How to make a lampshade for a chandelier from cardboard: 4 simple ways

Are you dreaming of adding brightness to the nursery or refreshing your workspace in the house? Or maybe you are a lover of the East, where the fashion for these such delicate little things came to us from? Then you should definitely read how to make a lamp out of paper with your own hands - unusual, original little things will instantly add a bit of magic to any corner of the house!

We guarantee that your guests will be asking for a long time where you bought this designer lamp, and having learned that you made it yourself, they will ask you to tell you how to make a paper chandelier with your own hands and its step-by-step instructions.

In this master class we will show you four ways to make a lamp out of paper, look and choose the option that’s right for you.

How to make a frame for a lampshade

In old table lamps, the frame usually does not undergo such irreversible changes and deformations that it cannot be used to create a new lampshade. But a person may not be satisfied with its shape or size, and then he has to make a new one with his own hands. The question is: how and from what?

The easiest way is to use aluminum or steel wire of such a cross-section that it holds its shape well. The skeleton of the future lampshade is formed from it.

Stages of work	Description
Stage 1	We cut out templates from cardboard for all lampshade diameters. It can be one if the shape is assumed to be cylindrical, two if it is cone-shaped, three or more if it is complex. We cut off pieces of wire and form circles from it according to the template. Twist the ends tightly, using pliers if necessary.
Stage 2	We decide on the height of the lampshade and the number of vertical jumpers. We cut the wire for them 8-10 centimeters longer than needed.
Stage 3	We bend the excess ends of the wire perpendicularly and wrap them around the upper and lower circle. We additionally fix all joints and mask them with electrical tape. You can wrap it around the entire frame.
Stage 4	If the lamp does not have a stop for the socket, we modify the frame. Why do we first make a wire ring with a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the cartridge and connect it to the frame posts with horizontal jumpers.

The frame can also be assembled by welding or soldering. When soldering, it is better to use soldering acid instead of rosin.

Advice. Ready-made items can also become the basis for a lampshade. For example, plastic or metal wire waste baskets, wicker vases or plastic bottles. They just need to cut a hole for the cartridge.

Threads

A ceiling chandelier created from threads will fill the living space with comfort and soft, muted light. This unobtrusive lighting device can be hung in the bedroom, living room, nursery or kitchen. Depending on the style of the surrounding interior, threads can be bright colors or calm pastel shades.

Materials and tools:

• high-density threads (wool, cotton fibers, tow) - 1 m;
• balloons - 2 pcs.;
• cartridge;
• bulb;
• PVA glue;
• petrolatum;
• brush;
• marker.

Inflate the balloon to the desired volume. We mark with a marker the upper and lower boundaries of the location of the threads. Take a brush and coat the ball with Vaseline. We wrap the ball with threads, focusing on the markings. During winding, we treat the threads with glue. The level of light output of the product will depend on the winding density. We leave it to dry, then the ball can burst and be pulled out. In the upper part we will cut out a place for installing the cartridge. Let's check the reliability and elasticity of the lamp by inflating a ball inside it.

Next, the lampshade can be painted and/or added with decorations.

Lacy lampshade

An elegant lampshade made of antique lace is suitable for a bright interior in the Provence style, and can also decorate the veranda of a country house. By using lace to create a lighting fixture, we give it new life in a new, more current incarnation.

Materials and tools:

• lace or its fragment;
• balloon;
• PVA glue;
• brush;
• electrical accessories.

Cut out circles of different diameters from the lace. Let's inflate the ball, spread it with a thin layer of glue and begin to overlap the lace elements. Let's think over the beautiful outlines of the lace that will frame the light bulb. Upon completion of the process, leave the product to dry for a day. We pop the ball and make a hole to install the electric cartridge.

The power of such a lamp should be minimal to avoid overheating of the lampshade; for more pronounced outlines and highlights on walls.

DIY chandelier: photo tutorial on lampshade decor

You will need:

• cartridge of the required diameter;
• electrical cord;
• frame of the future chandelier;
• decorative elements;
• nylon threads;
• hot glue gun;
• bulb.

