This crafty Vintage Tin Can lampshade craft project is a great way to use those great metal cans you get from the grocery store that have the painted on labels. It is important to make this simple Vintage Tin Can lampshade out of tin cans that have painted on labels and not paper labels.
You can use any old or damage fabric lampshade as the base for this project to save money. I always get great coffee and tomatoes in tin cans that have a painted on label. These tin cans have a vintage look to them and a lot of great color. They are perfect to make into a lampshade for a kitchen accent lamp.
To make a Vintage Tin Can lampshade you will need:
Small Fabric Lamp Shade (can not be taller than your pencils)
Vintage Tin Can (You could use painted tin cans you paint yourself)
Rivet tool
Rivets
Tin Snips
Hot glue or epoxy glue
The first step is to clean out your painted or vintage tin cans. Simply wash them out with hot water and soap.
Now, use your tin snips to cut open your tin cans. I like to cut up along the back seam after I have used a can opener to remove the bottom of the can.
Use a hammer or rubber maillot to flatten out your vintage pr painted tin can.
Now, you need to completely remove all of the fabric from your damaged or existing lampshade. Start by poking some scissors through the fabric, then cut away. Once you have the body of the fabric removed then start working on the material wrapped onto he wires. This will take some time, but is a great way to save a little money and salvage and existing lampshade.
Tip: If you don’t have a damaged or existing lampshade you want to get rid of you can buy these wire frames of a lampshade at any lampshade store. Some arts and crafts stores will also sell them.
Now, you need to take your lampshade and roll it on a piece of paper and trace it. This will be the pattern of your lampshade to help you know what pattern to make your vintage tin can pieces for the lampshade.
Lay out your lampshade pattern on your work surface. Start laying out your vintage tin can pieces on you lampshade pattern.
Now, once you have your pattern established start using your rivet tool to punch out holes in the overlapping tin can pieces.
Next, use the rivets to attach the pieces together.
Once you have your tin all attached together, lay it out in one sheet on your table. Lay the lampshade pattern on top of the vintage tin cans.
Now, use a marker or grease pencil to trace this pattern out on the tin can.
Now, cut your tin can out to the shape of your lampshade pattern.
You can sand any sharp or rough edges if needed.
Now, run a bead of epoxy or hot glue around the top and bottom bands of your lampshade.
Hold the Vintage Tin Can lampshade in place on the lampshade form until the glue cools. You could also use epoxy glue for this easy lampshade craft project.
Now, you may need to run a bead of glue along the edge where the tin can lampshade will meet or overlap.
Tip: For a really romantic look you could use gel wood stain to age out your tin can labels for a more antique look.
