Once upon a time there was a lamp that I loved at Pottery Barn (but now neither the lamp or the shade is available). And together, the pair was $159. Kinda pricey for a lamp if you ask me. But I can always find a cheaper alternative!
With a little thrift store luck, I found this lamp for $7 and the shade for $2 – so grand total of $9 on both pieces. That price is much better, huh? So let’s turn it into the Pottery Barn inspired Love Letter Lamp.
DIY Love Letter Lamp
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Next coat the base with some glaze (I prefer Ralph Lauren glaze in any tan shade). Lightly wipe off the glaze with a cotton cloth, using a circle motion. Take off small bits at a time, leaving behind enough to give you the level of distressing you prefer. If you want more, then use another layer. Let the entire thing dry overnight.
Just like with these French Script curtains, translate your favorite phrase (mine is from a love note my husband wrote me years ago, hence why I’m calling it the Love Letter Lamp), and print it off, I used this font at 175 point.
Trim your words out to separate them and tape them to the inside of the shade in whatever arrangement you’d like.
Put the shade on a lamp, turn it on, and use a small brush as a pencil to trace over the words with air brush paint <– that kind is THE BEST. If you’d like to add post marks, just use some rubber stamps to make it easy.
Once everything was dry, I put it all together and that’s how I created the DIY Love Letter Lamp.
Embellished Bayou says
February 11, 2010 at 1:31 amI like your version even better than the PB one! The shape of that lamp is great & you did a fabulous job transforming it! As always, thanks for hosting us!
Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage says
February 11, 2010 at 1:32 amSo super cute Gina!! 🙂
Vanessa says
February 11, 2010 at 1:59 amGoregous!! Love this transformation!!
Jenny @ Words on Wendhurst says
February 11, 2010 at 2:21 amSuch a sweet lampshade, I love that you used sentiments from your husband. I’m a sucker for all things French. 🙂
{ L } says
February 11, 2010 at 2:28 amI am absolutely impressed with this!! It looks STRAIGHT out of a PB catalog! I’m stunned.
Sabrina says
February 11, 2010 at 2:29 amGreat lamp and LOVE the lampshade idea.
Hoosier Homemade says
February 11, 2010 at 2:38 amThat lamp is awesome! I love it too!
Thanks for hosting!
~Liz
Thrifty Miss Priss says
February 11, 2010 at 2:41 amyou did a fabulous job! I agree…straight from the PB catalog!
Jessica @ This Blessed Life says
February 11, 2010 at 3:05 amAhhhhh!! I am in love, too! And I am LOVING the idea of taking a love note and translating it – keeps it private yet so sentimental! Wonderful job!
Michelle @ Sweet Something says
February 11, 2010 at 3:22 amThat turned out great! I’m working on a lamp project too….hope to link up next week! Love this party!!
FleaMarketTrixie says
February 11, 2010 at 3:22 amThat lamp is gorgeous, great transformation
Sherry says
February 11, 2010 at 3:35 amOh, now you are awesome! I had been wanting to do some slipcovers for my dining room chairs with this font and you just posted it. Way cool.:)
L.Duncan@home23duncanboys says
February 11, 2010 at 4:01 amYou did a GREAT job! I love it!!!
RuthM says
February 11, 2010 at 4:13 amI totally like your version better!!! It’s gorgeous!
Beth says
February 11, 2010 at 4:16 amI like your version better! Oh, I’m glad to hear that I’m not the only one who drinks a gallon of sweet tea a day!
Pam says
February 11, 2010 at 4:19 amAwesome…looks great and your directions are so easy to follow.
Rocio @ Casa Haus says
February 11, 2010 at 4:27 amWow! I LOVE your lamp better!
randee says
February 11, 2010 at 4:30 amthat lamp looks absolutely positively fabulous!
Wendy says
February 11, 2010 at 4:36 amThe lamp turned out great!
Jen~ Lipstick and Laundry says
February 11, 2010 at 5:00 amGREAT job, I too saw those and thought… Need to make it NOT spend that HIGH price!
Heidi@TheCraftMonkey says
February 11, 2010 at 5:05 amooooh, I saw that shade and loved it too! thanks for a great tip and making a knock off
Leanne says
February 11, 2010 at 5:13 amYou amaze me. It looks so perfect, even better than PB. Hey, I want to go thrifting with you too. Thanks for hosting again. I would never miss it.
Procrastinating Perfection says
February 11, 2010 at 5:19 amLove. it. ♥
Enchanted Rose Studio says
February 11, 2010 at 5:22 amI’ve been seeing the distressed vintage ballisters turned lamps every where now. Those lampshades are killer! Love em! I really like how your lamp turned out. You did a fabulous job!
