How to Make a Papier Mache Lampshade With a Balloon

Create ambience in a room with a unique DIY papier mache lampshade.

A lampshade not only screens and diffuses light from a light bulb, but it also brings ambience and a decorative element to a room. With a little imagination and a lot of patience, you can create a papier mache lampshade that is unique as well as functional.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic table cover
• Liquid laundry starch
• Bowl
• Brush
• Scissors or craft knife
• White tissue paper
• Round balloon
• Edging material such as ribbon or raffia
• Craft glue
• Fine grit sandpaper
• Varnish

Instructions

1. Cover your work surface with a plastic table cover or large plastic garbage bag.

2. Tear the tissue paper into strips approximately one inch wide and four inches long.

3. Blow up the balloon to the size you want. Rub a thin layer of petroleum jelly on the surface of the balloon.

4. Pour just enough liquid laundry starch into a bowl to complete a layer. You can always add more if you run out.

5. Dip the brush into the starch and wipe the excess starch off on the rim of the bowl. Brush a very thin layer of starch onto a section of the balloon and place overlapping strips of tissue paper over the applied starch. Use the brush and starch to smooth down any strips that are not laying flat.

6. Work your way around the balloon, applying starch and strips of tissue paper in the same manner as in the previous step until the balloon is covered. Hang the balloon to dry by its tied end.

7. Add four to six more layers of paper strips in the same manner as in the previous steps, letting each layer dry completely before adding on the next layer. After the final layer is applied, allow the papier mache to dry completely before adding any sort of sealant, as residual moisture in the papier mache will cause your DIY lampshade to eventually rot.

8. Lightly sand the papier mache surface using fine grit sandpaper, if necessary, and remove all traces of dust. At this point, if you wish, you may apply two coats of varnish (in the sheen of your choice) with a clean brush, letting each layer dry completely. Alternatively, you may leave the papier mache unsealed to give it an organic appearance.

9. Measure the circumference of the lamp or pendant light hardware over which your DIY lampshade will fit.

10. Mark the measurements for the opening on the papier mache balloon using a pencil. Cut out the opening with scissors or a craft knife. If the lamp or pendant light also has a finial at the top or bottom, respectively, you must cut out an additional hole in the papier mache for the finial.

11. Pop and remove the balloon. Glue decorative edging, such as raffia or ribbon, around the cut opening.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not cut the strips of paper, as torn strips lay smoother than cut strips.

• Although it is more time-consuming, using smaller strips of tissue paper will result in a smoother finish with fewer wrinkles.

• A runny mixture of glue and water or flour and water can also be used as paste.

• You can experiment with different textures and looks by using white paper towels, coffee filters or brown paper bags instead of tissue paper, or varying the consistency of the flour-water paste, keeping in mind that it is the flour that gives additional strength to the papier mache.

• You can create patterns on the lampshade by overlapping the strips around the balloon horizontally, vertically, diagonally, criss-cross or in a basketweave pattern.

• If you want a colored lampshade, add acrylic paint in the color of your choice to the paste or use colored tissue paper.

• To avoid a fire hazard, blow up the balloon mold to a size large enough so that the sides of the finished lampshade do not come in contact with the light bulb.

References

• Papier Mache Resource: Getting Started
• Sutherland Studios: Papier Mache Techniques