Ruffled Burlap Lampshades Tutorial

'tawk' of the day' ‎"We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us." {joseph campbell}


Just to let you all know, these exact lampshades are now available on my Etsy site!! One has sold!... One still available!
www.etsy.com/shop/jhousetawk

While I was visiting Mandi Gubler from {Vintage Revivals} blog I came across her tutorial on her burlap lampshade 
This is her version ..  

{I'm giving her credit for my inspiration!!}

It is also a version of this shade from Anthropologie!! >>

This is my version ..

This is what I started with .. $5.96 shades from Wal-Mart.

You want to find a shade that is a little too small/narrow for the lamp because after the burlap ruffles are on it, it'll look almost perfect..

What you will need is a tape measure, hot glue gun, scissors, 1/2 yards of burlap PER shade and shades!

Cut out your burlap to fit your shade and hot glue it 

Now to start on the ruffles after your shades are covered!

Next, you want to cut strips of burlap for your 'ruffles'..

Measure the length you need -- 3 inch strips..

The easiest way to cut burlap is to pull out the string along the line you need to cut..

As you can see from this picture below, there is a clear line where you will then need to cut with your scissors.  (neat huh??) .. anywho..

Cut your burlap in 3 inch strips!

I didn't cut the strips in any particular lengths.. I concluded that the longer the strips.. the faster it got done..

Making the strips 'ruffley' may seem confusing, but it's simple i promise ;)

Fold your strips in half..

Start by pulling the MIDDLE string

Next, start 'bunching' the top part and gradually 'bunch' your way down to the bottom of the strip.

DO NOT tug the bottom of the strip, or it'll just straighten the ruffle again and eventually the string will come loose and you'll have to start over again with another 'middle string.'

Your ruffled strips of burlap should resemble this.. you can make them as ruffley as you want just depends on how much 'bunching' you do .. :)

I used long ruffled strips in no particular length because you can't really tell where the strip ends anyways.. I kind of folded the ruffle in a little when I started to glue the strip from the top of the shade, it looks neater..  Beings my strips were longer, I glued as I went to prevent glue getting all over the piece of ruffle.. but you'll figure out what's easiest for you as you start creating!!

I just made it into a little wave, not just a straight line..

One down, one to go!!

See how much more FULL they look and why you should start with a smaller shade to begin with?

I LOVE THEM!!!

They now make their residence on each nightstands in our bedroom :)

Hope you have as much fun as I did while making these awesome decors!!

They took about 3 hours total to make and were SOOO easy!! 

Just think, you saved TONS of money compared to the Anthropologie shade for 88$..

Burlap.. 3.99$ /per yard. (I bought 4.. didn't know how much I'd need)

Shades .. 5.96$ each @Walmart.