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Make a String Lamp

27 January 2010 22,510 views 6 Comments

by heather

Use an old technique to make a cool new lamp! Use string, a balloon, and some kind of stiffener to make this cool string lampshade, found at Pickles. You can pick up a pendant lamp kit at your local home improvement store or IKEA for ten bucks or less. Or, you could play around with using twinkle lights as illumination. Pickles used wallpaper paste to stiffen the string, but other makers had good luck with Elmer's glue or other types of stiffeners. You can use a big punch-balloon (find at the party store if your dollar store doesn't stock them) for the round form or an inflatable beach ball like x4duros did. [click here for how to make a string lamp]

Project Estimate:

Ball of string or yarn or two, $1 and up
Elmer's glue, 3 large desk bottles, about $1 each
Inflatable beach ball or punch balloon, $1
Vaseline, on hand

Total: $5 and up

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6 Comments »

wait now « the wallpaper goes. said:

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# 2 February 2010 at 3:28 pm

JeolsliesMomma said:

Ouu this is a neat idea! I have soooo much yarn.

# 5 February 2010 at 11:33 pm

Lindsie said:

I have been searching all over the internet for a pendant light kit but can’t find one anywhere. Is it possibly called something else? Any other ideas? I desperately need to make a light like this for our bedrooms which don’t have any overhead lighting.

# 11 February 2010 at 10:47 am

tururu said:

Thanks for link me. Nice blog :D

# 12 February 2010 at 2:01 am

Amanda said:

After seeing this idea, I tried to find a cord… I know Ikea sells them but although located close-ish to two, I choose to use public transportation and I am limited travel wise. So, I let my head wander and I remembered I had inherited a set of candle stick lights that many people adorn their windows with. I find them tacky, but saved them anyway only to realize their cords, matched with these shades (I’m using mint green, a darker, vibrant green, and a white) would look lovely grouped together. If you think hard enough, you’ll be able to figure out something you can use.

# 21 July 2010 at 6:32 pm