With the help of your imagination, an old lampshade frame found in the attic will turn into an elegant and stylish thing. Many famous interior designers started their careers this way, making amazing things and putting them up for sale. Who knows, maybe your success is just around the corner?

So, measure the lampshade and make a pattern. When choosing fabric, pay attention to its density. It can be organza, chiffon or a denser fabric like burlap or linen. Sew the parts and, pulling the resulting cover onto the frame, secure the fabric with threads. Now decorate the lampshade with lace, beads and artificial flowers. Attach the socket to the finished lampshade and connect the wire, all that remains is to screw in the light bulb and the chandelier with your own hands (as in the photo) is ready.

An object of pride and admiration has appeared in your home. Now no one can stop you from creating new masterpieces!

Fabric coverings

The base for work is ready. Now we need to select the material. The main thing is that it is convenient to work with him. Thin fabrics will be successful for work: tulle, taffeta, silk, lace, tulle. They lie softly and form folds.

The tone is selected according to the color scheme of the room. The south side of the home is suitable for cool colors (blue, blue, green). It is good to “insulate” the north of the house with yellow, orange or red. The white color scheme is neutral and will suit any interior.

How to make a moon lamp out of paper with your own hands

Shot: @Crafts Junction / YouTube

What do you need

• Paper napkins, towels or toilet paper;
• PVA glue;
• water;
• brush;
• plastic ball;
• White paint;
• black paint;
• sponge;
• lamp base;
• plastic bucket with lid;
• glue gun;
• knife;
• bulb;
• pencil;
• wire.

How to do

Separate napkins, towels or toilet paper into single-layer pieces. Start gluing them to the ball by coating it with glue lightly mixed with water. Place the pieces of paper on top of each other and also coat the top with glue.

Shot: @Crafts Junction / YouTube

Thus, glue the entire ball in several layers. Dry the paper completely.

Shot: @Crafts Junction / YouTube

Cover the figure with white paint and let dry. Mix white paint with a little black to create a gray color. Use a sponge to make gray spots on the ball.

Shot: @Crafts Junction / YouTube

Glue the lamp base to the back of the cover using hot glue. Cut a large hole in the bottom of the bucket. Connect the lid and bucket and screw in the light bulb.

Shot: @Crafts Junction / YouTube

Draw a circle on the ball with a pencil. You can circle a glass or some other object. Cut along the marked line and remove the plastic.

Shot: @Crafts Junction / YouTube

Place the ball on the light bulb. For reliability, you can glue the figure to the base.

Updating Dresser Drawers

There are two ways to update your chest of drawers with wallpaper. The first involves working with the external walls of the furniture, and the second - with the internal ones. Both techniques can be used simultaneously. Decorating the facade of furniture enriches the interior, while the decor of the interior space is a pleasant “zest”. Large stickers are also suitable for decorating a chest of drawers.

Decoupage wallpaper with floral patterns.

: Lampshade assembly

Now that all the parts are ready, you can start assembling the lampshade.

First of all, I placed one pentagon in front of me, applied hot glue to two adjacent sides, and glued two other pentagons to them so that they were connected to each other on one side (see the first photo). This side where they are connected must also be glued.

Then it remains to glue the remaining sides. It is very convenient to use hot glue at this stage, because it sets immediately.

Well, that's all, the lampshade is ready!

Gift packaging

At the last minute you were invited to a special event? Don't have a nice package of the right size at home? Take the remaining wallpaper, place the gift, wrap it and secure it with tape. Wrap a satin ribbon on top and tie a beautiful bow.

Wallpaper gift wrapping

For a child's birthday, you can give the child a gift box in the form of candy. We wrap a gift, such as a towel. We squeeze the ends a little with our hands and tie them.

Original gift packaging in the form of candy

The rectangular shape is the easiest to fold, but you can also make other interesting packaging shapes, such as a handbag.

Paper butterfly chandeliers

The most popular paper chandelier is the butterfly chandelier. And such love for this product is not just:

• firstly, it looks very chic and expensive.
• And secondly, the production is very simple, even a child can be involved.

