Monday, March 29, 2010

Old Lamp Turned Into Porch Decor

It all started with an idea.

I was hoping that it was a good one.

I bought some old brass lamps from GW for cheap.

Here is the smallest of the lot.

The runt.

And holy crap, my french doors are covered with crayon graffiti and fingerprints.

Toddlers...

I knew that I would need something for the top so I picked up some drapery ends at Lowe's.

There were 2 in a pack and they were on clearance for $8.

I dismantled the lamp and threw the guts away.

I had picked up some Plaster of Paris to use as a weight.

I turned the base upside down and filled it up partway and then left it to dry overnight.

Because I was gluing metal parts together and they are nonporous, I needed a special kind of glue.

JB Weld is available in the automotive department of Walmart and costs less then $5.

Both tubes come in the package.

You mix together equal parts from both tubes and then spread the mixture on the surfaces that you want glued together.

It is some sticky stuff.

I glued all the parts back together and the drapery finial on top.

I left it to dry overnight.

The next day, I roughed it up with a bit o' sandpaper.

I then primed it with the cheap spray primer from Walmart.

I wanted it to look like it was made out of rock so I bought a can of American Accents Stone Spray paint.

There are other brands that are cheaper but they don't produce as chunky of paint as American Accents.

I used the Granite color but there are several other colors too.

I gave it a couple of different coats, several hours apart and then let it dry overnight.

Here is the finished product.

I have several other lamps, of various shapes and sizes that I'm working on.

Hopefully when I'm all done, my porch will actually look cute.

Until my toddlers are let loose outside, that is...
Lots of parties to link too-check them out for lots of inspiration!

54 comments:

Jut and Char said...

Becky, only about half of the pics for this post show up. It might be my computer?

Becky said...

Blogger was having some problems earler, but I think they got it fixed. :)

Patti @ Pandoras Box said...

This is GREAT! You would never know that it all started with a lamp - so clever....don't you just love that paint??

Linda@Coastal Charm said...

What a neat lamp makeover...luv how you did this:) Thanks for coming to my PAR-TAY...hope youare having a good time!

Blessings,
Linda

Diann said...

What a great redo! Very creative and it looks wonderful!!

bj said...

This is a fantastic idea! It looks great!!

Anonymous said...

So clever! I have been saving all kinds of stuff to make some huge finials but never thought of using lamps!

beeblessed
mary

Molly said...

I LOVE finials and that is an outstanding idea!! Thanks for sharing!

Shirley said...

Now that is clever! I would've never seen that in the lamp! Love it!

Anonymous said...

Clever! I love it.

Jane said...

This is a wonderful project. One would never know it started out as a lamp. Very clever.
Jane

Linda said...

What an amazing metamorphosis! You are sooo creative! Great job!

Prairie Scraps said...

I never imagagined this would come out of some lamps! Great job and what a very creative project!

Creations By Cindy said...

That is beautiful! I love the idea and what you have done there. Love it! Be blessed. Cindy

Titti @ Shoestring Pavilion said...

I absolutely love this! I've been wanting to do something like this with lamps so it's great to have someone else show you how it turned out before you go at it :) I always eye all the gorgeous curvy lamps for half off at the thrift store, I AM going to do something like this with one of them one day. Good job on your garden decor!

deb said...

Awesome job!! So clever, looks absoulutley fab!
*hugs*deb

Unknown said...

Hopping over from Coastal Charm... wow you've got a great eye to turn those brass lamps into fab patio decor! Nicely done!

Jessi said...

WOW! Aren't you creative?!? I love it. And fabulous tutorial. Thanks for sharing!

The Smith Hotel said...

What a clever idea! I would never have thought of doing that~it turned out great!

Jody

The Smith Hotel said...

What a clever idea! I would never have thought of doing that~it turned out great!

Jody

Unknown said...

This is so fun! I love the paint you used, definitely made all the difference!

Jill said...

