So, just yesterday I heard about a great challenge called Iron Craft. Each week this year, a new theme will be posted on the Iron Craft website, and participants come up with a craft project based on that theme. And since today is the posting date for week one, that means I get to participate in all 52 weeks! Yay!
The theme for week #1 is Lighting the Winter Gloom. It’s quite serendipitous, then, that just a couple of days ago I came up with a project that fits: a tiny art deco lamp, just the right size for a dollhouse! Here’s how you can make your own.
Supplies:
- Golf tee
- Milk bottle cap
- Water bottle cap
- White spray paint
- Scrapbook paper
- Narrow ribbon
- Craft paint
- Clear pony bead
- Yellow craft foam
- Ball chain necklace
- Small bead
- Embroidery floss
- Glue
- Mod Podge
Directions:
Cut the pointed end off of the golf tee. (Tip: an old steak knife works well as a saw for a lot of dollhouse construction projects!) Paint the tee as desired.
Mine is actually inspired by a pair of art deco lamps my grandma had. Well, they weren’t really a pair; one came originally in a teal-with-metallic-flecks finish, and grandma flawlessly painted the second lamp to match. (Yup, that must be where my craftiness comes from!) To simulate the look of grandma’s lamps, I first painted the tee teal with acrylic craft paint, then I put a wee bit of metallic craft paint on a toothbrush and ran my thumb across the bristles to create a spatter pattern.
Cut a tiny scrap of yellow craft foam. Roll it up and stuff it into a clear pony bead to create your lightbulb.
Glue the pony bead to the cut off end of the golf tee.
To create a cord, glue a length of embroidery floss to the bottom of the golf tee. Tie a knot in the other end of the embroidery floss to prevent the strands from separating. I used floss in a golden tan to simulate the look of a real lamp cord.
Spray paint both of the bottle caps white.
Cut a strip of scrapbook paper just wider than each bottle cap is tall. Wrap the strips of paper around the bottle caps and glue into place. If desired, glue a strip of narrow ribbon around each cap as well.
Glue the smaller cap into place centered on the top of the larger cap. Seal the entire assembly with a few coats of Mod Podge.
To add a pull chain, cut a small section off of a ball chain necklace (smaller diameter chains work best) and glue a tiny bead to one end. Glue the other end to the inside of the milk cap just a tad off center, making sure to leave room to glue the pony bead to the very center of the milk cap.
Attach the lampshade and base by gluing the pony bead to the center of the inside of the milk cap. Voila! Dollhouse retro kitsch!
Come back next Wednesday to see what I make for Iron Craft Challenge #2, and keep an eye here as well for a TON more dollhouse DIY tutorials yet to come!
It’s so cute! The attention to detail is awesome!
Whoa, that’s fantastic! What a great idea! Cheap, easy, and looks beautiful. I seriously want to see the rest of that dollhouse. And then I’m probably going to want to shrink myself down and live in it.
I LOVE whimsical things and miniatures – this is adorable! Thank you for sharing how you made it. Also, thank you for mentioning Iron Craft – I went to the site and joined the challenge – I can’t wait to get the challenge for next week! =)
This is awesome! I am making a dollhouse for my niece and this is perfect-thanks!
What a cute idea! I bet you have to get a little ingenious with some of this miniature furniture. Great job!!
Love this mini lamp and the tutorial! I can’t wait to see what else you have in store!
I LOVE your doll house furniture! I’m in the process of making a doll house for my son and your tutorials are really going to help! I was originally going to buy one but I’ve yet to find a doll house that’s masculine so I’m making one for him myself.
Thank you so much for posting these tutorials!
By the way, How do you get that speckled look on the lamp base? I’ve been trying for the look for some time now and I still can’t get it. Any tips?
@Sandy – I’m so glad you are enjoying them and finding them useful! Some tips for the speckle painting: Use a toothbrush with stiff bristles. Put just a dab of paint on the brush; too much paint will make the speckles come out more like globs. The angle can be tricky, so try putting the golf tee standing upright (on the wide end) and speckle painting from above it at a bit of a downward angle. Hope this helps!
wow this is just so awesome. I have been saving things for my niece that would make doll house additions. Like top off cough syrup makes a trash can. But now I am thinking it might make a cool lap shade too. If you have any other barbie furniture ideas besides books and lamps I would love to hear about them.
Clever and Cute! Check out Small Stuff Digest. You will find thousands of kindred spirits interested in every aspect of dollhouse miniatures.
Made this last night and it turned out just like the one in the photo. I love, love, love the close up how-to photos; makes it easy to check how I am doing. I prefer to make as much of my dollhouse items myself, only buy what I know I can’t make. Thanks!