Rice paper is made in a wide variety of colors and textures, to match any decor.
Drum-shaped chandeliers add a modern accent to any room. They are expensive, but you can make your own easily. Buy a lamp shade the right size and shape from a thrift store or yard sale. Choose one with straight sides, to make covering it easier. Purchase some attractive, heavy-weight rice paper in your favorite color. If you are replacing a chandelier, buy the appropriate cord and light bulb socket. If you don't have electricity wired in the location where you want to hang the lamp, buy a swag pendant converter with a cord and plug.
Instructions
1. Remove the fabric or paper covering on the lamp and discard it. Spray the rice paper with fire-retardant spray, following the instructions on the spray bottle.
2. Measure the circumference of the shade. Divide the circumference in half and add 2 inches. Cut each sheet of rice paper to that measurement. For instance, if the circumference of your lamp is 50 inches, cut two 27-inch strips of rice paper. Remember to measure twice and cut once.
3. Measure the height of the lamp shade and add 1 1/2 inches. Cut the rice paper strips to that measurement.
4. Fold down 3/4 of an inch along one long side of each sheet of rice paper. Unfold the paper and brush a 3/4-inch wide strip of glue along the inside of the 3/4-inch wide strip that had been folded down.
5. Place the paper on the lamp shade, folding the glued edge around the top wire of the lamp shade and onto the paper so the edge of the paper is glued to the wire.
6. Turn the lamp over so the just-glued edge is on the bottom. Smoothly fold the paper over the bottom wire of the lamp shade and crease the edge. Open the paper, spread glue along the edge and glue the paper to the wire.
7. Fasten clothes pins to the edges you just glued and lay the lamp shade on its side to let the glue dry.
8. Center the remaining sheet of rice paper on the lamp, overlapping the already-glued sheet by 1 inch on each end. Paint a strip of glue between the two layers of paper where they overlap on the side of the lamp shade. Let the glue dry.
9. Paint a strip of glue inside the rice paper that extends over the top wire and fold the paper to the inside, gluing it around the wire and down onto itself. Repeat for the rice paper that extends over the bottom wire of the lamp shade. Clip clothes pins over the just-glued edges and let the glue dry.
10. Attach the swag pendant converter with cord and plug according to the package instructions.
11. Screw a ceiling hook into the ceiling where you want the chandelier to hang. Add more screws on the ceiling to carry the cord to the wall where the electrical outlet is located.
12. Add a light bulb and hang the chandelier according to the swag pendant instructions.
Tags: lamp shade, rice paper, paper that, rice paper that, sheet rice, sheet rice paper