Lamp Makeover

I am continually changing the decor in our home. I think I have it the way I want it... then see a photo in a magazine or online and decide that, no, that's the way I REALLY want it. My husband is thankful that at least I don't always buy something new. I usually just try to create something new out of something we already have. Sometimes it works- and sometimes it goes in the garage sale pile.

Some friends who are expecting a baby recently cleaned out their office. You know how that is. When a baby comes into the picture, suddenly there is no room for an office or guestroom. It's going to the baby. We did that when we found out we were expecting Logan. Our office in now in a living room closet, in the kitchen, and in the basement crawl space. Anyway, so while our friends were cleaning up for the baby, they passed on a nice IKEA filing cabinet that they could no longer use. I can't pass up anything free. I had no idea were I was going to put it but it looked so nice and I was sure that it could get used....even if it ended up being a new dog house for Jasmine.

Sweet hubby helped me rearrange furniture in our guestroom about a dozen times before I settled on moving the unsightly bookshelf into the guestroom closet (it actually works) and putting the cabinet in it's place. I currently think I will use it for out of season clothes.

Once moved the cabinet into the room I realized we were going to need a lamp. Off I go into the basement to see what I can scrounge up. I found an old lamp that my mother-in-law got us at a garage sale. I never used it but thought it had potential so I saved it. When I showed it to Derek, he sort of half laughed and grimaced at the thing and voted on something else. But I told him to wait till I spray painted it. I used a half full can of my favorite color of green (Krylon Ivy Leaf) which I also used to make a necklace for my sister. I need to have her model it for a picture. I  forgot to get a before shot of the lamp...but it was plastic black and fake gold before-here it is after.

I also decided to dress up the lampshade without spending any money. So I picked out a silhouette online, printed it and then cut it out. Using it as a guide. I first drew the design on the lamp in pencil.

After that I used a black sharpie to trace the pencil markings. Next I drew little squares for windows.

After that, I filled it all in.

Now the idea was that when the lamp was turned on you would see the silhouette of the city. Unfortunately, because the lampshade had two layers of fabric it was a little thick and made it harder to see. Still, I am fairly pleased with how it turned out. I think I might eventually had some ribbon to the outside as well and I have the idea of adding something to make it look like there are stars in the sky. I haven't figured that part out yet though. If I ever do more, I will post pictures.