This simple French Country Toile Fabric lampshade craft project is a great way to remake any old lampshade into a new and custom French Country lampshade perfect for French country home decor. You can use any old or damage fabric lampshade as the base for this French Country Toile Fabric lampshade craft project to save money.
To make a French Country Toile Fabric lampshade you will need:
Fabric Lamp Shade
French Country Toile Fabric
Scissors
Ribbon
Glue
The first step is 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 arts and craft store.
Now, the first step is to lay out your plain paper. Roll it out on your dining room table.
Now, lay your wire lampshade wire frame on its side starting near the end of the paper.
Take your pencil and gently trace a line along the top edge of the wire frame as your roll it along the plain paper.
When you have made one whole turn of the circle then start over back at the same edge, but this time trace the bottom edge of the lampshade frame.
Repeat the tracing pattern. Now, this time you need to make sure you roll the lampshade along that first line you traced on the paper.
Cut this out and this will be the pattern for your French Country Toile Fabric lampshade.
Now, set your lampshade aside.
Trace the hand drawn design on to the French Country Toile Fabric with a pencil or marker.
Remove the paper and Cut out your French Country Toile Fabric lampshade. I like to open up the fabric and lay it out flat. You can cut it open to reveal quite a bit of fabric.
You want to cut about 1 inch above the top line you traced. You also want to cut about 1 inch below the bottom line you traced.
Now, gently wrap the French Country Toile Fabric around the lampshade. See how much is extra on the end that you need to cut off. You only want it to overlap about an inch on the sides.
Fold the rough end in and press down so you have a neat end to expose when you cover the lampshade.
Now, run a bead of hot glue around the top and bottom wires of the lampshade. Lay your French Country Toile Fabric back out pattern side down on your table. Gently roll the lampshade frame along picking up the French Country Toile Fabric as you go. Make sure the folded neat end ends up on the lamp last to create a straight line up on the back of the lampshade.
Now, run a bead of glue on the inside edge of the wire frame on the top and bottom. Gently press the French Country Toile Fabric over and into the inside of the lampshade.
Go ahead and replace the French Country Toile Fabric on the lamp.
If you want to you can also glue on a rope or braided ribbon around the top and bottom edges. Ribbon or fringe would also be a great finishing touch for a French Country Toile Fabric!
NEVER use a bulb that has a higher watt than recommended in a lamp. For all of these decorative lampshades I recommend using a low watt bulb. 25 to 40 watts at most. These are meant to be decorative lights. You can rely on other lamps and light sources to illuminate your home.
