June 30, 2011

French {The Bee} Lamp



The other day I went to Savers Thrift Store to look for lamps and lampshades. Luckily, I found both-
The lampshades I found were a little soiled. But they were super cheap so I thought a lampshade cleaning experiment was in order. I got to use one on these sa-weet
While I was there I found
this brand new lamp. It's nothing special, something you may have seen a million times. At first I wasn't sure what to do with it and was about to pass it by, but the shape of the lampshade pulled me back to it. I figured there had to be possibilities with a near barrel shaped lampshade and figured I could come up with something!







MATERIALS




Unsure of what to do with it, I primed it white with Rustoleum's Clean Metal Primer.  Then, well, then it sat in my pile of to do projects. Does this ever happen to you? You purchase something and then let it sit because you have no idea what to do next. Well it collected dust for ages, until I finally found some inspiration online by browsing "painted lamps."
Isn't "Google Image" the bomb? I seriously do not know what I would do without that search engine. 
Any-who, back to the lamp. I now had an idea and I painted it black. Then it got a few layers of clear coat. 

While that was drying, I put the shade on another base (the mercury glass one I did a few weeks back.) The next step was to turn to Microsoft Word. I copied the image I wanted and played around with the text until I had something I liked.


Once I had the template I wanted to use I printed it off and taped it to the inside of the lampshade.With the light on- it was really easy to see it, but if yours isn't you could trace it with a  black sharpie and then tape it to the inside.
I used Krylon Short Cuts Paint Pen to trace, then fill, in the image. Here you can see where I started, with just the "L" done.



Here's the close-up of the finished shade. I was pretty easy- the brush is super thin and worked like a charm. I wasn't too concerned about about perfection- I wanted it to look sort of worm.

I put this lamp in the spare bedroom/office. But the way things go around here, it could be moved anywhere in the upcoming weeks. Doesn't it feel like this is the way the lamp was supposed to look from the beginning? Hope you liked yet another lamp makeover.


Thanks for stopping in! What have you remade lately? Lighting? Your whole house? 

86 comments:

  1. What a great job! That lamp looks like it came from Pottery Barn! Awesome!

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  2. What a great makeover! I love the shade. : )

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  3. Oh that looks absolutely darling! Like something from a French boutique. :-) Thanks so much for sharing it with us at Inspiration Friday!
    Vanessa

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  4. How wonderful it turned out!! I'm inspired to some lamp makeovers now!

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  5. Nice job. I love how it turned out. It's so unique.

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  6. The bee graphic looks great on the lamp and thankfully for me, it looks pretty easy too! Love it!

    Following you now! Hope you get a chance to stop by my blog and follow me too :).
    http://lovelybeasts.blogspot.com

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  7. Adorable! Love it! The bees are really cute!
    Stacey of Embracing Change

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  8. Wow, this is such a fabulous idea. The lamp shade is gorgeous. I will be looking at lampshades at the thrift store in a whole new light.

    Paula

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  9. Wow, I love that! It looks like you bought it that way. Mine would never turn out that well, lol!

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  10. Love it so much i featured this project today on my blog - check it out and grab a featured button if you like!
    Stacey of Embracing Change

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  11. Great project! :) I've featured this post on Craft Gossip here:
    http://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/french-bee-lamp/

    If you would like a "featured by" button, you can grab one here:
    http://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/grab-a-craft-gossip-button/

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  12. yes! it's ABEILLE
    but, if you have not french friend, it doesn't matter

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  13. Don't worry about misspellings! It looks great :)

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  14. very pretty luv the idea...
    Don’t forget to add it to our linking party for our readers to discover your blog at

    http://www.passionatelyartistic.com/2011/06/2011-4th-of-july-celebration-menu-from.html
    Maggie
    http://passionatelyartistic.com

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  15. Wow! That turned out great. I would love it if you would link up to my Tuesday Confessional link party going on now: http://www.craftyconfessions.com/2011/07/tuesday-confessional-link-up-2.html. I hope to see you soon!
    ~Macy from Confessions of a SAHM

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  16. Really, really amazing!
    Love it

    Isa

    You have to come and check my homemade soaps I'm trying now:) Kiss

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  17. I love the way this turned out!!

