Lamp Transformation

OMG!... it feels like forever since I've had a spare minute to get on here and post a project.  I've been working like crazy and trying to get things finished up for when I host Bonko at my house next Friday.  Plus squeezing in play time with Carter since we're both missing each other with our new schedule.  Props to all the working mom bloggers out there.  It's tough!

Anyway, onto the transformation.  A while back, I found this really cute lamp at the thrift store.  It was a bit more than I wanted to pay for... priced at $5. 

But I decided I didn't really want to use it as it's intended purpose.  It didn't have a lamp shade anyway.  And it would be worth the money if I could repurpose it into something else. 

I really love wood candle sticks.... and some of them can get pretty pricey.  So my intention was to turn it into something similar.  My inspiration came from some of these... and let me tell ya, they were priced way more than $5 each.  So considering how this project turns out, I scored a good deal!

So my next challenge was to find the top portion.  I was lucky enough to find a small dish that matched the motif of the lamp base to perfection.  It was 75 cents at my thrift store.

I disassembled and removed the cord and then had my husband cut off the post at the top of the lamp.... just above the scalloped edges. I had to use a heavy duty file to smooth off the metal and create a flat edge to set the dish on level.  Once I got it to sit on top evenly I used some Goat Tuff glue to adhere it on.


Once that dried, I sprayed on 2 coats of Valspar primer. 


Ok so this next step was a big oops, that actually turned out pretty cool.  So you all know how cheap I am... and that I'll use whatever supplies are out in the garage before I'll go buy something new.  I decided to use some old brown spray paint as the base color... but when I went to spray it, big blobs of paint came out instead of a nice even steady stream.  So in a panic I started wiping it off.  Only thing is, it left this totally cool distressed look to it.  So what other choice did I have than to just go with it?

I love the way it turned out... and for only $5.75?  Come on!  My only hope is that all of my "oops" projects turn out just as good!


Link back to a party here!