List of materials:

The materials listed are for the pictured candle holder with 2 lotus tealights.

4 – tea cans (or other cans if you like)

2- tealight sized washers with an opening small enough to be held down by wood screw

1 – 1/2″ wood screw

1 – 10″ piece of scrap wood

2 – cinnamon sticks or small sticks from your backyard for feet

2 – tea lights

wood stain or paint

clear coat spray

general purpose, “strong-hold” glue

sharpie and rubbing alcohol

aluminum tape (found in the ducting section of the hardware store)

Tools

make your own pattern or download my Lotus Tealight pattern

tin snips

scissors or light duty shears

gloves to protect hands when cutting metal

hand saw

screw driver

drill and drill bit sized for your wood screw

Step 1 – Prepare cans

a. b.

c. d.

Make sure to rinse cans before cutting. Wear gloves when cutting. I store my cans in flattened sheets and have been cutting tea cans and saving them. So, I used this Guiness can for this demonstration only.

a. Use tin snips to cut through thick top part of can

b. Switch to scissors or shears and cut around top of can

c. Cut down the side, cutting along seam

d. Cut around bottom

You are left with a flat (ish) sheet and a top and bottom. Set aside or recycle top and bottom of can.

Step 2 – Cut and shape bottom layer of lotus petals

a. b.

c. d.

To cut first layer of lotus petals:
a. Trace Lotus Tealight pattern onto can using a sharpie. I like to mark on the front of the can so I can get the placement that I want. The sharpie can be removed after cutting using isopropyl rubbing alcohol.

b. Use tealight to trace a circle in center of flower. This ensures your tea light will fit and gives you a guide as to how far in to cut your petals

c. Cut petals to the circle

d. Remove sharpie ink using rubbing alcohol

a. b.

To shape first layer:
a. Use a pencil and straight edge on a mouse pad to emboss lines into the petals

b. Fold petals down, also pinch and shape petals until they take a pleasing shape. **Aluminum is fairly malleable and strong but if you fold and refold too many times you will break the petals off

Step 3 – Cut and shape inner layer of Lotus

a. b.

c.

a. Mark, cut and clean the same way you did for the previous step

b. Emboss petals and fold bottom edge of petals in

c. Fold in between petals to form a circular shape, tape ends together on inside of flower using aluminum tape

Repeat for second lotus.

Step 4 – Prepare wood base

a. b.

c. d.

a. Cut scrap wood to desired length, mine was 10 inches

b. Sand edges and clean with a damp rag

c. Stain or paint as you like, spray with topcoat. I also sprayed the sticks to protect and seal them

d. Glue sticks onto bottom of base to act as feet

Step 5 – Attach flowers to base

a. b.

c. d.

e.

To attach:

a. Puncture a hole in the center of the bottom layer of the lotus

b. Place and mark on base, using punctured hole. Drill a starter hole in wood.

c. Put flower together. Place inner layer into the bottom layer of the lotus . Next, place washer and screw into both layers of lotus flower

d. Screw into place

e. Insert a candle

Repeat for other flower

Step 6 – Display and marvel at your creation!

The idea for this was inspired by one of my high school students who covers everything in newspaper. I added neon/fluorescent pink embellishments because I like the contrast of B&W with the bright colors. And, using the mesh adds a technical, grid-look to the lamp.

Materials:

Hardware Cloth – I used the 1/2″ kind that comes in a 2′ x 5′ roll. (usually with the fence-building supplies at the hardware store)

Twist ties or the wire that holds the hardware cloth can be used

Tin Snips

Gloves (to protect hands when cutting the mesh)

Newspapers – I like Asian newspapers because of the added contrast created by the calligraphy or other type of paper (wrapping and art papers make nice lamps also)

Spray Adhesive

Lace and Flourescent Spray Paint (optional)

Neon Address labels (optional) – These only come in LASER, so either make sure you have a way to print on them or use a rubber stamp to create designs. You could also use a shaped paper punch. (Office Depot)

Hanging lamp fixture (Ikea)

Flame Retardant spray (Dharma trading)

1. Cut hardware cloth, using tin snips. I cut mine the size 12″ x 28″ since my newspaper was 30″ long. Make sure you can get your paper around it w/a bit of overlap. I chose 12″ tall because the mesh is 24″ in width and I figured I could get 2 lamps out of it. Leave some excess mesh to create the top of your lamp. **Hardware cloth can be difficult to flatten, but just make sure to wear gloves when unrolling and place it flat on the ground and step on it.

2. Attach long ends of mesh together with twist ties. Attach from the inside, otherwise they will be visible through the paper.

3. Measure, mark and cut out the top. I use the cylinder created to measure a circle out onto the mesh. I then, cut it out the best I can (it will not be exact). I also cut a hole to fit the light fixture. Next, I insert the top into the cylinder and attach it with twist ties about 2 squares down (this gives room to wrap the paper over the top).

4. Spray flame retardant on newspaper. I’m not sure if this step is necessary, but I feel alot better if I just do it.

5. When dry, wrap newspaper around the cylinder. I chose to do mine diagonally because I liked the design created. Use spray adhesive to attach where the paper overlaps. Then, trim around the top and bottom. Use the trimmed corners to fill in the gaps left on the cylinder. Then, fold in paper top and bottom of the lamp, use spray adhesive to attach.

6. Print out labels, cut them out and stick to your lamp.

7. Spray paint lace, using flourescent spray paint. I just use the regular kind available at the hardware store, it covers nicely and since this will not be worn or washed there’s no need to use fabric paints. I got the lace at a thrift store for very cheap, so I have no idea what it is made of. It’s very wide and off-white, that’s all I know. I used double-sided tape to attach it to the lamp.

8. Insert light fixture. Hanging lamp fixtures are nice because there is a ring that holds everything in place. Unscrew the ring, insert lamp fixture into lamp shade and screw ring back on. Then insert a light bulb that is the appropriate wattage for your lamp and you’re all done!

Here is an example of another lamp I made using wrapping paper and chandelier diamonds.

 http://craftchi.com/