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  18. Since we moved into our new digs, I have updating/repurposing lots of our things. Lamps are on my to-do list, and this is a great idea.

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  19. Wow, I love the stencil you used.

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  20. Crate & Barrel should consult you before they make their lamp shades:) This is beautiful!

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  21. This shade looks like it is straight out of Ballard Designs! Love it!

    Linked to it on my blog:
    http://onmycraftlist.blogspot.com/

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  22. Oh man what a fab idea. Im dying to make one now!

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  23. Your lamp looks fantastic. Great transformation.

    Dee

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  24. Oh my word, I love this lamp! Adorable!! :)

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  25. Thank you so much for linking up to Tales from Bloggeritaville's Thrifty Thursday!!!! I LOVE your thrifty link up so much I am featuring today on my Friday flashback. I am inspired!
    Thanks so much!
    Leigh
    Tales from Bloggeritaville
    www.lbratina.blogspot.com

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  26. This turned out fabulous! I like how you put the pattern under the lampshade - not sure if I would have thought of that!! I "painted" on a lampshade last year, but I used a sharpie marker instead of paint...thanks for sharing this idea ~ LOVE it!

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  27. what a brilliant idea...your lamp turned out so chic...thanks for sharing on fridays unfolded!

    alison
    stuff and nonsense

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  28. You did a wonderful job on the shade! Love the bug! ;)

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  29. Wow! What a great transformation. So classy! Love it. :)

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  30. So cute! I really love the label feeling. Very chic!

    Shared this on FJI Facebook for SNS 89. :)

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150302529706141&set=a.192514281140.164586.175378011140&type=1&theater

    Donna

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  31. I like the bee image. I like decorative lamp shades a lot, but I've yet to do one myself. You make it sound easy though, so I should get to work! :)

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  32. That lamp looks fantastic! You did a great job!

    Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
    Hope you have a great week!
    Jill @ Creating my way to Success
    http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

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  33. The lamp turned out beautifully! Thanks so much for linking up.
    Crystal
    www.chocolatedroolandkisses.blogspot.com

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  34. LO-VE IT! chic too! I like the bee art you used!
    Come link it up at WOOT WOOT WEDNESDAYS!

    http://tootsiewootsieboutique.blogspot.com/2011/07/its-official-every-wednesday-i-am-doing.html

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  35. awesome re-do!! Thanks for linking up to Mad Skills Monday!

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  36. Beautiful lamp shade! Easy and fabulous!
    Susan

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  37. wanted to let you know that i am featuring your lamp this week on fridays unfolded...have a wonderful weekend!

    alison
    stuff and nonsense

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  38. I love the black and white look, very elegant.

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  39. Your lamp is beautiful! You did such a good job!

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  40. saw your lamp on another blog and had to come see it up close. Your blog is great, so I became a follower and am hoping to come back soon and read it start to finish. Great lamp and shade, truly unique. I didn't even know you could paint a shade and I paint everything I can get my hands on!

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  41. Love it! Thank you for linking up to Amaze Me Monday. I will be featuring you on this weeks party!

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  42. Lovely lamp and shade. The graphics you used are the perfect touch. I've wanted to do something like this with a lampshade, but have been afraid I'd ruin it. You're very brave for attempting it! Turned out great for you too!

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  43. I LOVE it! The little bee is super sweet :)

    Thanks so much for linking to "20 Below Thursday"

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  44. This is so pretty! You made that lamp absolutely fabulous! I featured this on my Friday 5! Have a great weekend!
    www.modernwivelyhood.blogspot.com

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  45. I love this shade-I have a thing for bees!! Wanted to let you know I featured this on my blog today and I definitely love your idea so much I may attempt to copycat it! Lol!!

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  46. The lamp turned out great! I featured it today: http://adiamondinthestuff.blogspot.com/2011/07/time-to-shine-features-no-27-winner.html

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  47. Hi,
    The lamp is really nice but this might "sting" a little: the french word for bee is "abeille"!

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  48. BEAUTIFUL. I love it. If you get a chance I would love you to link your bee lamp up to More the Merrier Monday. It lasts through Wednesday so you have plenty of time to stop by. See you there. http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/

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  49. Fantastic job! It looks awesome!

