Lace lamp/Doiliy Lamp – DIY
We are at our little cottage in Dalarna and we are fixing it up. So we are able to use it even in the winter.
(Dalarna is in th middle/north of Sweden. To me and Jenny it’s north but Sweden is a very tall country so I guess we are not even in the middle).
Anyway it’s great cause I have the time and space to do lots of DIY projects.
Starting with this lamp.
(It is so dark here at the moment – cant get the photos so crisp that I like).
But the lamp is easy to make an truly a beauty.
First we used a huge baloon that I bought at a party store.
Then you collect all the old Dollys (?) crochet or lace small tablecloths.
I found mine at a flea market.
Paint them with lots of wallpaper glue so they are soaked.
Hang the ballon on a string and put the soaked lace on the baloon. They have to overlap eachother so they will stick together and connect.
I always put on onother coat of extra glue when thay are all on the baloon.
Just to be sure.
Then wait for a while. Maybe a whole night.
Pop the baloon when the glue is dry. And attach a nice looking cord and lamp fitting.
Voilá a new lamp!
Update 1:
Some of you asked how to get the bulb into the shade. I simply cut open a little tear on top.
Later I am going to sew the tear nicely so you won’t even notice it and also connect it to the cord. But I want a big round bulb first and I havn’t found one yet in this little village I am in.
Someone also asked about fire safety. Well, I think if you make the ball large enough that it won’t come close to the bulb it’s ok.
It’s also possible to use a energy saving lamp – they are almost cold. Also the “shade” breaths a lot so it is not going to be to hot.
You mos def want to use a LED lamp or a energy saving bulb because it’s cold and it will not affect the glue either.
I bought a nice looking iron wire in pink but when I opened the box it was red. It will do for now. But I want the pink one later.
Update 2: Problems making the lamp?!
I have had so many incredibly responses to this lamp – thanks!
Many of you have a problem making this. I honestly don’t understand why. It has worked for me every time.
When thinking about it I come up with different ideas/solutions.
1. It’s possible that wallpaper glue consists of different things in different countries. I just bought already mixed glue at a hardware store. Some of you are talking of different kind of molds but unfortunately we don’t have them in Sweden so I can’t give my opinion about those.
2. The balloon. I used a larger, round balloon. In Sweden party stores and some toy stores carries them. The a round and more important a little bit thicker! I mean there is a big difference between balloons and ballons – every kids party has told me that. So make sure you find a hard strong balloon!
Some has used a beach ball but I think it’s to stiff and also hard to get out of the doily ball.
3. For some of you the doilies doesn’t stick to the balloon. I don’t know why.I simply lay them on top of the balloon then made sure the doilies overlapped eachother. You can also do one side – let it dry and then flip sides. Mine stuck all the way around from the start.
4. For some of you the balloon stuck to the doilies to hard. I guess after popping them? For me this was never the problem as well. I just punshed the balloon with a needle and it shrunk by itself. Once it schrunk brining a part of the lace with it (kind of collapsing. Then I blew another balloon inside of the big doilie bal and put extra glue/doilies on top of the shrunken part and the it worked. Some of you used plastic wrap underneath or even some Vaseline. I hope that works.
5. Picking doilies. I used not very thick but also not the finest of treads. When the doilies had to many “holes” in the lace it was harder to get it stiff. And the overlapping part is important. It makes the whole unit stronger
6. The Bulb. It’s important to use a bulb which is cold. Otherwise it can affect the glue.
7. Next time I make one I think I will use wood glue after the doilies is dry and stiff. Put a little layer of wood glue and use the hairdryer so it hardens nicely. Then I think it will be even harder.
8.Good luck!
I wish I had more answers. You can also go through the comments and see what has worked for different readers!
xxx
Isabelle
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You can us 1 or 2 images from this post but then please link back to us! Thank you!
Love this Lace lamp – stunning! Have shared your link on our blog.
I saw something similar to this and they suggested rubbing a light sheen layer of Vasoline on the balloon so when popped it would not stick to the balloon. Maybe this is something to try out.
it’s amazing!!! i love this lamp!
That is a genious idea. It is so beautiful and elegant. With such a homey touch!
Your photos are beautiful … the lighting, to me, was just right. What a wonderful idea. Thank you!
Love this idea! Im making it as a Christmas gift! You said that you might try wood glue after the lace stiffens. Would you apply that with the balloon still inflated?
