Monday, January 23, 2012

Lamp Revamp

   In these cold winter months, one thing that gets me through the dreary days is the expectation of Spring, Summer, & fun things to come. Right now, we're planning a big road trip for this coming summer and we've started talking about a trip next winter... somewhere warm. :) 

  Last week I posted some ideas using maps. With all this talk of traveling & maps, I was itching to get to this project I've been planning since last fall. I present to you my latest makeover, the travelling lamp!


It started out with this 80's brass lamp with a dusty rose little highlight in the middle. It would have gone perfectly in my bedroom when I was 12 years old. I'm not sure about you, but I'm so over that colour scheme. :) 
I paid $4 for it at a local thrift store. 
I also paid $4 for the lamp shade, which wasn't so bad to begin with. It was just a bit dirty. 


I got out my favourite glossy white spray paint...

Then I wrapped the cord & the light socket with aluminum foil before starting to spray.



I gave the base 3 light coats of spray paint. The first two I was able to do outside in the garage because we were enjoying unseasonably warm temperatures. Then it got cold & I had to bring it inside to do the last coat. 
The house smelled for days! Ya, not one of my most brilliant moments. :)


After cutting the map into sections, I used Mod Podge to decoupage the map to the lamp shade, 
being careful to push out the bubbles with my fingers. 
After it had dried, I trimmed the edges & hot glued some white grosgrain ribbon to the edges to finish it off. 


Oh, by the way, I paid $2 for 2 vintage maps at an antique store here in town. 
The colours are slightly more muted than a brand new map.


We're enjoying our new lamp in our family room & it reminds me of our fun travels to come. 


I would like to thank all of you, my wonderful readers, for stopping by. 
In these last several months, I've been so excited to see Silver Boxes grow & see my friend count rise bit by bit. 
I really appreciate all of my new friends in the blogosphere. Thank you for your kind words & support.
I hope you stop in again soon. And don't forget to join the party on facebook! :) See you there!
Enjoy your day!
I'm amazed by all these features! WOW! Thank you!

This project featured at:


CraftGossip Photobucket IhookedupwithHoHlamespice Photobucket It's Overflowing Let Birds Fly

62 comments:

  1. Oooo. You rocked that project Steph! I love it!!! Can't wait for the flea market again to find more treasures!!!

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  2. Nice work, Steph! I really like the fresh, new look of your old, tired lamp.

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  3. I love this!!! I am your newest follower!  I hope you will come link up with me at Gingerbread...xoxo

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  4. I love this idea! I teach social studies and almost the whole first semester is geography. I L.O.V.E. maps! I need a lamp in my classroom because the lights don't stay on very long if there are no students and it gets really dark if I need to turn the lights off to show a video. I am going to make a map lamp to solve that problem. Thanks for the inspiration!!!

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  5. That looks so pretty.  Nice job!

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  6. I really really really love this. We love to travel and I love the idea of having maps all over to get us through the winter months. THanks for sharing. 

    I'm a new follower 

    http://sisterswhat.blogspot.com

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  7. Love your light and al your other great map idea!

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  8. What a fantastic makeover! So hip.

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  9. Absolutely fantastic! I adore this new look.

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  10. I love traveling so your lamp would be perfect in my home. Great job on it to and on such a small budget!
    Sarah
    www.budgetfriendlydecorating.com

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  11. What a transformation!!!! Fantastic job!! LOVE the map!!

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  12. Cute!  Clicking over from My Girlish Whims.  I love that blue color scheme you've got going on.  Very fresh!

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  13. Great makeover & great idea to recycle old maps!

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  14. This is so awesome! I love how affordable and unique a fix like this is.

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  15. Love this! I need to make one for my husbands desk, he'd be over the moon! Great idea :) 

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  16. I love this idea! Simple, colorful, and fun!

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  17. Love the lamp!  Awesome project.

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  18. This is so cute! My husband loves maps and this is a great idea for his office (if he lets me touch it).

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  19. This is so cute! My husband loves maps and this is a great idea for his office (if he lets me touch it).

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  20. Love this project, Steph - I'm always on the hunt for unusual lamp shade treatments.  Thanks for sharing!  Visiting from It's Overflowing. :)

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  21. I love it ! It turned out super cool!!!!


    Be sure to visit my link up !!  http://sailingwithbarefeet.blogspot.com/

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  22. I love this!  Great job! :)

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  23. I should have known this was yours too!! Because I love it and WANT it for my home. Oh, and I've also pinned this project. Gosh, you just keep cranking the good stuff out!! :)

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  24. So VERY cute... This would be great in a in home Library.. :)
    http://shoprubyjean.com/2012/01/sew-crafty-tuesday-7-and-winner/

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  25. I love it, in the thumbnail I was thinking how much I like that lamp...wow had no idea what it used to look like.  The map is such a neat idea, it would be fun to use a meaningful map of where you're born or a special trip for this project.

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  26. I love it, in the thumbnail I was thinking how much I like that lamp...wow had no idea what it used to look like.  The map is such a neat idea, it would be fun to use a meaningful map of where you're born or a special trip for this project.

