If you are those which love to do unique things by yourself, and if pragmatism is your best friend, we have today an irrecusable suggestion: to transform a simple paper globe into a beautiful sculptural pendant lamp. Is it possible? Well, Kara Paslay shows that there are no boundaries which can stop our creativity.
By dyeing and dipping cut paper rounds into wax, Kara has transformed the material into an almost unrecognizable state. The “scales” have a glowing, translucent finish and a gorgeous deep watery hue, giving the lamp a unique texture, whether it’s unlit or switched on and glowing from within.
You will be surprised about the little investment: the whole project costs only $20 and can be done in an afternoon!
If you’re looking to add some oceany colors and textures to your home for summer, this inexpensive and easy project is, indeed, the ideal choice.
Materials
- 110# paper
- circle cutter (available at most craft stores)
- Rit Dye
- paraffin wax
- mineral oil
- crock pot
- extra bowl
- white paper lantern
- glue gun
Instructions
1. Use your circle cutter and use 110# paper to create around 200 circles. The 200 circles will cover a 14 in. paper lantern.
2. Place the cut circles into a bucket of Rit Dye (I used the purple and purple mixed with teal) and allow them to darken to your taste. I chose to make my circles different shades to enhance the texture of the final piece.
3. Create a double boiler with your crock pot and extra bowl. Put a block of the paraffin wax in the extra bowl to melt. Once the wax is melted, add mineral oil to thin the wax. Make sure your circles are dry and then dip each one into the wax, making sure to leave a portion of the top clean and clear of any wax. Lay the circle on wax paper to dry.
Note: Dipping the circles in the wax makes the paper transparent and allows the light to pass through it more easily.
4. Once the wax has dried, start attaching the circles to a white paper lantern. Use a glue gun and be sure to place the glue on the portion of the circle that does not have wax on it.
5. Work your way around the lantern until it is fully covered. I started at the bottom and overlapped my circles in a fish scale-like pattern so the top layer would be at the top of the lantern.
6. Use the lighting kit that comes with the lantern to create an amazing light fixture!
Note: I tested the lantern using a 60 watt compact florescent lightbulb, and the wax stayed cool and completely intact. I recommend sticking with compact florescent bulbs to keep the heat in check.
The final result is surprising… Delightfull, right?