Isabelle: Now when it’s all dry and the balloon is out. Mix a bit of water with wood glue and use a hairdryer to stiffen. Apply light. (I havnt tested this on the doilies but with other stuff.)
THis is amazing! Found you thanks to a Russian blog
Very nice lamp.
I think you are right that some people may have had issues because of how different the glues may be in different countries. I’m in the United States and I can tell you that glue here is lots less sticky that glue in Europe. I spent several years in Germany and once I got back to the States, I found it disappointing to not be able to find what I termed decent products for my crafts. I’d gotten used to the products in Germany. It is hard to find glues that stick as well as those I could get in Germany. 
I’ve wanted to make one of those lamps for a long time now. Yours are the best directions for making one that I’ve come across yet.:-)
Have you ever tried to make one for a standing lamp at all? What are your thoughts on that? (I ask because I live in an apartment and I have a tall standing lamp that would be perfect to convert.)
And you know, come to think of it, I’m betting one could actually duplicate a Death Star looking lamp shade….Oh, boy, my husband would kill me if I Star Wars bombed our living room like that! *LOL*
ME
I think your lamp is amazing! I am definitely going to try making one! I have a lamp fixture in our vintage 60′s home that has three balls… this would be perfect to have three doily lamp balls instead, how beautiful it would be! And the perfect accessory for a crochet designer’s home, yes? Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful project!
This would make a different but very romantic lighting option for a wedding reception!
I’ve used Stiffy fabric stiffener on ribbon projects in the past and it is an awesome product. I think it would work really well for this project too.
I don’t know if this would work. My mother did a lot of craft projects when I was growing up, I remember her using starch for something like this, just a thought… Lovely lamp!
This is ab-sa-loooo-ly FABULOUS! I am so going to make one for my loft conversion.. <3 it!!
My daughter was just engaged at Christmas time, and has already bought a beautiful lace wedding dress; I think I will try this for decorations at her wedding reception… would be beautiful. Its kind of vintage-looking.
Hi, I just love the lamp you made. I’m going to make one for my daughter’s bedroom.One thing I want to share is that you can use cornflour paste to stiffen up the lamp . Just coat it with a brush over the glue when it dries (without popping the baloon), and let it dry completely before popping the baloon. Take care not to make the cornflour(or corn starch) paste too thick or it will form clumps between the lace pattern.
I’m wondering how modge podge would work for this project. hmmm may try it.
I made this and it turned out perfect! I used wallpaper glue, left it for 24 hours, covered the whole thing in watered down wood glue and left for another 24 hours.
We have an outdoor wedding coming up, this will be perfect hanging from the trees! Thanks
What do you think about mod podge ,I think I’m going to try it ,I’ll let you know if it worked.
I was thinking like Kim and try modge podge and paper doilys. harder to find lace ones near me.
Speaking from a guys stand point I found a large washer at the hardware store that works as a fastening point for the pendant light I bought. This will be placed on top of the balloon through the balloon opening then when the project is done, it is easier to screw on the pendant instead of the light shade dangling on the wire. Though this would fix the light position more towards the top than in the middle.
Just thinking out loud. When I’m done I can snap some pics to post if anyone wants to see. Great idea for a DIY!!
Isabelle: Great thinking – please send the images to isabelle(at)dosfamily.com!
It looks really pretty. I imaging doing it with black lace! Or gold spray it would look nice too – but the right one so it will not be soft again.
Love it when someone finds a pretty use for collections of lace, fabrics, ribbons and doillies!! I will be ‘tea staining’ my lace first with rosehip tea for a pinkish tinge.xx
This is absolutely gorgeous! I’ve to go hunt down some dollies now!
I absolutely love these! I had 2 hanging lamps in my living room that had different shades that I had made. I tea stained doilies that I got from a flea market & used wallpaper paste and balloons purchased at a party store. After looking at several posts, I did use watered down wood glue to cover the doilies after I popped the balloon. My new lamps look beautiful! Thanks so much for this great idea.
My mom made Easter Eggs & Silk flower containers using string. She used many coats of liquid starch and they were very strong, and looked beautiful. And popped the baloon when it had hardened, then she could cut an opening with an exacto knife. But with the doilies these ar so much prettier and I love the idea of the lamp.
