Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Bird Lamp Tutorial

It's another bird post.  I'm at risk of an intervention, I know, but I have to show you how I (re)made this lamp.


I've done a couple of projects using this same process.

This one...
Click on the picture to see the details
And this one...

Click on the picture to see the details


It's fast.  And pretty easy.  

I'll show you again if you missed the other tutorials...


Color, circa 1987?  Shade, a little too shabby to be Chic?


After a good sanding and a nice coat of creamy white spray paint it was looking pretty good.


I found these gorgeous birds at The Graphics Fairy,  printed them out on card stock and carefully cut them out.  I like using card stock for decoupage projects.  It's easy to control.   It doesn't wrinkle up when you hit it with a little Mod Podge and there's no curling up and rolling away.


I played around with the placement of the birds.  I wish I could remember to do this before I paint on the limbs but, well,  that would be someone else's blog, now wouldn't it?


I have a nice assortment of Plaid paints I used for the limbs and leaves.  I get good coverage and I love the millions of colors.


I used Mod Podge (which I called Hodge Podge for years....sorry Plaid) to attach the pretty birds.  I brushed a good heavy coat on the back, pressed it onto the lamp, then brushed some on the front of the paper as well.


I washed the entire lamp with watered down brown paint for an aged look.  A good coat of clear spray paint, a little lamp shade love and there you have it -- another bird project because you just can't have too many of 'em.




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51 comments:

  1. Its beautiful,no one would ever know that was the same lamp that you started with.

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  2. It's beautiful, Lindy! I did enter your giveaway for it! : ) My problem is I can't paint artistically for beans and my branches and leaves would look like I don't know what {but not branches and leaves}. I could handle the birds and Mod Podge, though. Maybe I'll give a thrift store find a shot. I'm hoping to hit my Goodwill this weekend ~ maybe I'll be inspired!

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  3. Thanks for the tutorial, Linda. The lamp is so lovely. I'll be on the hunt for one to remake.

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  4. Thank you for posting this! I am absolutely in LOVE with that lamp..I LOVE it and now..if I am ambitious enough I can have one for myself! xxoo Diana

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  5. My gosh...that's talent.
    In the first picture, I was thinking, yeah right..we could all have a lovely lamp like that if we could paint like that! But then when I saw that you mod podged them on...I was...amazed. But still...your painting the leaves and limbs is still beyond my capacity. :)

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  6. When you sanded it down, did you do it by hand or use a sander? It looks like glass and I didn't realize you could sand glass.

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  7. Oh my! This is great, Lindy. I love the outcome of the lamp w/those decoupaged birds and the painted tree branches. I have always called Mod Podge- Modge Podge! It sounds better- *grin*

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  8. Wow! I love love your lamp! Very talented girl. I may have to try that out. Thanks for sharing.

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  9. @Jules

    Jules,
    It was ceramic but I think it had been painted because it sanded by hand easily!

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  10. Your tutorials ALWAYS make it seem soooo very simple and easy! I absolutely LOVE THIS LAMP and I'm a firm believer, you can never have enough birds!

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  11. I'm so glad you created this tutorial. I just loved the lamp. I've never done anything like this, but you make me feel like it's possible! I really liked the shape of your lamp and shade so I'll have to browse Goodwill or a thrift store looking for a nicely shaped lamp. I enjoy your creativity and bright, lively energy so much. Thank you. :)

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  12. Your lamp is gorgeous. I just love The Graphics Fairy's stuff.

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  13. this is very nice Lindy...you did a wonderful job, who would ever begin to know what you started out with. Just elegant!

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  14. You can never go wrong with little birds. Very cute!

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  15. I am laughing right now because I had this lamp on my blog as something I wanted to make and I had no clue how to do it...now I do LOL! Next time I see an ugly lamp at Goodwill, I am snatching that baby up and getting to work! Thanks for the tutorial :)

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  16. That lamp is so darn cute! Who would ever believe it started out life as an 80's reject.
    I love all your bird stuff and I want to make a lamp too.
    Thanks for sharing,
    Traci

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  17. Love that idea!

    Are you ever afraid that old lamps would be a fire hazard? I am a bit worried about buying second hand lamps just because of that...

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  18. Thanks for sharing, what a huge difference of before and after.
    Hugs, Amy

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  19. Great and creative projects! I love the lamp and the dresser is wonderful..One day I will have to try your method in decoupage.
    Have sweet day, Elizabeth

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  20. Wow you made that look so easy, not sure if I could do it as well as you or it would be easy for me, but I will give those 80's lamps at Goodwill a second look from now on. Thanks for the tutorial, I hope I am the lucky winner of that lamp, as I LOVE it!

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  21. That lamp is divine Lindy!!! I love the colors and the birds are just perfect!! Great job!

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  22. I've loved every one of your bird posts, this one is no exception. And you make it sound so easy, too!

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  23. Its beautiful! I was looking for bird related decor posts to feature on my own blog, which is all about nature inspired decor, and found your blog -- yay! I would love to include this post in my feature.