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  50. Wow, that shade looks store-bought. You did a great job on the stencil! :)

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  51. I'm sure your lampshade creates quite the BUZZ when visitors come to your home, right?

    (Sorry bee pun required)

    Visiting from ShabbyNest Linky Party today :D
    ~Suzanne in Illinois

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  52. What a beautiful lamp! I'd love for you to link up at my Tuesday Tutorials Link Party! :)

    http://www.thekurtzcorner.com/2011/08/tuesday-tutorials-link-party-no2.html

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  53. I thought this looked familiar-- I saw it at another linky party a couple of weeks ago. I loved it then and loved it MORE this time...thanks again for sharing your talents with us. Yes, it's something to remember when you see it, it's that CUTE.

    Thanks for be{e}ing part of these linky parties :)
    (another BEE pun, couldn't help myself.

    Visiting from Brag Monday at GraphicsFairy today,
    ~Suzanne in NW Illinois

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  54. Wow! This is amazing! I could never do it - but it is amazing. Thanks for sharing. :)

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  55. What a clever idea! Great transformation, girl! :)

    xoxo laurie

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  56. Sincerely, that is just amazing looking! I so love your technique, it makes it do-able and oh-so-easy! Thank you for the wonderful idea! ;)

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  57. This is such a great idea....on my pinterest for the weekend project list! Can't wait. I am a new follower!

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  58. Oh my gosh! I love this!!!!
    I definitely have to do this, thanks for the inspiration!

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  59. Gorgeous...an awesome thrift to TERRIFIC transformation! Love it! Pop Art Minis

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  60. I'm sure that anyone reading your blog does it. That is, to buy or start a project, only to have it sit for weeks or months :/

    What a super transformation! Love what you did with this. It's very classy!

    As far as non-image uploads, it's disabled on Blogger, unless you host your domain elsewhere. So, as long as you have the -.blogspot.com - you can't upload non image/video files. Sorry. You could always save it as a jpg?

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  61. What more can I add--it's just lovely!

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  62. what a great lamp!

    Come link this up to scrappy saturdays tomorrow at www.candacecreations.blogspot.com!

    Candace

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  63. So cool! I have a lampshade that needs some help and this might be the perfect solution! It's currently in that pile of "wait until I get inspired" as well! Great job.

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  64. I love this idea. I scoured the charity shops today for the same kind of project but came home empty handed. Had I seen this post first though I know of at least 2 shades I would have got.
    Thanks for sharing!

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  65. I LOVE the way it turned out! Thanks so much for linking up to Sassy Sites for our Friday ffa party! Have a fabulous weekend!

    XOXO!
    marni

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  66. very cute I love anything with bee images. I'm your newest blog hop fan :)

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  67. That is sooo cute! It's amazing how awesome the graphic makes the lampshade look!

    Nice work!
    --Katie
    @ Creatively Living

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  68. This is wonderful. I love the bee theme. I just did a post a few weeks ago using a Queen Bee theme on a table I did. I would love for you to swing by and check it out! Great job!

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  69. ahh...this is just lovely! i just adore anything with bees on it! Perfect! Thank you for sharing at Uncommon!

    Bonnie ;)

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  70. I love this lamp I want to let know I'm featuring you today. @ http://www.arosiesweethome.com/2012/04/sunday-round-up-4.html
    Thanks
    Rose

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  71. Wonderful job! So glad to find your blog!

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  72. Hi, I really love your lamp makeover, especially the shade. I love anything relating to a bee or 'B' and have a collection of them. Love your large 'B' on your side table. : ) I found your link at he Overflowing With Creativity party. I'm a new follower and hope you find the time to stop by for a visit and link up to my Frugal Treasures Tuesday party.

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  73. LOVE it, Becca!

    Featuring it on the FB page tonight.

    (And I promise I have not forgotten about my guest post html...just want to do a little tweaking, and this week has been suuuuuuuuuuper crazy-busy. I will have it to you by this week fo' sho', though : )).

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  74. Cute but it should read l'abeille :(

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Thoughts? Questions? Opinions? Let's talk about it!