You Will Need

• ceramic ornament (it must be hollow, with a hole in the base)
• lampshade that matches
• undercoat for spray paint
• spray paint in colour of your choice
• light fitting and bulb
• electrical cord with plug and switch
• hollow threaded rod onto which the light fitting fits
• drill with ceramic drill bit
• metal saw
• glue gun
• silicone or epoxy glue (see step 9)

To Make
1 Mark the middle point on the top of your ornament – this is where you must drill the hole through, which the threaded rod must fit.

2 Drill the hole. Choose a drill bit that is just bigger than the threaded rod and keep a container of water ready to dip the drill tip into – this prevents the bit from becoming too hot and helps the drilling go smoothly. Hold the drill bit slightly perpendicular to the object when you begin to drill so that it doesn’t slip and then drill carefully until the hole is drilled right through.

3 Now drill another hole at the back of the ornament, about 1cm from the bottom, for the cord to be threaded though and then plugged in. The hole needs to be just big enough for the cord.

4 Wipe the ornament clean and make sure there is no greasiness. Paint or spray paint the undercoat on before you spray paint the ornament in the colour of your choice. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly between layers.

5 Determine the height you want the lampshade to be by screwing the light fitting to the threaded rod and then inserting the rod through the ornament. Mark the rod where it protrudes from the hole at the base of the ornament and cut it to length. Unscrew the light fitting.

6 Push the end of the cord (with the switch and plug already on) through the hole at the back of the ornament and out at the bottom. Thread the cord through the rod then push the rod up through the ornament from the hole in the base.

7 Wire the light fitting and screw it to the top of the threaded rod.

8 Pull the cord tight from the bottom so that the threaded rod runs vertically to the top. Attach it to the inside of the ornament with your glue gun and leave to dry.

9 Now apply a little glue (silicone or epoxy, or use your glue gun again) to the top hole so that the opening is completely sealed and so that the threaded rod stays firmly in position. Clean off any surplus glue and leave to dry.

10 Screw in the bulb and put on the lampshade to complete your lamp.

Text and image: Ideas magazine