This crafty Birch Twig lampshade craft project is a great way to incorporate an outdoor look in your home. You can use any old or damage fabric lampshade as the base for this project to save money.
This Birch Twig lampshade is perfect for a cabin themed décor or anyone who loves a little nature inside of their home.
To make a Birch Twig lampshade you will need:
Small Fabric Lamp Shade (can not be taller than your pencils)
Birch Twigs
Floral wire
Scissors
Hot Glue
The first step is to dry your Birch Twigs. Just go ahead and lay them out on a flat table. They can dry out buy themselves over a day or two. They may get slightly smaller as they dry that is why I recommend this step for anyone cutting their birch twigs directly off a tree. If you are using store bought birch twigs, you can skip this step.
Now, you need to completely remove all of the fabric from your damaged or existing lampshade. Start by poking some scissors through the fabric, then cut away. Once you have the body of the fabric removed then start working on the material wrapped onto he wires. This will take some time, but is a great way to save a little money and salvage and exiting lampshade.
Tip: If you don’t have a damaged or existing lampshade you want to get rid of you can buy these wire frames of a lampshade at any lampshade store. Some arts and crafts stores will also sell them.
Now, you need to take your lampshade and roll it on a piece of acetate and trace it. This will be the inside of your lampshade after you install the Birch Twigs. This will keep this lamp from being a fire hazard as well as provide some coverage.
Go ahead a cut all of your birch twigs so that they are as long as your lampshade is tall. You can add on an inch or two if you want!
Now, take your first Birch Twig. Place a line of glue on the upper and lower round wires of the metal lampshade frame. Press the Birch Twig in place vertically, like a line running up and down the shade.
Hold the Birch Twig in place on the lampshade until the glue cools. You could also use epoxy glue for this easy lampshade craft project.
Now, add some more to your lampshade wire right next to the first Birch Twig. Press a second Birch Twig in place and hold until set.
Now, continue repeating this process all the way around the lampshade. You can space them however you would like. I recommend placing the Birch Twigs directly next to each other with. This way you won’t fid yourself staring at the bulb of the lamp.
Now take your piece of acetate, vellum, or parchment paper. Glue it in place with some hot glue after you have applied all of your Birch Twigs. Choose some great handmade parchment paper or even some vellum from the art store. They have huge selections of paper that would be absolutely perfect for this simple craft project.
Tip: For a really romantic look you could use twine to attach the Birch Twigs after you have glue them on. You could also use the floral wire. Simply attach one Birch Twig, and then use the twine or floral wire to wrap around the area of the Birch Twig where it touches the wire lampshade. Wrap around like an X to make it look like the twine is holding the Birch Twig on.
Always use a low watt bulb and never leave the lamp unattended.
