About two months ago, our cat was flying around the house being ridiculous, and knocked one of our matching lamps off the end-table in the living room. She broke the dang thing. Did I mention that they were matching?
Since I couldn’t find another lamp to match the non-broken one, I bought two new lamps, kept the lampshades (which were not damaged) and everything was fine. Except I still had one lamp with no shade left. And no place at home to put it.
But with a new office at the insurance agency where I work full time, I knew I could use it there. The problem was, I still had no lampshade.
So I spent several months looking for said lampshade, finally found the perfect one on Walmart’s website, and I ordered it (on clearance) for about $6. Wohoo, right?
Except when the box came, here’s what it looked like:
Yeah. So you can imagine what the shade itself looked like. Pitiful. Unfixable. Sold out. Returned.
The search continued…with no results.
I finally decided to just get a plain lampshade and add some pretty embellishments.
I purchased a ribbon and what I call a “floofy” to add with the trusty hot-glue gun.
So I started gluing the ribbon on. Except I ran into a little issue.
The ribbon started to ruffle. I guess between the hot glue and the fact that the lamp was curved and not flat, it just didn’t lay straight. So I ruffled/pleated it on purpose instead!
Then I added my lovely “floofy”!
Whatcha think? Have you ever pulled a few strings to make an item fit your decor?
wow! Awesome i love this i am not really crafty but seeing this i shall try harder 🙂
I’ll bet you can do it!
That is the cutest thing ever and way to make it original & unique. I absolutely love it.
Thanks, Robin!
Very cute idea! That is one craft I have not tried yet, though I saw Nate Berkus do a cool thing with a walmart lampshade, silk roses (also from walmart) and a hot glue gun. My daughter wants one and you have just given me the inspiration to go ahead and try it this weekend! Great job!
Ooo! That sounds so neat!
I liked the ribbon and bow attachment.
Thanks!
And you’ll probably end up liking your custom one better than the clearance one anyhow! Great work – I don’t have the ‘eye’ for that kind of craft.
Well, good thing that most things can be found in stores, right? 🙂
You did a great job! I hate it when an item arrives damaged! But I bet yours turned out prettier than the one you ordered.
I like it better, at least 🙂
That turned out great! Love the “floofy”! 😉 I bet it looks better than the damaged one was supposed to.
Oh yes, I love a good floofy 🙂
Not only do you have a cute new lampshade, but a story to go with it. Much better than a store bought lampshade any day!
Yes, that’s a good way to look at it!
What a fantastic lamp shade. You are so creative, Holy Cow… I really like it. I have one Granddaughter that is into zebra and the other one likes giraffe. I bet I could do something cute like this for them.
I’m sure you could!
That turned out really nice you did a good job.
Thank you! 🙂
What a great idea! I love having unique items in my home. A custom lampshade is a great idea.
Thanks, Emily!
I like it. That was a great idea! I love the creativity!
Thanks, Jill! Desperate times call for desperate measures LOL
How cute I love how you made it your own with just a little crafting.
A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do!
I love DIY and your lampshade turned out really pretty! Good job there. God bless those sweet little fur babies and their playing habits around the house! We have 2 cats so I completely understand 🙂
HA! Yes 🙂 Now there are many chase games between our cat and the new dog – God only knows what I’ll have to create next LOL
I love when someone takes the time to decorate their place of work, well done! I bet the kitty doesn’t visit the office often either. 😉
No, she does’t LOL
I love the new lampshade that you created! I love doing things like that!
Thanks, Angie! It WAS kinda fun! 🙂
I just adore the leopard print embellishment. You did a great job on the lampshade!
Thanks, Lawna!
Great idea! The colors really flow well together. I have a few lamps without shades now. I just can’t bring myself to spend $20 on a shade for a lamp that will probably get wrecked during our next move. I’m always on the lookout for ones at the thrift store that I can revamp.
I know it! This one cost me less than $10 all together!
That certainly was a fabulous way to spruce up an ordinary lamp shade! I have been on the hunt for new shades myself, so I may just go your crafty route!
I think you should! 🙂
That looks very neat! I love to make things work with what I have. Adding a bit here and there makes it more personal too.
True, Anna! Now I know that no one else has one just like mine 🙂
Who knew you were a crafter, too??Lol..This looks amazing Kristen. And yes, I have been through the lamp shade process, too but no décor ideas like yours!
