Lamp Make Over: Project Aqua Spray Paint!

I know, I know, everyone and their mother has done a lamp make over. There are thousands of tutorials and examples of beautifully redecorated lamps out there in blogland. But I hadn't done one yet. And I wanted too, so I thought I might as well share. This is what I did in early November:
I adore this lamp and it adorns the room that belongs to my youngest two children.
I started with a lamp that had been gifted to me by a friend who was moving and was sure I could do something special with it. I am so thankful to her:) I laid down a plastic tarp in the yucky part of my backyard and that would become the workspace for my lamp make over.

I used Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Spray Paint in "Blue Ocean Breeze." I'm partial to anything that references the ocean:) I didn't want the paint to get all drippy, so I made sure I held the spray can a good 6"to 8" inches away per the instructions (make sure you follow the paint can instructions). I sprayed the lamp twice allowing it to dry ten minutes in between and I sprayed the lamp cord as well, but I don't recommend doing this. It just gets all tacky. And I probably should have stuffed a paper towel in the socket that holds the light bulb, but I didn't. I'll do that next time though. (Krylon did not pay me to use their product- they don't know me from Adam)

And this is how it looked:

But I wanted more. Something to make it look a little more special. Which is the reason it took me so long to post this. I could not find the ribbon I wanted to use though I know it exists, because I have a little in my possession and I kept thinking that someday I would find it again. Well, i finally gave up, but I like this polka dot ribbon just fine.

I will explain my projects in as much depth as possible because I was asked too:)

So, I took a length of ribbon (still on the spool) and wrapped it around the lamp shade to see where I needed to make the cut. Once I had that measurement, I cut the ribbon and added some sticky back Velcro to the edges. This is what I would use to secure the bow on the lamp.

Next, (I didn't measure- sorry- I just eyeballed how much ribbon I wanted to use for the actual bow) I cut another short length of ribbon from the spool to use for the actual bow part of the decor. I folded it in half to mark the middle. Then unfolded it again and brought one edge in at a time to the middle marking and then hot glued it down. Repeat for the other side.

Your bow should look like this:

Then I cut a very small piece of ribbon to make the center of the bow and hot glued it to the back.

If you flip your bow to the front, it should look like this:

Next, I folded the very first ribbon strip (the one that I used to wrap around the circumference of the lamp) and marked the middle with a straight pin. That is the location that I would glue the center of my bow to.

I applied the hot glue to the back of the entire length of the ribbon:

and secured it to the other length of ribbon:

Then I wrapped it around my lampshade and velcroed the ribbon in pace and this is what it looks like:

I really love it. It is simple, but it has a little something that says, "I'm special."

And there you have it. One more lamp make over to add the rest!
Happy Crafting!
xoxo,
Amy