Transform your lampshade with decoupage using magazine pages! This fun and creative DIY project is perfect for unique and stylish home decor.

Skills Required: Beginner. You’ll be cutting pages and applying them to a lampshade with Mod Podge. There is a lot of room for error given that the pieces you are working with aren’t large.

Let Hammer Like a Girl show you how to create a decoupage lampshade with your favorite vintage graphics and patterns. Love the results!

A while back, we made a lamp from an old tripod. It needed an unusual lampshade so we made one from galvanized duct work. But time went by and it was time for a change – something lighter and brighter and funkier.

When I think funky, the first thing that comes to mind is 60’s fashion (doesn’t everyone?). I grabbed old paper magazines from that era and decided to create something more along the lines of farmhouse decor.

With a wooden tripod lamp base, I’m really happy with the way this DIY project turned out! Learn how to create a decoupage lampshade below.

Gather These Supplies

Plain white drum lampshade
Magazine pages and ephemera (we used a 1960’s McCalls Pattern and Home Decorating Magazine)
Mod Podge Matte
Paintbrush
Paper cutter (scissors would also work)
Scissors
Tape measure
Large paper, for pattern
Pencil
X-Acto knife
Flexible tape measure
Cardstock, for pattern
Clamps & something to clamp the shade to, OR just use the lamp base if it’s a table lamp

We found our lampshade at a lighting outlet store for $5, which made us pretty happy.

We gathered up our wacky old publications and pondered a theme for our decoupage lampshade. Farming? Literature? 60’s fashion won out, primarily due to those bows on the models’ heads. And the mother/daughter dress-alike duo. And the stylish dresses . . . and the most subtle advertising (in the whole wide world):

Stack of vintage 60's magazines including Coronet, Harpers Magazine, McCall's Patterns

Vintage 1960s clothing ad with a mother and daughter

This lampshade is a pretty easy project with plenty of room for error. An added benefit: when the lamp is on, there’s interesting show-through from the inside.

Get the printable how to below!

Mod Podge lampshade with vintage magazine pages

Save Print

5 from 4 votes

Decoupage a Lampshade

Learn how to decoupage a lampshade with vintage themed magazine pages! This is such an easy project with a cool effect.

Prep Time1

Active Time2 30

Dry Time6

Total Time9 30

Yield: lampshade

Cost: $10

Equipment

Paintbrush(es)
Scissors or paper cutter
Pencil
Craft knife
Tape measure
Clamp(s)

Materials

1 Drum lampshade white
Magazine pages or graphics and any other ephemera
Mod Podge Matte
Large paper for pattern
Cardstock for pattern

Instructions

Measure the circumference and height of the lampshade using the tape measure.
Mark the dimensions out on a large piece of paper. This helps you decide how many pieces you need, how you'll organize them, and the pattern you want to make.
Select interesting pages/patterns, remove from magazine by slicing along binding with an X-Acto knife. With a paper cutter, cut irregular strips of magazine pages varying from 1/2" to 1" wide.
Place the strips onto the template and start laying out the design. We alternated black and white with color.
Once the pattern is laid out, clamp the lampshade to something to hold it while you're working.
Working with one strip at a time, apply medium to the shade and the back of the strip. Smooth down. Let the tops and bottoms of the strips hang free.
Work your way around the shade, slightly overlapping the strips. When you have finished, let dry for several hours.
Go around the top and bottom of the lampshade, marking (with a pencil) where the strips should end so you can fold them over.
Trim along the pencil marks with scissors. Repeat on bottom edge.
Working in sections of about 5", apply Mod Podge to the area where the paper will fold over. Fold the paper over with your fingers, pressing down as you go. Hold down if necessary, and apply more Mod Podge.
Let dry for a couple hours, then coat the entire shade with Mod Podge to seal. Let dry completely before using.

Notes

Step 2 is optional: you can freehand it and simply Mod Podge paper directly to the lampshade instead of planning the design.

Step 4: We alternated three black and white text strips with one color strip so the design would have obvious stripes. We kept the color palette limited to reds, oranges, and greens so it wouldn’t get too busy.

For more vintage themed decoupage projects from Hammer Like a Girl, visit these posts:

5 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

Pat Peak

Thursday 31st of October 2024

I recently covered my bedside lamps with the same wallpaper as my feature wall. I cut the wallpaper to size first and soaked it in warm soapy water for 20 minutes. This meant I could peel off the top patterned layer of the paper so when it was glued to the shade the light still shines through.

Last Minute Lynn

Monday 31st of March 2014

I love your lampshade! The excellent instructions will be so helpful as I copycat your brilliant design!

Mary Beth @ Cupcakes and Crinoline

Sunday 30th of March 2014

I love this ~ such a great way to ad vintage fun to your decor!

Hammer Like a Girl

Thanks Mary Beth! We love vintage - especially when it's given a little modern twist.

Emily @ Two Purple Couches

This is so cool! I love the alternating strips of color and text!

Thank you Emily!

Beverly {Flamingo Toes}

Friday 28th of March 2014

Oh I love this! It looks like something you'd find at Anthro or West Elm. The retro prints are perfect.

Thank you Beverly! I love Anthropology, although super expensive. This is a poor (wo)man's version of Anthropology!