Recycled cassette tapes and zip ties combine to make a super-cool retro lamp. OOO My Design made this lamp, and I love how the mismatched tapes look when they’re lit up. If I made this lamp, I would want to make it into a pendant lamp (perhaps because my house doesn’t have any built-in overhead lamps, so I always want more overhead light). You can find the zip ties at the dollar store, and the cassette tapes at thrift stores. [cassette tape lamp]
Project Estimate:
- 31 cassette tapes, about $.25 each = $8
- About 100 zip-ties, $5
- Pendant light kit, $4 (at IKEA)
Total: $17ish
Save money: omit zip ties and attach tapes with hot glue or E-6000.
There aren’t any instructions for making this lamp, but if I were making it, I would assemble stacks of 3 cassette tapes together, then attach the 3-stacks together by twos so you have five sides of six tapes each. Then build your cassette tape box and attach at the corners. Attach top side last.
For a pendant lamp, you would need to figure out a way to make a hole in the middle of the top side. Any good ideas of how to do it?
9 Comments
Sonny - Kids Craft Videos
What a novel idea…And wouldn’t it also be cool if it were retro music – in addition to light – emanating from the cube?
Peaches
OH SNAP!!! I have been looking for a good way to upcycle my old NKOTB tapes (if only I were joking!)….this is awesome. Wonder if I have the stuff to do it on a larger scale?
Well done!
Jo Green
Wow – great idea. I have sooooooo many old tapes I could use for this project.
kathryn
awesome! I love this! I want to try it. so great and creative. I love your blog, very inspirational.
-kathryn @ thedragonsfairytail
kristen
This is awesome! My hubs is looking for something retro to build a computer tower out of….hmmmmm
urban craft
Heather, this is such a rad find. I am going to raid my cassette stash for this. But I really need to find some colored cassettes. I think I may jut have your basic white. Super cool!
heather
@Urban Craft: You could spray paint your own cassettes, maybe?
KJ
Cost of cassette tapes at Goodwill are $.89 each, so the cost could be a little off. Can you tell me where you get tapes for $.25?