CHAPTER 1
MATERIALS AND GETTING STARTED
The materials needed to make hard lampshades can be found in a lampshade-making kit or you can buy the individual components.
Kits versus the Individual Components
There are two ways of making hard lampshades – either using a kit or using the individual components needed. The kits come with all the materials (apart from the chosen fabric or paper cover required) and are good to purchase if you wish to make one or two lampshades at a regular size, or if you are making your first hard lampshade, as the laminate panel is pre-cut for you. However, if you wish to make lampshades with different heights, or to make more of them, then it is worth buying the individual components. The instructions for both methods are included in the step-by-step instructions inChapter 2.
The laminate used to create hard lampshades can be cut to the size and shape needed.
Laminate Backing Panels
The laminate materials come in a wide choice of colours and finishes that show on the inside of the lampshade. Most often used is white laminate; however, clear, gold, silver and copper are very popular, as are cream and white card. Also available is eco-board, which is more environmentally friendly, and is sourced from carefully managed and renewed forests. The reverse side of the laminate is covered in a backing paper, underneath which the surface is adhesive. It is this side that the selected fabric or paper is adhered to, and will be on the outside of the lampshade.
There is a large choice of lining backing materials to make lampshades – from white to neon PVC to cream card. Stick-It ® materials manufactured by Dannells.
TOOLS AND MATERIALS NEEDED TO MAKE HARD LAMPSHADES
The key tools and materials are:
• a laminate panel
• ring sets
• double-sided sticky tape
• card or roll-edged tool
• scissors
• pencil
• ruler or grid rule
• tape measure
• your choice of fabric or paper.
Gather together the tools and materials needed