Should I use a specific kind of fabric or is cotton best. When you say use a cold bulb do you mean one of the new low wattage ones that are money savers? Just wanted to say, I am going to try this. I am always into crafts. It looks great. Have you heard of Gorilla Glue? It is supposed to hold anything.? Beatrice
I just finished making one of these but some of the problems that I got were that I ran out of doileys. You need a lot. Also that u can’t stick thick doileys on there. Because I ran out I had to rummage around the house looking for one and the only one I could find was square and really thick, so I cut it to fit and stuck it on. But because it was so thick it wouldnt stay on the boom of the balloon when it was hung. So I had to sit it on its side and now I juts woke up and checked it and one of the doileys has all bubbled and gone hard. But apart from that I will defiantly be giving at another go and hopefully it will work this time
thank a lot, great project to do
Try pretty ribbons in several widths, colors, designs. Will look great. Also use different shaped balloons.
Mabe try Mod Podge? or Dip n Drape?
I just got done working on my lamp, I hope it works out! I had a heck of a time with the bottom piece, it wont stay on. I am going to let it dry then flip it over and do the bottom. Thank you for the beautiful idea!
I Live Design for you
This is just so sweet. I’m thinking to use this for a babyroom
how do you change the light bulb
would modge podge work instead?
will modge podge work?
these are making a come back…we made them in the sixties…also, made a smaller one that goes inside the larger one thanks for all your wonderful ideas and for sharing them!
Wish you had a Pinterest pin for me to remember this great idea by – good job anyways! PS Hej fra Danmark : )
I used modge podge for this, DEFINITELY DOESN’T WORK, DO NOT TRY MODGE PODGE! I probably should have just followed the directions in the first place since I had not tired this yet, but I’d used modge podge for other projects and had some on hand so I thought “why wouldn’t it work, it does the same thing?” But once the balloon popped it started bring the lace doilies with it as it deflated because they were not hard but more of a limp mass. It was easy to get the balloon out but once I did it just kind of became a soft version of the lamp and not usable. So I’m gunna try to throw it into the washer machine and retry it with some wall paper glue like instructed! Otherwise I might have to just tear them all apart to redo? Anyways, thought I’d just throw my experience out there since people had asked about it.
Just sooo beautiful! Perfect for a little girl’s (baby’s) room!!!
I was just thinking how fun this might be to use small water balloons and small doilies, then put them along a string of small lights like we use at Christmas. Those come in many different colors and would be a great addition to a patio BBQ setting!
Isabelle….First off, let me say…your lamp is absolutly BEAUTIFUL!
These would be so pretty made in a variety of sizes and hung at different levels from ribbons from the ceiling for a party or wedding reception , with or without lights in them….and if being used purely for decoration that will be tossed later, why not try to make them with paper doilies, so they would be pretty cheap? Fake pearls/flowers and ribbons could be glued for extra charm also.
I used to use Dip & Drape on dolls that I made YEARS ago…I can`t believe it would`nt work if your wallpaper paste does`nt. Also think starch would probably work.
I`m certainly going to try some of these…..so, SO pretty!!!!
Thanks Linda – there are lots of things you an do with it! For me the wallpaper glue works just fine but I can see that many more had difficulties.
The Plaid company (in the US) makes a product called Stiffy, which is specifically a fabric stiffener. I haven’t tried it yet, but I would guess it works better than Mod Podge because it is formulated for stiffening draped fabric. Other companies make fabric stiffener products, too. Worth a try. Love the lamp!
Do you know if this would work with paper doilies?
Gorgeous!
So Crafty So Cute I will try and let you know how it turns out
I think this is a great take on paper-mache’ and using it for a household purpose makes it just that much more fun! My daughter-in-law is wanting to make one this weekend and I hope that I will get to see it done! As for using it for my stand-up lamp, I think that I will use some medium to heavier grade doilies and do a double coating of glue once it has initially dried.
I am off and running now!
I want to use it as an upside-down shade, so I won’t cover the whole balloon–leaving the bottom open and cutting the doily “top” to fit my lamp base before I dip it in glue and place it on the balloon.
Maybe… I will dye the doilies first before I begin, so that my shade is colored from the git-go! Thanks for all the wonderful ideas that this one picture has sparked!
It’s a very good idea. I think I must try it. Thank you .
HSK
how do you change the bulb once it burns out?
Isabelle: I simply untie the knots I made on the top but since it is a LED it kind of burns forever.
I used mod podge, but it left plasticy skin between the strands in the doilies. Maybe I put it on too thick, but it the stiffness when dried seemed perfect (it was flexible but still retained the shape). So I bet wallpaper paste is the best option. I have also used the corn starch method for these things in the past, but wouldn’t recommend it for a project like this.