How to Make Popsicle Stick Lamps
Making arts and crafts out of Popsicle sticks is an enjoyable pastime for many people. The sticks themselves can be purchased in bags at craft stores, and be used to make boxes, baskets and towers by crafters or kids at summer camp. Some Popsicle stick artists make intricate sculptures and household items with Popsicle sticks, as well. The craft described in this article makes a column lamp, but other styles are possible with creativity and imagination.
Things You'll Need
- 1500 craft sticks (approximately)
- Craft glue or wood glue
- Electrical socket with wire, plug and switch (if switch is desired)
- Found pieces to decorate lamp (optional)
- 8-inch or 6-inch piece of round wood for base
Instructions
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Drill hole in the center of the base. This allows the wire to go through the bottom. It's also possible to run the wire under the bottom layer of craft sticks or route a channel in the bottom of the wood base so that the lamp will sit flat on a table.
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Attach the light fixture. For now, leave the light bulb out of the socket so that you do not have to work around a glass bulb. Fixtures are usually attached with small screws, and can be purchased pre-assembled with switches and plugs already attached. With adequate electrical expertise, you can assemble the socket yourself, if you wish. Either way, the wire will need to be removed, threaded through the bottom hole and then reattached before you secure the socket to the base.
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Design your lamp. These instructions describe how to make a single column lamp with incremental turns. However, it is possible to create intricate designs and whimsical shapes such as boats, houses and stars. Look up designs on the internet for inspiration.
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Construct the bottom layer. For the 8-inch base, create a hexagon with the craft sticks by laying two down with ends overlapping, forming a wide "V" of approximately 130 degrees. Place another "V" facing the first, about 4 inches away from the first. Then lay one craft stick across the end of the first "V," reaching to the second stick on the left. Repeat on the right to make a hexagon. For an easier model that uses fewer craft sticks, use the smaller 6-inch base. Lay two sticks down horizontally, then place two sticks vertically over the ends. Once the sticks are arranged, glue them in place with white or wood glue.
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Glue the first layer to the base. After the glued joints in the first layer have dried, center the shape on the base and glue it down. Allow it to dry.
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Continue building. Glue subsequent layers together on the lamp base. The fastest way to proceed is to glue numerous layers together and allow them to dry, then assemble them onto the lamp. As you place each layer, turn it slightly, so that the glued joints are just to the right of the joints on the last layer.
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Finish the lamp. When the desired height of the lamp is reached, allow it to dry completely. Finish as desired --- with shellac or paint --- or leave it untreated for a natural look. Small buttons, beads or shells make nice detail finishes for the lamp. Insert the bulb, plug the lamp in and enjoy.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't apply finish like shellac or paint to the sticks before assembling the lamp or the sticks won't hold together with wood or craft glue.
Remember that you will need to reach to the socket in the bottom of the lamp to insert the bulb and change burned-out bulbs. As you build the lamp, be sure that you are able to reach inside with a bulb in your hand. The square lamp is narrower than the hexagon lamp, so the maximum height is lower.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Dynamic Graphics Group/Dynamic Graphics Group/Getty Images
