From Junk to Primitive Candle Lamp~

~BEFORE~

At the thrift shop or garage sale, remove the shade, and imagine the lamp with a candle bulb...look beyond the surface, for lamps with potential! (such as: easy twist off parts, and an accessible bottom, nightlight sized socket (that will hold a silicone candle bulb), a non glossy surface (which will make painting easier..etc.)

How To:

Electrical:

No need to fear! Just follow these simple rules:

-dry

-disconnected

-neat and tidy work, (no fray loose wires, cracked or broken wiring, half cut or kinked wires.)

-negative with negative, positive with positive. (Black wire with black wire) No cross connection or ability to contact the opposite.

-No ability for bare wires to touch a metal component

- (If there is a ground wire, always use it, and connect it.) 

-appropriate wiring voltage and bulb wattage. 

*************

1. Assure the lamp is unplugged.

2.The metal thing- a- ma-bob that would hold the shade must be removed. So. Turn the lamp upside down. Remove the bottom felt cover. 

3.Mark the CORD wire with a black marker to indicate which cord wire is attached to the black socket wire.

4. These splice caps are twist on and squeeze with pliers. So, to undo,  squeeze the splice caps the opposite side of where it was initially squeezed( to make them round again) and then pull off. 

5. Untwist wires, then unscrew the bulb socket,pull off the bulb socket and remove the lamp shade thingy. 

6. Insert wires back down into lamp, screw the bulb socket back on and reattach the splice caps. Make sure there are no stray copper wires. They could touch together. Every strand of  copper wiring should be in the caps. (A piece of felt for the bottom may be cut to replace the one that may need to be removed.)

7. Wrap the white bulb socket with one solid strip of  masking tape, trim neatly away from edges. With a glue gun, solely on the outside, make "candle drips" (The painters masking tape allows the paint to stick..)

8. Once the glue has cooled, paint the desired candle color, using 2-3 coats of acrylic paint. Coat with a bit of shine using a water based varnish, if desired. 

~AFTER~

~I painted the lamp black~

And there you have it! A primitive candle lamp with character, and at a fraction of the cost.  That's my make- over for today!