Last night I was wandering through the fabric section of Hobby Lobby and spied some "self-adhesive" chandelier shades. What a novel idea! So I went looking for some fabric and ribbon and trim and such. The lady working in the fabric department helped me out - - and I came away with all the materials for about $40. I actually bought enough for six shades because I thought that's how much I needed - only to come home and discover it's just five. The actual materials I used to create the five shades is probably about $30. Not bad at all!
So I bought
*tan/cream colored faux-texture fabric. It looks kind so like wrinkled parchment paper close up.
*Some green beading. Wit it put together now I wish I had bought the longer beading that I had liked as well - but it was twice the price, and what I have certainly works.
*purple ribbon for the top trim. In retrospect, the ribbon needed to be a bit thinner in order to lay flat along the top rim of the shade - - but most people aren't tall enough to closely examine the top rim of the shade - so I'm just going to leave it alone!
And - of course - pictures.
Before:
The shades came with a pattern - you just trace and then wrap the fabric around the shade. I used a hot glue gun to adhere the seam and to fold under on the top and bottom.
Next - I glued the purple ribbon around the top, again - it could really use a thinner ribbon.
Then, I glued the beads around the bottom. The lady at Hobby Lobby tells me most people don't let the "ribbon" part of the beading show in their projects. I tried it the other way - but I really prefer the green trim at the bottom in addition to the beads.
Put them on the chandelier, and voila!
Not my favorite or most dramatic make-over project - but I like them. One thing I didn't expect but I think is my favorite result is the way it changes the lighting in the dining room - it makes it so much softer!
Now I'm off to obsessively try to straighten all those little lamp shades and hope that I don't break any bulbs in the process.
This is such a neat yet frugal idea and it truly adds a lot to the room. Makes it much more cozy and "finished" feeling. I like it. :)
ReplyDeleteYou did a wonderful job on the shades. I love the green dangly beads on it. Your so talented.
ReplyDeleteThanks ladies! I agree that it gives it that "finished" look -- the big ugly chandelier is not so big and ugly anymore.
ReplyDeleteThe beads are my favorite part too. My mother laughed at my beads!
Cool. I like them. But there is a vital Wilbur decoration piece missing in the second picture.
ReplyDeletehaha. I was confused at first and then realize that wilbur had yet again snuck into one of the pictures. He likes to be where the action is!
ReplyDeleteI'll let you know ahead of time about those things. ;) I'm hoping and praying by then certain things will have passed.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone else. I love the finished look. You are a very talented decorator.
ReplyDeleteok daughter of mine - i do like the beads, and agree that you are a very talented woman, you, i think, have a definite knack to see a possible masterpiece out of things that i'd never even imagine. i have to go back through the pics to look for wilbur :)
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