Vintage Map Lampshade | Pretty Handy Girl

Vintage Map Lampshade | Pretty Handy Girl
Do you want to update a plain vanilla lamp shade? Do you have a vacation you want to remember? You can do both with this vintage map lampshade!

The process to create a Vintage Map Lampshade is easy, especially if your lamp shade is close to a perfect cylinder. But, what do you do when you have a cone shaped shade? The instructions are a little more complicated, but I can show you how.

Pull up a seat and I’ll show you how to create a cool decorated lampshade. (Keep in mind you don’t have to use maps. You could use wallpaper, fabric, a poster, or anything you want!) Let’s do this.

Vintage Map Lampshade | Pretty Handy Girl

During a trip to my local thrift store, I discovered an old atlas and knew I could use it for oodles of projects. As I walked out of the store a flood of ideas came to me. One of them was to make a Vintage Map Lampshade.

Materials:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

To add a vintage glaze you will also need:

 

Instructions:

Start by selecting the maps or paper you want to use. Carefully cut them out along the spine using a fresh x-acto blade — don’t let your blade get dull. (I use a new one for each project. Your cuts are much cleaner when working with a fresh blade.)

Set your pages aside for now.

To make a template for your shade, roll out a large piece of craft paper. Lay your lampshade on the craft paper. Start at the vertical seam on the shade (to give you a visual of where to start and stop) and set your pencil along the bottom edge of the lampshade.

Gently roll the shade on the paper and mark along the bottom edge of the shade.

When you reach the end, reverse your shade and draw along the top edge. At the end, add an inch or two for overlap. Cut along the outlines to create your lampshade template.

Tape the template onto your lamp shade using the low tack tape. Make sure it fits snugly.

Trim any excess from the edge of your template. Should you choose, trim excess to allow room for the grosgrain ribbon.

Make sure your template fits perfectly before you proceed.

Lay out your craft paper template on top of the map pages. Make any adjustments to the page layout.

Tape your map pages together using clear packing tape on the inside only.

Trace the template on top of the map pages.

Cut out the shape along the pencil line.

Wrap the lampshade with your cut out map pages.  Clip the edges with clothes pins.

Working in small 8″ sections, brush rubber cement onto the map and the lamp shade. Wait a minute or two for the glues to dry. Then press them together. This is the best way to get maximum adhesion when using regular rubber cement. It creates a stronger bond than just one coat applied and joined while it is still wet. Alternatively you could use spray adhesive (especially if you are using fabric.)

Continue by gluing another section until you reach the end. To finish the seams on the outside, brush some rubber cement under the seams where your maps overlap. Press and hold them down until the glue dries.

Add a Vintage Aged Glaze:

Time to give your maps a vintage aged look! Pour 2 parts mod podge into an empty cup. Add about 1 part cocoa paint. Mix them together. Test some of the glaze on a scrap piece of paper. If you like the glaze color, start brushing it onto the lamp shade. Be careful not to use too much of the glaze or the paper will start to wrinkle. (If it does, no worries, some of the wrinkles will come out when it dries. Any remaining wrinkles make it look old.)

Let the glaze dry.

Cut two strips of grosgrain ribbon the circumference of your lamp shade plus an inch for overlap.

Hot glue the ribbon onto the top and bottom edges of your lamp shade. (Please, please, protect your fingers, read my hot glue gun safety post before working with hot glue!)

Put your lampshade on your favorite lamp.

Admire your unique lamp shade that brings back fond memories of a special trip.

If you make one of these, what map would be on your’s? Your home state? The place you were born? Where your family’s heritage resides? Or something completely different? I would love to hear your ideas.

Did you like this tutorial? Want to learn how to revamp another lamp shade with paint chips!

The result are a beautiful ombré lamp that is fun and colorful.

 

If you had three days (72 hours) in the UK where would you go? Last year Pretty Handsome Guy and I had this exact dilemna. We had three days to explore London and the surrounding area. It was a whirlwind trip and we walked 10 miles the first day, 8 miles the second and 7 miles the third day. We saw plenty and brought home many pictures and memories.

I was reminded of our trip this week as the world is turning its lens on London for the upcoming Royal wedding. I hope you will enjoy some of the photos from our trip last April.

Warning: This is a photo intensive post, so I promise to keep the chatter to a minimum.

Me in Trafalgar Square with my Starbucks in hand.

Pretty Handsome Guy and I are such American tourists! We HAD to have our Starbucks every morning. Sheesh.

Okay, now that we got our Starbucks confession out of the way…

Tower Bridge over the Thames River

Gnarly trees near Tower of London

Clock Tower (also referred to as Big Ben – although technically Big Ben is the name of the giant bell inside the tower)

One of the towers at Parliament flying the Union Jack

Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace

The winged figure of victory atop Victoria Memorial

The London Eye

The London Eye up close

Parliament and the River Thames at Dusk (taken from the London Eye)

Thames River Reflections after Dark

North Entrance of Westminster Abbey (where William and Kate will tie the knot, but you already knew that.)

Ornate scroll ironwork in Westminster Abbey Courtyard

Speaking of ornate ironwork! A section from gates near Speaker’s corner at Hyde Park

The London Underground aka The Tube

We spent one day in Windsor touring the castle, the town of Windsor and Eton (just across the river from Windsor). I highly recommend taking this day excursion outside of  London!

Windsor Castle in the morning

More views of the Round Tower at Windsor Castle

View of the gardens along the hillside just below the Round Tower

Daffodils lining the hillside

The most amazing architectural ceiling I’ve ever seen!  St. George’s Cathedral at Windsor Castle

Ornamental door hinge at Windsor Castle

Twin doors with beautiful ironwork hinges. Windsor Castle

I fell head over heels in love with many of the doors in Windsor and Eton. Here are just a few more:

I love the color of these doors!

While at Windsor Castle we saw the obligatory changing of the guard. The royal band played a few songs for the queen. It must have been all request day because they played: Livin’ La Vida Loca by Ricky Martin and Eye of the Tiger by Survivor. I am not kidding! I couldn’t make that up.

We’ll be back to our regularly scheduled DIY posts on Friday! And I’ll be glued to the telly watching the Royal wedding! Am I the only one old enough to remember watching Charles and Diana’s wedding?