Such an elegant lamp will go well with any interior style, and it is also appropriate in the living room or dining room and even in a children's room.

Manufacturing technique:

1. The basis is an old chandelier or its frame. If this is not the case, then you can take a regular metal or wooden rim. If there is no such thing, take a thick wire and make 2-3 coils of yourself, so that you get a circle.
2. Cut out butterflies according to the template (butterfly template below)
3. We take a nylon thread or fishing line and attach butterflies to it. There can be two types of fastenings: either we pierce the butterflies or we put them on silicone glue. Whichever is more convenient for someone.

Butterfly pattern

To make a chandelier with butterflies, just take a template and scale it to your size. It looks very nice if you make butterflies of several sizes, for example 3-4 diameters. Using a pencil, draw the sketch on paper and cut it out.

• It is best to cut with a stationery knife
  or straight nail scissors without curves.
• It is better to use paper that is thicker and that does not attract dust , for example, a velvet structure. Since you will have to vacuum such a chandelier often

It is also a very beautiful option if you make a ball out of wire, take an old pendant from a chandelier as a basis and place several butterflies using a glue gun.

Step by step instructions

Regardless of the DIY craft option, the wood needs to be prepared. For this purpose, the following are used: fungicidal impregnations, which protect against the development of mold, impregnations to protect against moisture absorption. After treatment with impregnations, the workpieces are well dried.

Simple wooden chandelier

To create a pendant ceiling lamp with your own hands, you can use straight, thick sticks. The main requirement: the diameter must be sufficient to pull the cord. For a do-it-yourself wooden chandelier we will need:

• thick sticks;
• LED Strip Light;
• water-repellent impregnation.

Sequencing:

• drill each stick in the middle;
• cover with impregnation and dry for 24 hours;
• insert LED strip into the holes;
• connect the contacts of each tape to the cable and insulate;
• hang from the ceiling with staples or a hook.

Interesting video on the topic:

Board lamp

To create a lamp from boards you will need:

• Four plank blanks to form a rectangular frame;
• Rectangular mirror as a reflector;
• Varnish, glue;
• Drill.

Sequencing:

1. We make a groove on the edge of each board for installing a mirror element.
2. We make a rectangular blank from four planks, into which we insert a reflector on one side. Secure with glue.
3. We make a hole with a drill in one block, insert a cable with a socket.
4. Varnish or paint.

Another option is to insert darkened or multi-colored glass on both sides instead of a mirror. Then the lamp will produce multi-colored light or a muted diffused glow.

Making sconces

For a DIY wall lamp, it is better to choose geometrically correct shapes in the form of a rectangle or square. To create a wooden sconce we will need:

• flat rectangular blanks 2 pcs;
• corner block;
• self-tapping screws;
• drill;
• varnish, glue gun.

What to do:

1. We treat the workpieces with fungicidal and water-repellent impregnation. After drying for two days, varnish or paint.
2. We connect two blanks in the form of the letter “G” with self-tapping screws.
3. Between them we install a corner with glue to impart rigidity.
4. We drill a hole in the upper part for the wire and install the base.

The wooden sconce is attached to the wall with self-tapping screws or on a bracket.

We recommend videos on the topic:

An additional lamp can be installed in the L-shaped wall lamp. The color and texture of the wood will be emphasized by the warm, amber shade of the lampshade, and silver-coated glass will add contrast to the texture and color.

Features of making a floor lamp

You can make a wooden floor lamp with your own hands. For the floor lamp, wooden elements will serve as a stand. If you have a lathe, the stand can be made from cut timber. If there is no processing tool, the base for a floor lamp can be the trunk of a small tree.

In this case, dry the workpiece, remove the bark from the trunk, and sand the surface with sandpaper. Treat with anti-fungal and anti-moisture impregnations. Make a recess on the back side for the wires.

Place the trunk on a stable base. Make a frame on top with wire to install the base. On top you can put a lampshade made of fabric, paper or wood.

Wooden lampshade

You can make it yourself from thin branches. Due to their small diameter they dry faster. Small branches are more suitable for a ceiling chandelier because they have less weight than timber or solid wood. With a combination of thin elements, the lamp has an airy silhouette that does not weigh down the interior and makes the light diffuse, giving it an intimate feel.

