I come across so many retro placemats when I am out at yard sales. They woven and wicker retro placemats are perfect to make into a fun and new lampshade for an existing lamp.
You can often find these for about $1 a piece! While they might not look like something you want in your home as is, if you repurpose them into these fun lampshade covers you will be happily surprised with the results.
You can use any old or damage fabric lampshade as the base for this project to save money.
To make a Retro Placemat lampshade you will need:
Small Fabric Lamp Shade (can not be taller than your pencils)
Retro Placemat
Ribbon (optional)
Floral wire
Scissors
Hot Glue
Now, you need to completely remove all of the fabric from your damaged or existing lampshade. Start by poking some scissors through the fabric, then cut away. Once you have the body of the fabric removed then start working on the material wrapped onto he wires. This will take some time, but is a great way to save a little money and salvage and exiting lampshade.
Tip: If you don’t have a damaged or existing lampshade you want to get rid of you can buy these wire frames of a lampshade at any lampshade store. Some arts and crafts stores will also sell them.
Now, you need to take your lampshade and roll it on a piece of acetate and trace it. This will be the inside of your lampshade after you install the Retro Placemat. It will also be the pattern you use to cut out your lampshade cover.
This will keep this lamp from being a fire hazard.
Now, take your acetate lampshade pattern cut out. Lay it on the woven placemat. Look for a pliable placemat.
Now, use a marker to trace the pattern.
Cut it out with some scissors.
Now, run a ribbon of hot glue around the top and bottom wire form of the lampshade.
Hold the cut out Retro Placemat in place on the lampshade until the glue cools. You could also use epoxy glue for this easy lampshade craft project.
Wrap the cut covering the entire lampshade.
Now take your piece of acetate, vellum, or parchment paper. Glue it in place with some hot glue after you have applied all of your Retro Placemat. Choose some great handmade parchment paper or even some vellum from the art store. They have huge selections of paper that would be absolutely perfect for this simple craft project.
Tip: For a really romantic look you could use twine to attach the Retro Placemat after you have glue it on. You could also use the floral wire. Simply attach one Retro Placemat, and then use the twine or floral wire to wrap around the area of the wicker placemat where it touches the wire lampshade. Use those re made holes in the wicker.
Always use a low watt bulb and never leave the lamp unattended.
