Guest Blogger - Teal and Lime - Quatrefoil Drum Lamp

Hi, I'm Jackie. I am so excited to be guest posting here today and so thankful Michelle took a chance on me! This is my first ever guest blog post, so I did my homework and came up with an amazing tutorial to share.

 

I am a happily married, working mother of two busy little boys. I decorate and blog in my spare time, or lack there of. I just can't help myself. My blog Teal & Lime is about creating a DIY modern home. I like to say, "my style is modern, my home is getting there one room at a time". I hope you will join in and see my home transform from builder basic to modern beauty. I love to DIY and share tutorials so you can DIY too.

Today I want to share a tutorial to turn a plain drum shade into a statement piece for less than $10. I made my own drum shade pendant for less than $75, but I wanted to dress it up a bit. I originally planned to stencil a design on the shade, but the fabric on the shade has a lot of texture and I was nervous about getting a crisp design with a stencil. I brainstormed a fabulous alternative to create a modern design with appliquéd fabric. I love, love, love the way this turned out. The pattern and color are so crisp.

 

Here is how I did it:

Supplies:

• Drum Shade (circumference at the top and bottom of the shade is the same)
• Fabric (I used solid-color quilting cotton)
• Fusible web
• Mini Craft Iron (with a 50% off coupon you can get one for less than $20)
• Sharp scissors
• Clothespins
  

Step by step:

1. Measure your shade height and circumference. If the shade has a binding at the top and bottom, measure the height from the inside edge of the bottom binding to the inside edge of the top binding.
2. Using the measurements from Step 1, cut out a rectangle piece of fusible web.
3. Create your design. Geometric designs work great for this project. I decided on a quatrefoil design, which I designed to fit evenly within the size of my rectangle. Learn more about how I chose my fabric and created my design.
4. Trace your design onto the paper side of the fusible web. Tip: For a complicated design, shade in the areas to be cut away.
5. Iron the fusible web onto the wrong side of your fabric.
6. Trim fabric to same size as fusible web rectangle.
7. Cut out your design to remove all the shaded areas. I also split my design into three sections to make it more manageable.
8. "Dry fit" your design by lining up each section around the drum shade with the fusible web side against the shade. Use clips or clothespins to hold the fabric in place.
9. Starting with one section, peel the paper backing off the fusible webbing and repin the fabric to the shade. Line the fabric up very carefully.
10. Use the mini craft iron on medium heat to fuse the fabric design to the lamp shade. Use light pressure and keep the iron moving to avoid denting or warping the lamp shade.
    

The finished lampshade is beautiful! You would never know it didn't come this way. The thin cotton fabric fused so smoothly, it looks like part of the fabric on the shade.

 

This lampshade is right at home in our breakfast nook where we eat all of our meals. The green coordinates with the bits of green in the chair back covers. I love the boldness of the light now!

 

Want more fun tutorials and inspiration? Follow Teal & Lime on Facebook and check out these Teal & Lime favorites:

 

Turning tablecloths into slipcovers

Milk & Cookies Party

How to create a family gallery wall

 

Thanks so much for having me Michelle!

THANK YOU, Jackie for that awesome tutorial.  I can think of many cool designs (or words) to put on lampshade using your tutorial.   I love the colors in your house!   Head over Teal & Lime and say hi!!!   She is a very talented gal and her blog is so clean and crisp!  It's beautiful!