How to Make a Lamp Out of Eggshells

Keep saving eggshells until you have enough to make a lamp.

When you hold eggshells up to a light bulb you can see the glow from the light through the shells. The light created by doing this is a soft, warm glow rather than a harsh, bright light. Given the way they diffuse light, eggshells are perfect for making into table lamps. Indeed, every eggshell has a slightly different color and thickness, so the result is lighting that varies across the surface of the eggshell lampshade. And the great thing about this project is that you hardly need to buy anything to make a lamp out of eggshells; you just need to start eating a few more eggs for breakfast!

Things You'll Need

• Washed and dried broken eggshells (any size and shape)
• Balloon
• Cling film
• Pen
• Strong glue (preferably non-solvent based)
• 2 paint brushes
• Varnish
• Pin
• Light bulb
• Pre-wired light bulb holder

Instructions

1. Blow up a medium-sized balloon and tie the neck. The balloon is the template for your eggshell lamp.

2. Wrap the balloon in a double layer of cling film. This provides a little extra protection against the balloon bursting while you are making the lamp out of eggshells.

3. Draw a line completely around the balloon 2 inches from where you tied the neck. Draw another line around the balloon 3 inches from the end opposite the neck.

4. Start working at the line you drew near the neck of the balloon. Using a brush, apply glue around the balloon above the line a little at a time. Put a little glue on the underside of an eggshell and then stick it onto the balloon with your fingers. Continue to put eggshells onto the balloon, making sure each piece of eggshell slightly overlaps the next piece. Overlapping the pieces will strengthen the lamp. Use any size and shape of eggshell you want. It doesn’t have to be neat and tidy.

5. Continue to place the eggshells on the balloon as you gradually work your way to the opposite line. Check to make sure that the whole area between the two lines is covered in eggshells. Leave the eggshells to dry.

6. Apply a clear varnish to the surface of the eggshells. This not only gives a glossy finish, but adds strength to the lamp. Let the varnish dry.

7. Use a pin and burst the balloon. This leaves you with your eggshell lampshade minus the support of the ballon. Carefully pull out any bits of balloon and cling film from inside the lampshade.

8. Screw the light bulb into the bulb holder and place the bulb holder onto a table. Carefully place the eggshell lampshade over the light bulb by putting the part of the lampshade with the largest hole over the light bulb holder. The smaller hole at the top allows heat to escape. Turn on the light bulb and enjoy the patterns and lighting effect you get from your lamp.

References

• Made In Slant: Nosign Makes Lamp from Discarded Eggshells