bottle cap lampshade

With a hundred or so plastic bottle caps (such as from mineral water), some cardboard and patience, you can easily make this one-of-a-kind lampshade you will absolutely love if you like luminous transparency.
For this project, use low-energy light bulbs only.


Collect 128 white mineral water bottle caps - or choose colored caps for a different look. If necessary, soak them in soapy water and let dry. An easy way to know where to pierce the caps is to first draw a line on a small piece of cardboard. Use the line as a reference to line up the holes, with the cardboard serving as a cutting board.

Punch the first hole in the side of the cap. Using the nail, line up this hole and the center of the cap (where you see a mark in the plastic) to see where to pierce the second hole. Position the nail and hammer it in with one hard blow to make the hole. The two holes are now lined up.

Once you have made all the holes, string the caps together with brass wire. Make strings of 7 and 9 caps. You should have a total of 16 sets.

Print two copies of the pattern below, and glue it to the cardboard. Cut out the cardboard and punch holes where indicated. Prop the cardboard on a stand to hang the strings of caps. Then, fasten the lampshade onto the bulb fitting. Handle with care and follow safety rules (switch off the electricity, work calmly). If you haven't changed your old bulbs for new energy efficient ones, now is the time to do so!

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