DIY book page lamp shade tutorial

So....I got really creative the other day and made something that I'm in LOVE with for my toddler's big boy room. I haven't been able to find a lamp that was both cute, and kid-like, but not too themey or juvenile. I mean...my son is only two but I didn't want cartoon character's ALL over his room. Well I happened to have an old Cat in the Hat book and decided to get creative with it. My son had destroyed and colored on half the pages and it was in a sad state so I thought I would re-purpose it into a cool lamp shade and some wall art. Ok, if anyone wants to try this at home, all you need is a lamp shade that you want to use. I used this one
 I took this picture after I took off the metal support rings that kept the shade in the round shape but you don't really have to do that. You can cover it just fine leaving everything together. I'm just showing you all the way I went about it.
Next you will need the following supplies....


 The adorable baby companion is optional of course but the other supplies are very necessary. You will need a hot glue gun, high or low melt....and LOTS of glue sticks, as well as a children's book that you want to destroy!
Next, you are gonna cut or rip the pages you want to use out of the book. I like the ripped edge look so I just ripped them out and then ripped off any parts of the pages that I didn't like. I wanted a mix of the words and the pictures so I just grabbed the pages that I really liked.
Next...Take the page you want to start with and fold over the top lip of the shade...add some hot glue so it'll stay and press the edges down so its flat and secure...it'll look like this....

 Next you are gonna glue the rest of the edges down...and then just keep on going all the way around the shade. You probably won't have pages that are long enough to go all the way to the bottom of the page like I did...if you don't...no worries....you'll just rip off extra page sections to go on the bottom and glue them down and the fold the bottom lip of those sections to the inside bottom of the shade and glue those down. You may have to rip the edge into a few sections like so...that way you can glue them down individually and get a tighter fit....



Once you have done all that you'll have something that looks like this

 After I was done with gluing all my pages down I waited till it was done and then glued the two rings (top and bottom) back into the lamp shade so it would hold its shape properly. If you don't take your shade apart like I did then you can skip this step. I then took a cheapo paint brush and brushed mod podge onto the pages. After the first coat was on I let it dry for about an hour, then brushed on another coat.
You will end up with an adorable finished product and your kids will LOVE it!


I also whipped up a book page canvas with some more mod podge and some more book pages and an old ghetto canvas that was in my garage...Tah dah!

I love it! I hope you guys all try this for your toddler's rooms...please show me if you do!!

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26 comments:

  1. Kels, love the idea of the canvas! I have the perfect idea for something I started with Em's and my new Cricut Expression! Thanks =)

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  2. I love this Kelsey!!! Perfect to do it on the canvas too so there are 2 matching pieces in the room. I don't like cartoon stuff either but the Dr. Seuss pics are perfect and tasteful. Good job as always :D

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  3. What a great idea! I am not a big fan of super heroes or princesses for decorating rooms.

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  4. I love the canvas! Super cute!

    http://sageandcocoa.blogspot.com

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  5. Love the idea of putting some bookpages on canvas! I've never seen this before, very creative!

    www.trudie83.blogspot.com

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  6. This would be fun decor in a classroom, too!

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  7. What cute ideas...The canvas is very creative!!

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  8. Hi Kelsey. I originally found you on pinterest and decided to try it with a link back to your idea! Thanks for the inspiration :)
    Tami @ Curb Alert!
    http://tamicurbalert.blogspot.com/2012/07/angry-men-goes-dr-seuss-book-page.html

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  9. Love it! Im going to be doing a 'big boy room' soon and i also hate tacky themey rooms. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  10. i have all of the supplies and am ready to go! I can wait to see it come to life! Thanks for sharing!

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  11. Great idea : ) In England we would say hodge podge lol

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  12. Such a great idea but when you do it on the canvas you should TOTALLY apply the modpodge to the entire top surface and allow to dry completely. It gives you a much better look.

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  13. I love this idea! I reblogged! Hope that was ok!

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  14. I love the wall art! I decoupage old children's books onto battery-operated pillar candles and use them as baby gifts, since lit candles and little kids is an undesirable combination.

    I also bought a cheap stool at Hobby Lobby, painted it green (to contrast with the purple in my daughter's room), and decoupaged images and paragraphs from Charlotte's Web onto it.

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  15. I love this!! My boys are crazy about Cat in the Hat so that would be perfect for them!
    Metal Roofing

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  16. How did you get the paper to attach to the back of the canvas?

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  17. hello. i realize this is a very old post of yours but, i just did this cute project and posted your (this) link to my blog so others could enjoy! :) ....hope you don't mind.

    ps. love your blog.

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  18. I love the canvas. I'm thinking about making several canvases with favorite picture books to go around my classroom. What a cool way to show off the illustrator's artwork! Lisa Frase's TPT Store

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  19. found this looking for ideas for a playroom with a Dr. Seuss theme. Just finished my first one and I LOVE it!!!! Thanks!

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  20. This looks like so much fun, I have quite a few books that would work just for this purpose that I couldn't get rid of but for sure have some well loved pages. Shared on my reading pinterest board for you. Thanks for sharing!

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  21. I liked your idea so much, I blogged about it here! http://bit.ly/1epg70D
    Great post! Take care, Val

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    Replies
    1. I love the storybook on canvas. I created one for my daughter's baby shower theme Oh, The Places You'll Go!

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  22. I love this! I'm already making a canvas like this but hadn't thought about the idea of the lamp shade, genius! Will be going thrift store shopping this weekend for an old lamp! Will share photos!

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  23. shortage of light, as well as the grey air of winter, can trigger depression do i have sad

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