I do things out of desperation LOL Thanks for the kudos 🙂
Don’t you hate that! I hate ordering things and they dont come as they should or its the wrong thing. The good thing is that you improvised and made it work! Don’t you hate the burns from a hot glue gun!! OMGoodness! I have burned my finger tips a time or two and its not fun! Great job Kristen!
Yes, I was agitated at first, for sure! The burns didn’t help LOL but it all turned out okay in the end, I guess!
So what I hear you saying is that your cat helps you know when to redecorate in less than ideal ways? I think this turned out splendidly!
HA! Yes, she fancies herself quite the redecorator! LOL
I think it turned out great – probably better than anything you can buy. What we go through for our pets!
Isn’t that the truth LOL
Ok, I seriously LOVE this! You totally rocked that Fix it problem. It turned out so cool! I would definitely take a double look at that if I entered your office. So cool.
Oh, thank you! 🙂
wow you actually pulled this one off. It came out great, i really like this, great job
Thank you! I tried!
I think it turned out beautifully! Good thing you are crafty and was able to come up with a solution!
Thank you! Every once in a while I’m somewhat crafty LOL
I think that’s a lot cooler than a regular, pre-made lampshade! It definitely adds personality to the room. 🙂
Thanks, Pam! 🙂
What a difference those little touches make, it looks really lovely 🙂 x
Thank you, Sarah!
Well, I’m sorry about the cat knocking it over. Now though, you’ve got a really cute, completely original shade that you made yourself…and it’s awesome. 🙂
Thanks, Rosey! Hopefully no one else has one like it!
Oh my gosh, that is CUTE!!! I absolutely LOVE how that came out. Truly looks adorable
Thanks, Liz!
I love how you can design it yourself! My dad burned one of our lampshade a month ago, and we’ve been scouring for a replacement! Thanks for the idea!
Ah, well, there ya go!
That looks so professionally done. What a great job!
Well, thank you! 🙂
I love being able to customize this lamp shade to fit your individual decor. I actually need new lamp shades for the lamps in our living room.
Ah! Here’s your project! 🙂
This is too cute! Everything happens for a reason and if the Walmart box hadn’t been all messed up and lamp sold out, you wouldntve had this oh-so-cute lamp shade! I’m certain this one is much better than the wal-mart shade. 😉
Well, you could be right! 🙂
You did a great job of making it your own. Very adorable and it looks just fantastic.
Aw, thanks, Pam!
This was definitely worth the wait! I LOVE LOVE the Floofy!!!! I did similar with beads on an old lampshade years ago, I really liked the customized look. With the beads I glued them on the underside of the shade so I didn’t have the ‘ruffle’. I didn’t have a cat, so this wasn’t a temptation. I love this so much! You may have just found a new career in customized lamp shades!! Awesome inspiration 🙂
HA! Kim, you’re so encouraging 🙂 I like your bead idea!
What a cute idea. I like the idea of making a boring lampshade more interesting. Also, “floofy” is my new favorite word!
HA! I do love a good floofy 🙂
Sometimes you have to do what you have to do to make it work. I think you did a good job.
Thanks, Amanda!
Very cute and darling! Necessity is the mother of invention right? I love it!
Exactly! LOL
Very cute! I never thought to try and make my own lampshade, but it looked not all that hard!
Not at all! You can do it!
I think it looks great! I hate when the post office is rough with packages. I always worry …. if I write fragile on them is that just begging for someone to throw it?
Oh, good point 🙁 I mostly use FedEx 🙁
You made such a beauty of that lampshade. I love the touch of animal print… so elegant.
Why, thank you!
That is gorgeous. I have a few lamp shades that could use some help. Thanks for the idea.
I’d love to see what you come up with!
I love this! Such a great DIY project that will be great for my household. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
I’m glad you can use it!
Nice. I love what you did with the lampshade. There is nothing like adding your own personal touch
Thanks! I know, I do like a good personal touch 🙂
Wow that is gorgeous! I can never come up with something like that on my own… okay maybe not never but it is rare. I just did not appear to get that creative gene. Love it.
I bet you could! My issue was that I couldn’t find what I wanted…so I had to make it LOL
This is so cute and would be perfect for one of my friends! Would fit her decor PERFECTLY!! Thanks for sharing this!
She has good taste! 🙂
What a fun solution! I just bought a bunch of ribbon I should try to use for this!
Absolutely!
Ciao, mi piace come hai decorato la tua lampada… hai avuto una bella idea!
un saluto
Roberta
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