For the lampshade you will need:

• branches;
• thick wire;
• glue gun;
• pruner

What we do:

1. We sort out the sticks. Depending on the shape, we select either identical and even ones, or, conversely, with a large number of bends.
2. We treat the branches with an antiseptic. If there are no special impregnations, soak for a day in a solution of potassium permanganate, dry at room temperature for a week.
3. We make a frame from thick stainless wire. The shape can be any: classic trapezoid, ball, rectangle.
4. We attach the sticks to the frame with glue. Don't forget to leave a gap for installing the base.
5. We coat the wooden lamp with varnish. It will protect against moisture and fungus.
6. We insert the lamp socket and secure it with wire.

Glass and paper

The easiest thing to make with your own hands is a glass lamp. This is a portable table lamp that is very quick and easy to make. To make such a lighting device you will need:

• a thin sheet of paper (you can print a specific pattern on it);
• round and tall glasses;
• wire with a thickness of 1-2 mm;
• candles-tablets.

The tools you will need are:

• scissors;
• PVA glue;
• pliers;
• stationery knife;
• scotch.

The algorithm of actions here is as follows:

Bent wire

bend the wire using pliers so that it takes on the appearance shown in the photo. A candle-tablet will be placed on its lower part. The length of the wire should ultimately be slightly greater than the height of the glass. This will make it much more convenient to remove the candle from the container;

The glass itself should be decorated with a sheet of paper on which the pattern you like is applied. Carefully glue the sheet to the glass. The top of the container can be decorated using plaster or polymer clay.

Ready glass

As you can see, this requires a minimum of effort and time, and as a result you will get a beautiful lamp, perfect for a romantic dinner or just a quiet, relaxing evening of relaxation.

Children's lamp: soft toy

The fabric should not be too dense and allow light to pass through. Therefore, you can use flax. When choosing a pattern, it is important to take into account the wishes of the child. Cut the fabric and connect all the parts except the bottom. Fill with sealant.

The fabric is impregnated with any composition that makes it dense (starch, gelatin).

The improvised lampshade should dry well. A small hole is made at the bottom for the cord to exit. The seal is removed. A prepared LED cord is laid inside the structure. You can use a New Year's garland. The bottom is sewn up: the lamp is ready.

From glass bottles

This is a difficult technology, the implementation of which requires special care. But in the end, you get an original and unusual chandelier, suitable for modern interior styles.

You will need:

• bottle (can be used for champagne or wine);
• sandpaper;
• frame made of metal or wood;
• cartridge;
• glass cutter;
• the wire.

Manufacturing process

1. Take a dry and clean bottle and use a glass cutter to cut off the bottom.
2. Next, sand the edges of the cut using sanding paper.
3. We stretch the wire through the neck of the bottle and install the cartridge.
4. We fix the product on the frame.

The final appearance of the product depends on your imagination. You can add various decorations or create a chandelier from several identical or different bottles. In any case, in the end, the result will have an original and unusual look.

Plastic spoons

In the style of plastic spoons, ordinary utilitarian objects give an interesting opportunity to create an exclusive lampshade. To do this, take a plastic vessel of the required size and a large number of plastic spoons. It is impossible to indicate the exact quantity, it all depends on the size of the lampshade.

Handles are cut off from spoons. After this, they are sequentially connected to each other using a decorative gun and special glue.

In order for the structure to have the correct shape, the basis is plastic vessels for water or drinks. After the entire structure has acquired the required shape, the glue has dried, and a cartridge with wires is attached to the upper part.

Gaginta pendant chandelier made from a map

Are you not into geography and not a fan of looking at these maps in the atlas? Therefore, find the best use for them - create a unique pendant lamp . To do this, you just need to cut out the cards and fold them into a certain shape, after which, start gluing. The lamp looks especially chic when the light is on. And you can place it in a children’s room for a schoolboy boy, the design features of which can be viewed here. The guys are passionate about exploring the world, and in general, it will be creative. As a result, you can easily make such unusual paper chandeliers with your own hands!

