Ribbon Wrapped Lampshade
Intro: Ribbon Wrapped Lampshade
When I made my Ribbon Lampshade, I had actually started it with a different design in mind. I adapted it to work with the structure of the lampshade and was happy with how it came out, but when I found another lampshade at a thrift store, I decided to try out my original design. This wrapped ribbon lampshade has a pretty basic design and you can change it up with different ribbons to make it fun and work for your space.
STEP 1: Supplies
What you need to make this will vary depending on the lampshade you have and the ribbons you choose to use.
Supplies:
- Lampshade - you need one with a structure, the top and bottom of the shade must be connected to each other
- Hot Glue Gun and glue sticks
- Ribbon of choice - preferably one that will allow some light to shine through
- I used 3/16" wide slightly frilly ribbon in red, orange, yellow, light green, green, turquoise, light blue, dark blue, purple and pink
- I also used 1/4" wide white ribbon for wrapping my lamp
- The ribbons I used are easily found at Micheals and JoAnns craft stores
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Lamp - it helps to put your shade on a lamp while you work on it
STEP 2: Dismantle Your Lampshade
You're not going to completely dismantle it. You want to remove any covering that is currently on the lampshade. Bring it down to its wire structure. In this picture, you can see what I mean about needing a lampshade where the top and bottom is connected. They can't be separate like in my Ribbon Lampshade Instructable.
Clean your lampshade frame.
STEP 3: Wrap Frame
Before getting started, wrap the top and bottom of your lampshade. These parts are going to show, so you'll want them covered so they look nicer.
You can use one of the ribbons you are going to use to wrap the rest of the shade if you want. I chose to use a basic white ribbon instead.
STEP 4: Wrapping Corners
Just wanted to show you some pictures of my corners. Make sure you wrap as much of the structure as you can.
STEP 5: Extra Support
I started this lampshade and quickly discovered I needed more structure or the ribbons were all going to twist. To make my own structure, I took the ribbon I used to wrap the top and bottom and put supports going from bottom to top on each of the four sides.
Glue your ribbon to the inside of the bottom of the shade, and bring it up to the inside of the top of the lampshade. Trim any excess.
STEP 6: Begin Wrapping
Time to start wrapping. You are going to start by gluing your ribbon to the outside of one corner. I would say to glue it so it is slightly overlapping the bottom of the lamp, you want to avoid gaps.
Keeping the ribbon tight, glue it to the ribbon support. Put a dab of glue and blue it to the next corner going around.
As you add new ribbons, very slightly overlap the ribbon below. You want to avoid gaps the best you can. You can do more overlap if you like the way it looks.
Here is where I started to make it a little complicated. I noticed that because of the angle of the sides, the ribbon was trying to twist because I just glued it straight to the lampshade structure To make it lay flatter, I glued the ribbon to one side of the corner, then I cut through the ribbon about halfway (Picture 7). Then, fold the ribbon over against itself a little (where it is cut) and glue it again on the corner. Hold the ribbon out towards the next corner as you glue it because that is the way you want the ribbon to go and lay flat.
Continue around doing this at each corner until you get back to the beginning corner. Just glue it down and trim the excess.
You are going to have a lot of glue on the edges of your lampshade. I'll give you an option at the end of this Instructable to cover it if you want. Otherwise, just leave it exposed like I did.
STEP 7: Continue Wrapping and Gluing
Continue around wrapping, snipping, and gluing your ribbons in place.
Use a ruler every once in a while to make sure you are going up each side at the same rate.
Once you get to the top, you are done!
STEP 8: Optional Cover
If you want to cover your edges because they are a glue-y mess, you can use one of your ribbons (such as my contrasting ribbon) and glue it up the whole edge. This will cover the mess while adding a nice little touch to the lamp.
STEP 9: Done
Now you are done!
Here is a look at different angles of the lamp.
20 Comments
kathynv 7 years ago
Lovely! I am looking for a nice way to cover some old lampshade frames which, coincidentally, are same as the lamp you did. Because this is for a bedroom lamp and I am no kid, I think I will use slightly wider ribbons in shades of cream/taupe/off white. I think it will look nice. If it looks halfway decent, I'll take a picture and post it. Thanks for the great idea and especially the great instructions on wrapping the frame in white ribbon beforehand!
Penolopy Bulnick 7 years ago
I would just love to see how it turns out! It sounds like it would be very pretty :)
khoiland 7 years ago
Penolopy Bulnick 7 years ago
Thank you and it can get pretty tedious, especially with all the cuts at the corners. Sitting down and listening to a podcast or TV show can help pass the time, though :)
Jesus~Jonnie~Jewelry 7 years ago
Penolopy Bulnick 7 years ago
Thank you :)
Anielskaanieladiy 7 years ago
it looks great , I love intensive colors ,I think I will do similar I need a lamp for bedroom :-)
Penolopy Bulnick 7 years ago
That's great! I'd love to see a picture of it if you do get a chance to do it :)
Anielskaanieladiy 7 years ago
I will do for sure :-)
ColorfulCrafter819 7 years ago
Penolopy Bulnick 7 years ago
Thank you! I'm really happy with how it turned out :) And rainbows are the BESTEST!
tinaciousz 7 years ago
So fun! I'll have to share this with my nieces -- they adore rainbows.
Penolopy Bulnick 7 years ago
Rainbows are the bestest!
BLASTFEMI 7 years ago
Gorgeous! I love it!
Penolopy Bulnick 7 years ago
Thank you :)
PinoS 7 years ago
Very interesting idea. I like it.
(When the ribbon ends meet in a corner, as you have resolved to make a clean corner?
But if instead of attacking many individual strips of ribbon on the structure you make before a single long strip of different ribbon ?)
I apologize for my intrusiveness.
Penolopy Bulnick 7 years ago
Thanks! I think that could work really well if you have a lampshade that goes straight up and down. I don't think it would work for my lampshade because the sides go in and you would still have the issues of the corners when you got to them.
PinoS 7 years ago
Ok! Now i realize it. Nice work!
Pavithra Arunkumar 7 years ago
Penolopy Bulnick 7 years ago
Thanks :)