How To Decorate a Lamp Shade or Candle

To tell you the truth, I never thought I would decorate a lampshade or candle. It was never something I ever considered or desired to do! Sharing my ideas with you will make it easy for you to have your own decorated shades and special candles.

While in Salado,Texas a couple of weeks ago, I spent some time in the shops. One shop in particular caught my eye. The displays were very classy and appealing, though most of it I could not afford. As I perused the displays, I noticed that all of their lamps were decorated with strands of colored beads. It gave me some decorating ideas for my home. Their lamps were very appealing and made the shop feel extra homey! I asked the clerk about the beads and she pointed me to several baskets on the floor with the various colors of beads for sale. They were wrapped in clear plastic wrap and were sold in lengths of a yard each. Better yet, they weren't too pricey for my budget! I purchased three colors that would blend with my decor at home.

Just a couple of shops down and across the street, I found some butterflies displayed that were beautiful and very well made. They were in different solid colors of red and blue and gold. I chose the gold to go with my home decor. Some of the butterflies came in packages of three, all being a different size. The gold ones were sold individually which was great because I wanted two of the same size.

The next day, I unwrapped my purchases and began to let the creative juices flow. My memory of the shop lamps flashed before me. Ideas began to bubble up in my mind! Could I design something new? Any size or style of lamp can be used. After choosing two modern lamps in my dining room to decorate, my first step was to place the butterflies on the shades. The butterflies came with clips, which made this task very easy. I lifted the top layer of the wings to add some dimension and was completely satisfied with the first part of my creation.

Next, the beads needed to be unwrapped. I began loosely laying the strands over a lampshade to see how to best use them. I wrapped the base of the lamp and draped the strands downward. I used several colors, trying the combinations of red and gold. The more I added, the less I liked it. Eventually, I removed the red strands, leaving only the gold. I decided that the simple look would be best for my style and decor. I was not using large lamps and did not want to take too much away from the lamp. My final decision was to drape only the shades.

Take the same type of beads and drape them on a solid Christmas tree for shine! It is easy to do and can add some sparkle to your tabletop. Attach a three dimensional butterfly on the top for fun!

I placed a picture on Facebook that evening and had some positive comments. I think that there may be some other newly decorated lampshades somewhere because of my efforts! It is not difficult to do and a great idea for the Holidays. Try it, you may like it!

It is fun and easy to add some bling to your favorite candle. I took the same butterfly that was on my lamp and clipped it to the glass rim of a candle. I loved it immediately. Add a bow to a candle for added effect. The sheer ribbon works well with glass and a pert bow! Let your creativity extend to other decorative items in your house! Who knows, you may have the next original idea!

Add a bow to a simple glass candelabra for color! Use a ribbon that will hold its shape. I am not a good bow maker, but good ribbon sure does help the final product. Change your ribbon to match your decor changes for the different seasons!