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Make a “10,000-Year-Old” Lamp Shade

SAFETY FIRST: Ask an adult to help with tools you haven't used before.

Cave paintings have been around for thousands of years. Light up your own bedroom “cave” with this torn-paper lamp shade.

lamp-featured

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

  • Old lamp shade (light colored, preferably white)
  • Junk mail (uncoated paper with no printing)
  • Brown paper grocery bag
  • Glue
  • Sponge or cloth
  • Used coffee grounds
  • Scissors
  • Paintbrush
  • Pencil
  • Shallow baking pans

 

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Step 1: Tear junk mail into different shapes.

 

Step 2: Wrinkle the paper, flatten it out in the pan and rub wet coffee grounds into it. With a sponge or damp cloth, rub away any leftover grounds.

 

Step 3: While the paper is still damp, brush white glue on the back and press the torn paper onto the lamp shade. Make sure there are no bubbles or loose edges. Apply more paper, overlapping pieces as you go. Allow more than 1/2 inch of paper to protrude beyond the top and bottom. Continue until you cover the entire shade.

 

Step 4: Cut away the excess paper from the top and bottom of the shade, leaving a clean 1/2-inch overlap. Create tabs by making vertical cuts every 1/2 inch around the top and bottom of the shade.

Brush extra glue on the inside of the tabs and fold them over the shade. Work around the shade, pressing the tabs down until they stay in place.

Option: You can punch holes and thread heavy string around the top and bottom.

 

Step 5: Draw your cave drawings on a brown grocery bag. Carefully tear out the drawings. Wrinkle them up, smooth them out and dampen them with a sponge or cloth. Brush glue on the back and paste onto your lamp shade.

Step 6: Brush a coat of glue over the entire lamp shade and let it dry. Turn on your lamp, and your room instantly looks like a fire-lit cave.


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25 Comments on Make a “10,000-Year-Old” Lamp Shade

  1. Almost an Eagle // December 14, 2014 at 4:31 pm // Reply

    It should be the 2.5 million to 250,000 year old lamp if you wanted to be scientifically accurate.

  2. The guy who is talking // March 3, 2012 at 10:39 am // Reply

    WOW, Who ever came up with this. ITS JUST SO AMAZING

  3. I wanna new lamp!

  4. evil awsome evil cool gummy bear // March 2, 2011 at 5:10 pm // Reply

    awsome

  5. Hey people send this to other people! I’ve tried it and it was cool!
    It’s a great trick to make it without mom and/or dad noticing and scaring them when they come in your room.

  6. Evil Gummy Bears // October 7, 2010 at 4:12 pm // Reply

    Almost Tenderfoot, you are abselutly right.

  7. bla bla bla // August 25, 2010 at 5:24 pm // Reply

    that would be sad for scientists

  8. So why do you have to stain it with damp coffee grounds? Why not use the paper bag from the start?

  9. I like this.It is so fun.

  10. seems complecated but i might try it

  11. or maby a sock themed lamp shade might be better

  12. Now all i need is a pre historic bone lamp please post a design for that

  13. Maby not a cave man but it is not so easy . But it is cool .

  14. So easy a caveman could do it!

  15. cool! you could also go to goodwill and get an old lamp shade. 8D

    i’m gonna try this

  16. I mean it this is awesome

  17. This is awesome

  18. Chickenfoot101 // August 30, 2008 at 11:18 am // Reply

    Awesome im making one

  19. BAX 101 I agree that is cool

  20. THIS IS AWSOME

  21. Almost Tenderfoot // August 25, 2008 at 2:55 pm // Reply

    This looks cool

  22. I you me them // August 25, 2008 at 1:00 pm // Reply

    I WANT TO TRY THIS!!!

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