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  27. I love, love, love this!  I have some maps and a lamp I can hardly stand to look at.....thanks for posting this great idea!

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  28. Girl, this is awesome! Seriously. I'm thinking this is one of the best projects I've seen out in bloggyland! Great job! Would you link up at my place tonight and share with my group?
    Thanks!
    Melody
    ChattyChics.com
    http://chattychics.com/2012/01/24/need-inspiration-wild-wednesday/

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  29. This is so cool! I love maps, and the other day I was at Pottery Barn, and they had lots of things with the map theme! Your lamp looks beautiful!

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  30. What a great job!...so smart!

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  31. What a transformation and clever idea!  Nice job! 

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  32. 2yellowbirdsdecorFriday, January 27, 2012

    I love, love this lamp!! Such a cute idea with the map!! Great job! Thanks for linking up at Thursdays' Temptaiton!
    Jill

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  33. Beautiful job!! Functional map art! :)

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  34. That is so cool!!!  I love it!  I've always loved maps/ globes and world travel decor!

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  35. What a terrific project Stephanie! I love the fresh look... makes me think of those lovely women I see at the airport who look fantastic after the same 13 hour flight that maked me look like death warmed over!! ;-)  Get it? Travel and fresh white paint?!!  Okay. Bad joke. But let me take it one step further. One could do a similar project and get the old weathered look too... simply opt for a darker lamp colour, and then use tea to age the map before mod-podging it to the shade. Voila... vintage map lamp for your moody library :-D
    Great work!
    Victoria

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  36. I love this!!!  Hard to believe its humble roots :)

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  37. LOVE this!  I just posted about a sassy brassy lamp that I purchased at a thrift store.  I love the idea of using maps to cover the shades!

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  38. Susan @ Oh My! CreativeSaturday, January 28, 2012

    Wow, you did a great job with this project! I became a Pintrest follower and Pinned your lamp! This and many of your projects would be perfect to post and share on my new website www.ohmy-creative.com. I would love you to share them there!

    Have a great weekend!
    Susan,http://www.ohmy-creative.com/A community to Create - Share - Inspire

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  39. Oh I love that lampshade!! What a cute idea! Would love for you to come share this at my decorating link party- going on all weekend!

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  40. WOW!  That is so gorgeous and fun!  What a fantastic idea...I'm so impressed right now!  I need one with Myrtle Beach on it!  I even showed this to hubby and he loved it too.  Thanks so much for sharing at our Shine on Fridays party!

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  41. So cute!!  Thanks for linking up and don't forget about registering for my current giveaway....

    Ramsign Giveaway: Porcelain Enamel Sign {up to $99 value}

    XO, Aimee

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  42. Very cool!  I love anything to do with old maps.
    Visiting from Tater Tots & Jello.

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  43. Saw your feature at Diamond in the Stuff!   This lamp looks awesome!  Love the map lampshade!  ~  Barbara

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  44. I collect maps and globes. I absolutely love this.

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  45. Hey, just wanted to let you know that I featured this today from my Show & Share party!  Thanks for linking up!

    http://southernlovely.blogspot.com/2012/01/show-share-24-features.html

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  46. Courtney @ Between U & MeTuesday, January 31, 2012

    Super cool! I'm pinning this one! 

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  47. This is so cute. I have some lamp bases I am in love with, but I need some ideas for the lampshade. This is a possibility. 

    I'm a new follower.

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  48. steph, just found you via jaime's blog c,s,h.  LOVE this idea and may have to steal but use a map of italy. Yeah, that's it, a map of italy. A girl can dream of going back and lamp with an italy map sure would spur more dreaming. happy to have found you!  Pam

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  49. I love this!

    makingitfeellikehome.blogspot.com

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  50. Oh I adore this map lamp! What a great deal you got on the lamp and amazing makeover!!!

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  51. I love your lamp and shade. And you used an Ohio map! Yay buckeyes!

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  52. Featuring you tomorrow at One Artsy Mama!

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  53. Kim@todayismysome-dayThursday, February 02, 2012

    This is great!  I saw your feature at Crafty, Scrappy, Happy.  I have a very similar project in the works myself.  I just have to get another drum shade.  My first one was just too small... Yours is wonderful!

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  54. What a great project! :)  I've featured this post on Craft Gossip here:
    http://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/map-lamp-revamp/

    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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  55. Love your lamp revamp!  Spray paint is sooo great!  Pinned it!
    gail

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  56. I love lamps. I especially love lamps that are rescued and re-done! This is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

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  57. It turned out AMAZING looking! On the hunt for white shades now :)

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  58. I stumbled across your blog and I am loving it.  Just signed up to follow you. 

    http://craftchickie.blogspot.com/

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  59. I see a little bit of WV on the map! 

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  60. This is such a great project!! I love the colors and look of vintage maps, and this is such a crafty idea!! I will put this project on my list of MUST DO'S! I have several old lamps that are awaiting makeovers..this is so perfect...GREAT JOB!
    Thanks so much for the idea. This was the first time I have visited your blog and I am so glad I found it.

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  61. Wanting to do this with pages from hymn books. Looking for courage to get started.

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