Love this! I would love for you to come link up over at my blog! I've got prizes :)
-Jill
http://womenwhodoitall.blogspot.com

Cindy said...

Great idea! That looks absolutely amazing!

Sawdust Girl said...

What, that is crazy. I never would have imagined making "that" out of "that". Too Cool!

Unknown said...

That is adorable! Who would have ever guessed that was once a lamp!

Pam - @diy Design Fanatic said...

Very clever! Looks great! Thanks for the inspiration. Now I am going to have to make one :)

coastal cavegirl said...

That is so cool!

Room to Inspire said...

This is SO clever! What a great idea - truly great idea. I will have to give this a shot for sure.

Chelsea

Carrie @ Two Poms and a House said...

I found your blog through Better After...I'm very impressed and jealous of your creativity! Great Job!!

michelle@somedaycrafts said...

Oh my goodness!! That is so creative and awesome looking!! Thanks for linking up to Someday Crafts for Whatever Goes Wednesday!!

O.C. said...

This is awesome, great job. Congrats.

Miss Obara said...

That is an amazing transformation! Who'd a thought?!

Suzanne said...

Pretty darn cool! Thanks for sharing.

Mary Beth @ Live. Laugh. Make Something said...

Absolutely adorable! I love what you did! great job! I hopped over from Women Who Do It All and am so happy that I did. Please accept my invitation to drop in at my place one day soon. until later...

Wendy said...

Wow! That's very clever!

Kim said...

That is really clever indeed. I really like it too.

arkie said...

What a great idea!

Herbgirl said...

So cool. I'm always looking for ideas for porch decor and this is awesome.
Herbal Blessings, Mandy

Shabby Anne said...

That turned out really great. How cool would something like that look sprayed with ORB. Now if only I could find some of that darned stuff...

gail@My Repurposed Life said...

fabulous! I love how that turned out. That paint treatment is perfect to transform a lamp!
gail

Wendy @ Ramblings from the Sunshine State said...

that is a great idea!

Sarah said...

Oh wow, I'm totally inspired by your creativity! The end result turned out fabulous!!!
God's blessings,
Sarah :D

Atticmag said...

That's a gigantic transformation and totally unexpected. Great piece for the porch. Hope you'll come by Atticmag for our really useful giveaway. -- Jane F.

KimMalk said...

This is so very clever, I can't wait to see the finished set. I bet you are having a blast with your kids!

Nancy's Notes said...

That is an amazing makeover! It's perfect, thank for sharing!

Nancy

Stacey @ Fun to Craft said...

That turned out so great! I really love everything you did to it. Thanks for sharing at the Spring has Spring Party at Fun to Craft.

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

That bit about the crayons on the door cracked me up!

Loved the lamps turned faux statue.
Looks like a cement urn or something. I guess that is the look you were going for... really cool

Kate Riley said...

Found this through Becki at IC, LOVE this project ! Can't wait to try this paint, I'm so inspired !

Kate

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Wow, this turned out great! I hope you don't mind if I copy you. Imitation is the best form of flattery...right? Thanks for the inspiration.

One Cheap B*tch said...

This is amazing! Who would have thought! And I must say I love the fingerprints and crayon marks - I have two toddler boys so I know exactly what you're talking about - lol! Coming over from Funky Junk Interiors and a happy new follower!

Jeanine

FrouFrouBritches said...

WOW! That looks amazing! You are so smart! I'm a big ole chicken when it comes to taking stuff apart. I might have to try it. The paint looks GREAT by the way. Thanks for sharing.

I {heart} Nap Time said...

wow so creative! Love it! Thanks for linking up to iheartnaptime.blogspot.com Come back this sat!

Tracey @ My House of Giggles said...

You have got vision, girl!! That's awesome! love it!!

Thanks for linking up at my Tuesday Talent Show!

Come on back tonight with some more fun projects :)

Tracey

uglythenpretty.com said...

WOW! had to post about this great work.
www.uglythenpretty.com