Thanks for the great tips!
Tina
Valley Girl says
February 11, 2010 at 5:23 amHoly COW! I think you just made Pottery Barn cry…cause now we don’t have to buy their lamp (tee,hee, hee). That looks great, thanks for the tut.
Molly @ A Bit O' Shine says
February 11, 2010 at 8:19 amNow that is a fantastic lamp makeover!
I made over a lamp this week too but all I did was spray paint it. Still…it was a serious improvement.
Robin says
February 11, 2010 at 9:52 amYou are brilliant! That looks over the top amazing!!!
Would you mind telling me the color on the walls behind the finished lamp? I’m in love with it!?
Thanks Bunches~
Robin
All Things Heart and Home
::cottage instincts:: says
February 11, 2010 at 11:00 amThat is amazing Gina! Looks fabulous and way more personalized and ‘you’ than a mere PB off the rack overpriced lamp. 🙂
I got nothing to post this week, but I’ll enjoy visiting the others who do!
Melissa says
February 11, 2010 at 11:20 amYours is gorgeous, better than PB’s
Theresa @ 612Riverside says
February 11, 2010 at 12:56 pmI am loving this! The fact that you used a personal note for the shade is awesome. I gotta try this, Thanks for the inspiration, Theresa
Cindy says
February 11, 2010 at 1:14 pmI saw that in their new catalogue and I was wondering how I could make it, too. Wow, yours is gorgeous!!! I really want to make one now! Thank you so much for the instructions. Hugs, Cindy S.
Paula Grace Designs says
February 11, 2010 at 1:54 pmGorgeous lamp and the price is right!
Paula Grace ~
Heather@PixieDust says
February 11, 2010 at 2:17 pmwow, I love your lamp!!!!! Thanks for sharing the technique of how to paint a design on a lamp shade 🙂
Wendy says
February 11, 2010 at 2:19 pmThank you!! I needed a lampshade for the office / craftroom and this is perfect!!! I love it!! Hurray…I am so excited to try it.
Wendy
Sherrie says
February 11, 2010 at 2:29 pmI just love seeing what you can put together. Love the lamp. You provide such good photos and detailed descriptions. Thank you for your patience and time in doing this.
Jenn says
February 11, 2010 at 2:31 pmI am all about PB hacking! You did a fabulous job!
JessicaDoesMakeup says
February 11, 2010 at 2:54 pmThat lamp is gorgeous! You are so creative! This blog is definetely going to save me tons of money over the years. Thanks so much!
Sonja @ Craft-Werk says
February 11, 2010 at 3:00 pmThat lampshade is beautiful. A great idea from PB – but your cheap recreation is even better! Love it and might try that, too!
Erin A says
February 11, 2010 at 3:08 pmWow, this is truly fabulous!! I am so loving that lampshade!!! It seems like a lot of link party ideas are pretty similar, but this is a good, slight deviation. Great job!
Low Tide High Style says
February 11, 2010 at 3:22 pmYour lamp and shade turned out beautifully!! So creative and so much less expensive! Truly lovely!
Kat 🙂
Maman Tattoo says
February 11, 2010 at 3:25 pmIt’s funny I did the same thing 2 weeks ago 😛
Yours turned way better I shall say!
Creativedecorbybrooke says
February 11, 2010 at 3:26 pmI love that idea. The lampshade is so neat and so easy. You are so creative.
a fan of anything chocolate says
February 11, 2010 at 3:31 pmClearly you are a fan of things French! Loved our trip to Paris and love your lamp and anything else PB inspired. You did a fabulous job and your how-tos are great!
http://robertapm28.blogspot.com/
Carolyn @ My Backyard Eden says
February 11, 2010 at 3:32 pmThat is such a creative idea. I love the way it turned out!
Jessi @ Yankee Belle Home says
February 11, 2010 at 3:44 pmWOW! WOW! WOW! Gina, you are an inspiration. The lamp is gorgeous!
One Cheap B*tch says
February 11, 2010 at 3:47 pmOh dear god, I love that soooooo much! Great job, I want it!!!!!!!
Chez Zizi says
February 11, 2010 at 3:48 pmOh My God! I love that lamp shade as well and have been trying to find a way to make it. Thanks for the tips! I am going to run out and make it this week.
Zizette
Katie says
February 11, 2010 at 4:56 pmI was looking at my PB catalog over the weekend, wondering how I could knock off that lamp myself! Thanks for the tips — will definitely have to give it a shot!
