How to DIY a Golden Pendant Lamp

When you can make a gorgeous pendant lamp with simple materials such as acetate sheets and tape. Why not give it a try?

• 11 Acetate/Plastic sheets
• Marker
• Scissors
• Transparent tape
• Gold washi tape
• Xacto Knife
• Gold cord with plug (Got mine at Home depo for $6.67)
• Gold lamp socket(Got mine at Home depo for $4.97)
• Bulb
• A Piece of cardboard or poster board to make template

Before I start some new project, I always make a sample or prototype to make sure the idea is good enough to continue .So, I made the lamp first with poster board and used masking tape to glue it all together.You need not do this step but make a template of pentagon out of any thick paper.For this, draw a pentagon on the poster board(Click here to see how to draw a pentagon) and cut it.Use this as a template .

Use the template and draw 11 pentagon one in each acetate sheet and cut it .My acetate sheet was 8" x 8" so I could get only one pentagon out of one sheet.I recommend you to use sharp scissors to avoid irregular edges of pentagon as the plastic sheet is quite thicker.

Join five pentagon pieces for the first layer.Use tape on sides of each pentagon.For the second layer , insert a pentagon in between the two pentagons of the first layer.Repeat this for all the five pentagon of the first layer so you will probably end up adding five more to form the second layer.Use tape to stick the pentagons together.Now your lamp shade is almost done.

I felt the plain glass like look of the lamp shade was not quite satisfying and so I decided to add a gold lining to the edges with gold washi tape.Use the washi tape and cover the edges of the pentagon over the transparent tape .(You can also use different patterned tape to attain different look).

Take the 11th pentagon piece and mark a hole in the middle with the top of the lamp socket as a template using marker.Use Xacto knife and make the hole in the middle which should not be too large nor too small.It should be fit enough so that the socket doesn't move .Insert the socket in the hole.

Attach the top pentagon piece with the base of the lamp shade using the transparent tape and top it with another layer of gold washi tape to complete the lamp shade.Few steps ahead !!!

Insert the gold lamp cord into the socket (from outside to inside).Make a underwriter's knot as shown in the picture.

Connect the wires to the screws (If this is your first attempt in wiring just like me ,don't confuse yourself on connecting which wire to which screw.Do it randomly and plug it see whether the bulb glows.If it glows you are right !!If not, then change the wires.Also refer to the instructions at the back of the package) and assemble the remaining part.Screw the bulb on to the socket and mount it .

Plug it and be amazed to look at the gorgeous pendant lamp that you made all by yourself!!!