Ideas for making New Year's lamps

Any, even the simplest luminous craft, will add a piece of Christmas magic to your holiday decor.

To create a room decoration element for the New Year, use:

• cardboard;
• boards;
• plywood;
• polymer materials;
• glass containers;
• yarn, jute, lace.

They decorate with all sorts of thematic elements: cones, figures, braid, tinsel under pine needles.

Advice! The decor colors should be harmonious in tone. Don't get carried away with piling up details. The main function of the New Year's craft is lighting.

For this purpose, LED garlands, candles or neon bulbs are used.

Shabby chic chandelier

To create spectacular lighting in a room, you can also make a chandelier from fabric or beads. The result will be a kind of candelabra or lampshade in the “shabby chic” style.

Materials:

• a ready-made metal or wooden frame (or it can be made from an old hoop, garden basket, thick wire);
• socket and lamp;
• chains and threads for decoration;
• all kinds of beads and seed beads.

Working on such a lampshade is not difficult, but it is a very painstaking task. Such chandeliers usually consist of two or three levels of rings, which are located on top of each other. It all depends on the size of the chosen bases. If you take rings of the same diameter, the finished product will be made in the “modern” style.

One of the important points is that before you start decorating the chandelier, you need to paint and wrap the frames with decorative materials!

The approximate consumption of beads is:

• For the lower part of the lampshade - 16 mm beads, about 15-17 pieces per thread;
• For the upper part of the lampshade - 12 mm beads, about 35 pieces per thread.

Naturally, when stringing beads on a thread, you can increase or decrease their number or the degree of thread tension. But it is still advisable to stock up on materials in excess of the norm.

The essence of the work is to hang threads with beads in a “waterfall” or “cascade” so that they flow downward along the structure.

In order to create the effect of “muting” the light, you can sheathe the frame with thick fabric.

A DIY chandelier will definitely add a fresh touch, originality and beauty to your interior. You will immediately notice how the room will sparkle with new colors, and your guests will sincerely admire your creativity, hard work and original taste!

A few words about security

When manufacturing lamps, floor lamps and chandeliers in industrial conditions, the minimum distance from the “body” of the lamp to the materials is first calculated. This distance depends on the power and thermal radiation of the lamp and on the type (flammability) of the material from which the lampshade/shade is made. At home, it is unlikely that anyone will bother with such calculations. And in order not to create a dangerous situation, you should adhere to certain rules.

• Use low-wattage light bulbs that do not produce much heat. There are two options - “housekeepers” and LED. When choosing LED lamps, you will have to buy expensive ones, since you need lamps with good radiators - metal and ceramic, which dissipate heat. These are far from cheap copies. The consolation is that they emit even light and have a very long service life (in theory, several decades).

  
  Before making a lampshade with your own hands, think about safety

• If possible, use ceramic rather than plastic cartridges. They dissipate heat better.
• Do not place flammable materials (paper, cardboard, cotton and synthetic fabric) closer than 5-7 cm to the lamp.

In general, after making a lampshade and installing it, in the first few days pay attention to whether the lampshade is heating up. Heating is any increase in temperature above ambient. If the lampshade feels “warm”, change the bulb to a less powerful one. Check again. Do this until the homemade lampshade gets warm.

We make blinds for windows

Wallpaper blinds look interesting and unusual.

Paper blinds are a great idea for the kitchen and veranda. To create this product you will need thick wallpaper. Non-woven samples in pale tones that reflect light are ideal. The operating algorithm is as follows:

1. Cut a sheet that matches the width of the glass, but is 25% longer than its length.
2. Assemble the wallpaper with an accordion. The size of the folds can fluctuate around 2.5-5 cm.
3. Make a small hole in the middle of the folded fabric. The cord should be inserted here and then the blinds should be straightened.
4. The curtains are attached to the window using double-sided tape.
5. The 5 folds at the bottom must be glued in the middle and secured with tape. The result should be a “peacock tail”.
6. Equip the cord with a lock.
7. Such blinds look unique, and this with minimal time and financial costs.