Shadows and Light: Colorful Tea Warmer Candle Lamp

This lamp is perfect for you if you want to be creative without needing technical skills, exotic materials or tools. It will be a colourful spot in your furnishing and will create a great atmosphere in the dark by casting shadows and colours to your walls. Have fun!

Supplies

translucent paper in different colours
wallpaper Paste (Adhesive)
balloons
thread
pin
working gloves
wire cutter
2 pens
2 types of wire: a thicker one (eg. 0,7mm thick / 40m long) and a thinner one (eg. silver wire 0,4mm / 20m long)
pliers
scissors
old newspaper
tea warmer candle (or LED candle light)

Step 1: Draft and Doing Papier-mâché

Think of a design for your lamp. This will help you define the size of the papier-mâché and the amount of wire you need.
Inflate the balloon.
Mix the wallpaper paste powder with water according to the instruction.
Shred the paper into small pieces.
Dip the paper pieces into the wallpaper paste and then put them on the balloon. You should overlap 2 to 3 pieces. Alternatively put a bit of the wallpaper powder on the balloon and then put the paper on top. Use your fingers to spread the paste on the paper.
Do this with all the colours of the translucent paper you want to use.
Hang the balloons in the way they don’t touch anything and let the wallpaper paste dry.

Step 2: Building the Basic Structure

Safety First! Wear your working gloves!
Measure and cut 1m long thick wire, fold it twice so you have 4 wires of 250cm and create a spiral out of them. For this you can use the two pens. Put them through the loops in the endings. It makes it easier to rotate. It is also good if a second person can help you. Repeat this process until desired spiral wires are available and are enough for your design.
Now shape and connect them to create the basic structure of your design. It is good to create a part that can hold the tea warmer candle and some feet for the lamp.
Loose wire ends can be flattened with the pliers.

Step 3: Cutting the Papier-mâché

When the papier-mâché is dried you have to remove the balloon by pricking it if it has not shrunk on its own.
Decide in which areas you want to have the paper (if you have not decide already in the design draft). Remember you should leave at least one area free being able to exchange and light up the candle. It is also good to have an open area on the top for air circulation.
Cut the paper into the shapes of the areas. It can be helpful using old newspapers to create stencils.

Step 4: Mounting the Papier-mâché

Wear the gloves again!
Use the pin to prick small holes into the edges of the paper.
Then use the thin wire to connect the paper to the basic structure.

Step 5: Creating Wire Nets

Still wear the gloves!
Use the thin wire to create wire nets in the remaining areas (despite the one for the candle).
Again loose wire ends can be flattened with the pliers.
Light up the tea warmer candle and enjoy!