Hanging String Lamp

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Back in either 2003 or 2004 I came across an article in a magazine that showed how to make a hanging light fixture from string.  I tore out the pages and filed them away – coming across them whenever I clean out or reorganize the file cabinet.  I finally got a little smart in my old age and put together a binder with all the items I come across that I want to someday tackle or the clippings that get sent to me from several different sources!

The hardest part of this project was finding the balloon!  Usually there are a couple laying around the house, but now that Stella can blow one up herself – I could not find one anywhere.  I decided to hit up the drug store in town – no regular balloons, but they did have the ones that you blow up and can twist to make animals, 3 more stores and no balloons.  I finally came home, called a few friends on the block – no luck at their houses either, but one suggested the dollar store down the hill, forgot it existed and I have never been there – so off I went.  They did not have balloons either – shocking, but they had the balloon favors that you blow and they make noise – figured why not – I would just take the plastic blow piece off the end.  I went to the front and asked if they just had a plain bag of balloons – no, but they had helium balloons I could buy.  I told them I just needed 1 or 2 balloons – the wife offered to sell me 2 from their supply, but the husband said no – I had to buy the bag.  Well now I have a bag of 10 balloons – I have hidden them away.

Hanging String Lamp

Items Needed

Balloon
Glue
Water
Newspaper
Cotton string/twine
Plastic cup to use as stand
Make a lamp kit
Thin wire

1. Blow up a balloon to the size desired.

2. On a plate or in a shallow bowl, mix 3 parts white glue with 1 part water – mix well.

3. Saturate the cotton string with glue and wrap it around the balloon.  Circle the balloon several times, overlapping horizontally and vertically, to make a solid structure.  Leave an opening in the bottom and top for the light fixture.

4. Let the glue dry over night.

5. Pop the balloon and gently help to release the glued strings from the form as it deflates.

6. Put you hanging light fixture (from lamp kit) together.

7. Place your string lamp shade over the light fixture.  Use thin wire to secure the light fixture to the shade – running from edge to edge across the top.

Hang and enjoy.  After hanging it I decided I really need to re-string the lamp fixture and then get a chain to weave the cord through for easier hanging.  Otherwise I love it and Stella things it is cool.

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