Orb light from bamboo strips

Monica Ewing over at Crafty Nest is not only an amazing crafter, she also a graphic artist and website designer. I love her blogs, there's just something unique about the style she puts into everything.

 

In this project she shows how to make an orb lamp using bamboo strips - taken from a bamboo blind that you can find at most home stores.

The bamboo is surprisingly sturdy and bendable - and you can easily cut it with scissors - making it an ideal lightweight frame for paper lanterns or this orb lampshade.

YOU WILL NEED:

Bamboo blind
Wood glue
Mini spring clamps
Lamp holder & 2-core cable
Energy saver bulb
Scissors

 

 

HERE'S HOW:

1. Using scissors, cut the strings and unweave the bamboo slats from them [above]. Discard the strings, hardware, and top and bottom pieces of the roman shade.

2. Apply wood glue to the last 10mm of one bamboo slat. Curve the other end around in a circle and place the tip on top of the glue. Secure with a mini spring clamp and let dry at least 2 hours. Repeat to make about 20 bamboo circles for each pendant light. Larger pendants may require more; smaller ones may need less.

Note: If you wish to make a larger lamp than your shade’s width allows, glue bamboo pieces together to form larger circles.

designgush.com

If you prefer to go for a more contemporary orb light, we took inspiration from Propellor Design to create an orb light using laminate edging strips.

GOOD TO KNOW
Janice: I find that 5-minute epoxy glue works great for this type of project and it dries in 5 minutes, which means that you don't need as many spring clamps.

3. Starting with three bamboo circles, intersect them into the shape of an orb. The intersections should create an equilateral triangle. Apply a dab of glue at each tip of the triangle and clamp in place. Let dry at least 2 hours - or use 5-minute epoxy glue.

4. Continue adding bamboo circles until you have used as many as you desire. Glue and clamp each circle to the orb in 2-3 places. Let dry at least 2 hours. Be sure to leave an opening somewhere that is big enough for a globe light bulb to pass through.

5. Connect the wires to the lamp holder in the correct order. Green = Earth, Blue = Neutral [N], Brown = Live [L].
Feed the plug end of the cord in through the large opening then out through a small opening on the opposite side. Pull all the way through until the top of the orb rests on the top of the light socket.

IMPORTANT
If you are hanging the orb light to replace an existing light fitting, attach the electrical cable wires to a connector box before attaching to existing cables. If you are in any doubt as to what wire goes where - ask for professional help!