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  24. I love the bird lamp - and all of your bird projects. Your tutorials are great - thanks for all your hard work in providing those to all of us - much appreciated!

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  25. Thank you for the great tutorial. I just decorated the ladies restroom at our Church, and used a painting with birds. A lamp like this would be perfect. Next week I'll try to post pics of the room, without a lamp. I'm not sure if I love your blog, it just gives me too many ideas for more projects I don't have time to do. Just kidding. Your lamp is a great idea. Thanks again.

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  26. Hi Lindy.... so creative work and the beautiful result. it looks fab... so do you think that card stock is good for decoupage ...Thanks for sharing...
    If you love to play with colours and flowers? Please visit me at
    http://craftaworld.blogspot.com/
    Love
    Farah

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  27. Очень красиво,стильно,просто супер!!!

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  28. Woweeeee! That is magnificent!

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  29. Hi Lindy! I saw this lamp and I want it! :) Thank you for the tutorial. It does sound easy and it turned out so beautifully! You're good, girl!
    Be a sweetie,
    Sheia ;)

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  30. You just make the greatest stuff!!! Such a fantastic idea! I LOVE making recycled projects! REALLY REALLY nice. I never tire of birds!

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  31. Very creative hands, just lovely! What a difference. I too love the Graphics Fairy, such beautiful prints! yvette@twistedvines

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  32. WOW, amazing!! I love birds and love the way your project turned out, well done! XOXO ~Liz

    P.S. Also a new follower! =)

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  33. I seriously love you for posting this project! Thanks!! I know just what I'm going to try it on too. Oh. I'm a bird freak too LOL! Especially vintage/antique birdies.

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  34. Well done. It looks fantastic. Interesting that cardstock works best. I would have thought thinner paper was better so I'm glad you tried it out for us and let us know the final results.

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  35. How nice ! Thanks for the tutorial

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  36. It's a beautiful, and substantial, improvement. Thanks for sharing. I also like how it coordinates with your other projects for subtle touches throughout.

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  37. Well done...and I especially love that bureau! Stop by Pandora's Box for a chance to win some vintage linen

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  38. Fabulous! Can't believe I missed it! Good thing GF featured it on her Brag Monday! Missed the dresser too...... thanks for sharing your other birds projects too. :)

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  39. Love this lamp!!! Thank you so much for this the tutorial! I do have a couple of questions. What brand of creamy white spray paint do you use? And is that the actual color name? I am having so much trouble with spray paint. After I paint, when I wipe my hand across the item the paint rubs off like powder. I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.

    Also (I guess this is actually 3 questions..oops) before you paint on the thin brown paint to give it the aged look, do you spray a little sealer over the creamy white paint?

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  40. What an awesome lamp!!! Thanks for the tutorial...I "might" try it someday (I'm not particularly crafty, even if I dream of being so). I don't know who won the lamp but I'm actually jealous of them (Congrats, though!!). What a great, great re-do. Amazing.

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  41. Hi Lindy, I also love the lamp, and your sense of humor! Just found the blog through the Graphics Fairy. I agree with you about loving bird images, but you might get a kick out of a video series called "Portlandia," which makes fun of us Portlanders (Oregon, that is). You could google it and look for the clip called "Put a bird on it." I think you'll like it. Cheers, Kate

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  42. What a fabulous idea! Thanks for linking up. I'd love it if you'd link back to me when joining parties. Thanks!

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  43. Lindy! This is fabulous - a perfect accessory! Love that Mod Podge! It does need a better name!
    kathy

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  44. Hi Lindy, this is so gorgeous. I would be so scared to try it, I just know mine would look like a complete mess. I love all your bird projects and am so impressed. Don't ever worry about doing too many.

    Have a fun weekend. Hugs...Tracy :)

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  45. Amazingly beautiful! Love the birds!

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  46. What a gorgeous lamp! I love all your "bird" crafts, just so inspiring!

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  47. Hi Lindy! Nice bird lamp! Never thought it would turn out that beautiful :) You made me think of buying second hand lamps!I love to get room lighting ideas and I feel lucky to find your blog :)Keep blogging!

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  48. I don't think I've ever met anyone that loves birds as I do until now,, wow,, I'm loving your blog,, I'm new and i'm struggling with a few things,, how do I Grab A Button ,, I just can't figure that one out,, thanks agian for sharing,,

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  49. I love Mod Podge and have used it for so many creative projects. I just recently bought a shower curtian with birds on it. This lamp project is so very inspiring. Thanks for sharing. Hopefully I can incoperate some of your ideas into my bath.

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  50. It is very beautiful arrangement of each and every stuffs. I like the light stand. It is totally unique, as well as simple but stylish.
    psychologist cape town

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  51. What's great is that I have really wondered about the quality of the prints. I notice that yours seem to have a bit of "grainy-ness" (for want of a better description) and yet they seem fine. I'm pretty sure that'll put me over the "afraid to try" hump. Thx

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I'm excited you're leaving a comment. I can't wait to read it...L.