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WATERCOLOR LAMPSHADE WITH FABRIC MARKERS

May 1, 2014 by madincrafts 20 Comments

DIY Watercolor Lampshade with Fabric Markers - Mad in Crafts

I was provided with the lampshade for this project, but the opinions in this post are 100% my own.

The Lamps.com contest is open for voting from now until May 8th.  If I am chosen as the winner, I receive a prize AND one of you readers will win a $100 gift card too.  If you have a few minutes, I would LOVE for you to visit Lamps.com and vote for my Watercolor Lampshade.  

I love the look of modern, abstract watercolors but I don’t want to be limited to creating them just on watercolor paper.  I made this stylish watercolor lamp without using any watercolors at all!  Get your hands on some Tulip fabric markers and you can turn a plain lampshade into a work of art!

lamps plus shade

I created this project as part of Lamps.com’s annual Lampshade Contest.  Twelve bloggers were each sent a lampshade and were asked to decorate it however they liked.  It sounded like a fun challenge to me, so I got on board.

lamps plus drum shade

The shade I was sent was a plain white drum shade.  It was about as blank a canvas as you can get. 

bleed fabric marker 

I am still on a painterly pattern kick, so I am drawn to watercolors, ikat, and other imperfect patterns.  I have seen some gorgeous, but very expensive, watercolor-style lampshades and wondered if I could make one myself.  At first I debated using fabric dye on the shade, but then a blogger friend reminded me that Tulip fabric markers (affiliate link) can be used to create a watercolor look.

I used the same process to make a watercolor pillow for my daughter’s Fairy Garden Bedroom and on the silk screened shirts I made for her Mickey birthday party.

layer on colors and shapes

To create the watercolor effect, I drew on the shade with the fabric marker and then went over the lines with a wet, angled paintbrush.  The spread of the ink is determined by the amount of water used and the placement of the water.  Even so, I didn’t have control over how the ink spread, and that is part of the fun of the project.  It kind of takes on a life of its own.

more fabric marker watercolors

I spent the better part of a morning drawing and wetting, blending and coloring.  I used blues and greens with the occasional accent of yellow to keep the colors similar.  This technique works with all of the fabric markers, so you could customize your lamp to fit the color scheme of your room.

fabric marker watercolor lampshade 

I kept adding more areas of color and blending them together, all the way around the shade.  Once I was finished I let the shade air dry.  The markers are permanent once they dry; no heat setting required.

watercolored lampshade

I kept my drawing patterns somewhat geometric, knowing that the water would soften up the harshness of the lines.

lamp shade  lamps plus lampshade contest 

The watercolor pattern looks pretty with the lamp on or off.  And the pattern doesn’t diminish the brightness of the lamp when the light shines through it, so you can still curl up with a good book beside the lamp.  You have to love the combination of form and function!

lampshade    

The Lamps.com contest is open for voting from now until May 8th.  If I am chosen as the winner, I receive a prize AND one of you readers will win a $100 gift card too.  If you have a few minutes, I would LOVE for you to visit Lamps.com and vote for my Watercolor Lampshade.  

Lampshade Before and After

 

One more time, here is the before and after of the lampshade!  What do you think?  Are you brave enough to turn a blank canvas lampshade into an art piece?

watercolorlampshade_thumb.jpg


Did you like this post?  Think it’s worth sharing?  Please share with your friends using the social media share buttons at the bottom of the page!

Thanks,  Jessica

Filed Under: Home Decor Tagged With: affiliate, before and after, fabric markers, lamp, lamp makeover, lampshade, lighting, tutorial, watercolor

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Comments

  1. Cher @ Designs by Studio C says

    May 1, 2014 at 1:05 pm

    Really, really pretty! I love the colors you chose!

    Reply
  2. Holly says

    May 1, 2014 at 2:06 pm

    Great job, Jessica! Thanks for participating! Good luck!

    Reply
  3. Robin All Things Heart and Home says

    May 1, 2014 at 8:29 pm

    Jessica, hello new friend! I’m in the lampshade contest too which is how I found you! Just wanted to tell you how much I love your lampshade! Truly, it’s art! Beautiful.

    Reply
    • madincrafts says

      May 1, 2014 at 8:44 pm

      Thank you so much! I was so impressed with all the entries!

      Reply
  4. Jamie says

    May 1, 2014 at 8:33 pm

    I love the colors. Such a cool technique! So fun being a part of this challenge with you. Good luck!

    Hugs,

    Jamie

    Reply
    • madincrafts says

      May 1, 2014 at 8:44 pm

      Thank you so much! It's such a fun contest and all the entries are great!

      Reply
  5. Jeanine says

    May 2, 2014 at 12:55 am

    DONE: VOTE casted! I simply adore this project! I am definitely inspired to try the same… Soon as the weather co operates, a lampshade will be my first garage sale diy supply find! LOL;D Excellent!!!

    Reply
    • madincrafts says

      May 2, 2014 at 8:18 pm

      Thanks, Jeanine! It\’s a really fun technique to play around with.

      Reply
  6. Yvonne @ StoneGable says

    May 2, 2014 at 3:27 am

    Jessica, What a great lampshade! It would look wonderful in my family room. I love love love your painting technique!!! So very creative and so striking! Isn’t this a fun challenge!!!

    Reply
  7. Maryann @ Domestically Speaking says

    May 2, 2014 at 5:31 am

    Jessica that turned out GORGEOUS!!! So thrilled to be in this challenge with you & it was great meeting you at SNAP!

    Reply
  8. Kim @ Sand & Sisal says

    May 3, 2014 at 8:53 am

    I love this idea! What a seriously cool project! I’ve never used fabric markers. Guess now I’l just have too! 😉

    Reply
    • madincrafts says

      May 3, 2014 at 12:22 pm

      Thanks, Kim! Those markers are really fun and easy to work with.

      Reply

Trackbacks

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    March 27, 2017 at 9:54 am

    […] It’s superb how briskly a lamp can go out and in of favor. Should you’re despairing over an previous lampshade however can’t substitute it but, attempt giving it a brand new look by drawing some patterns on it with a cloth marker after which portray water over it with a paintbrush. You’ll get a watercolor look on a budget till you’ve gotten the funds to buy the lampshade you’re pining for. (by way of Mad in Crafts) […]

    Reply
  7. 20 Darling Ways to DIY with Watercolors - Home Decorating DIY says:
    March 28, 2017 at 9:54 am

    […] It’s superb how briskly a lamp can go out and in of favor. In the event you’re despairing over an previous lampshade however can’t exchange it but, attempt giving it a brand new look by drawing some patterns on it with a cloth marker after which portray water over it with a paintbrush. You’ll get a watercolor look on a budget till you will have the funds to buy the lampshade you’re pining for. (by way of Mad in Crafts) […]

    Reply
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    August 1, 2017 at 4:19 pm

    […] DIY WATERCOLOR LAMPSHADE […]

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