Diane @ InMyOwnStyle says
February 11, 2010 at 7:23 pmHi Gina-
I like yours better than PB, not only because it cost a lot less, but it just looks better – more of your style put into it. Thanks for having the under $5.00 link party- can’t wait to get some good inexpensive ideas.
Diane
Siggy Spice says
February 11, 2010 at 7:54 pmAbsolutely FABULOUS!!!
Jan @ bobbypinsboardwalk says
February 11, 2010 at 9:08 pmAbsolutely wonderful lamp project. Very clever. Thank you for hosting the link party!
Pins + Paper says
February 11, 2010 at 9:19 pmI love this idea! Great tutorial, Gina!
~ Kristen
Kim says
February 11, 2010 at 9:36 pmPositively lovely! Anything with French script wins me over.
Living With Lindsay says
February 12, 2010 at 3:53 amYou already know I absolutely love it! Great job, girl! I need to feature this on Teach Me Tuesday.
Thelittlebrownhouse.us says
February 12, 2010 at 4:20 amThat lamp is seriously amazing!! I love it!
Thanks for sharing, and for hosting!
Sherry says
February 12, 2010 at 6:36 amThe lamp is wonderful and I am in love with the shade. Great Job!
Richella says
February 12, 2010 at 3:54 pmWow! I really, really like this! I went back and re-read your curtain tutorial just so that I could be sure of how to do this. Double wow.
Thank you for sharing this, Gina!
Charris says
February 12, 2010 at 7:00 pmHi Gina;
I have chosen you and your blog as a recipient of my blog award. Come on over and pick it up
http://Inspirewithcharris.blogspot.com
Congrats!!
Ceekay- Thinkin of Home says
February 13, 2010 at 7:29 pmThat is very impressive…I love that look…and for so little money!!! Happy Valentine’s day!
Miss Fanny says
February 14, 2010 at 2:51 pmThat lamp is awesome and you made it look easy. Thank you for the inspiration!
Anonymous says
February 22, 2010 at 2:55 pmHi Gina,
Love this lamp. Would love to use the font for a plain sage lamp shade in my guest room.
And I just discovered you are located in my Hometown. I live in VA now but was born and lived most of my life in L’burg along with other family. My Mom stills lives there. Love your site.
BJ
Anonymous says
February 26, 2010 at 6:39 pmHi — I’m new to this, so excuse my “dumbness” here. I’m looking at the part where you cut out the phrases and taped them inside the shade. The next picture shows no outlines of the paper after you paint the shade. How did you do that?
Ashley says
March 15, 2010 at 4:28 amLOVE!! Better than the one for $159!!!!! =)
Colleen @ MuralMaker&More says
July 8, 2010 at 5:00 pmGina, I bookmarked this darling lamp way before I was posting love links. Finally got around to Decorating Lampshades today & had to include yours! Love it!
marle says
December 30, 2010 at 4:05 ami love the tutorial thanks.
Cortney says
January 1, 2011 at 4:54 pmI love this!
Parents of a Dozen says
January 2, 2011 at 1:41 amYou did a great job on the lamp. I am a new follower.
Suzy @ Joy Is At Home says
January 3, 2011 at 5:03 amI love this! It is totally going on my “to do” list..
Anna See says
March 18, 2011 at 2:35 amOh my goodness! I love this. I actually have that lampshade from PB, so I am doubly impressed!
rockpaperscissors3 says
June 16, 2011 at 9:20 pmWhat a great way to have your space personalized! love it-great for gifts, to!
Tessa says
March 21, 2015 at 7:19 amso you used the taped printed words in the inside like a stencil? Then traced on top of the lampshade? Did you use fabric paint or markers?
Carol says
February 27, 2016 at 3:16 pmIts GENIUS! Thank you for showing us how to do this!
Stair says
October 31, 2018 at 3:14 amMy soon-to-be sister-in law got crafty over the holidays and sent us some pretty awesome packages. One of the coolest was this DIY trivet, constructed from wine corks she’d been collecting.
Gina Luker says
October 31, 2018 at 9:25 amVery cool, I love wine cork creations 🙂
Daneka Dodson says
January 13, 2019 at 1:25 pmShould we put some type of clear or protective coating over the lampshade to preserve the painted on words? Also, can you please recommend what material of lampshade would work best with this?
Gina Luker says
January 14, 2019 at 2:42 pmYou can if you want, I didn’t and any lampshade will work, just keep in mind you’ll be writing your words so something that will easily accept the paint, or marker 🙂