binding lace to the edge of the shade using a glue stick. And then made a sort of lamp harp (what attaches shade to lamp) out of a pair of twist ties. Floral wire or pipe cleaners would work well, too, and would be easier to sink into the soft vinyl of Barbie’s leg. My shade covered the whole ‘harp’ effort.
Glued a Barbie shoe to a wooden disc bought in a package of about a dozen or so for less than a buck at a craft shop. ‘Stained’ it with a brown magic marker. And there it was.
Break it down, now ->
Wrecked Barbie – $1. or $2., possibly free or on-hand. Try to snag a black shoe, too.
Tulle – less than a quarter yard, 50c or so. Or you can use on-hand salvaged hosiery or socks.
Lampshade – printed out for free, but you may wanna use nice $1. scrapbook paper.
Seam binding lace – on hand, or about $1. or so at a craft shop, with lots left over.
Twist ties, pipe cleaners, or floral wire – free or a $1. for several dozen wires you can use elsewhere.
Wooden discs – 88c for a dozen quarter-sized ones at HL, or other craft stores
The only thing I had to buy was the discs, so it’s possible this project could cost less than a dollar. Or about $5. How fancy this one goes is up to you !