How to Make a DIY Paper Mache Lamp

Purchase a rubber balloon or inflated plastic bouncing balls. The bouncing balls give you a sturdier foundation to work around, but they take a bit more time to deflate than the balloon.

Purchase natural fiber string or twine according to the size of ball you purchase. A 9-inch ball needs 100 yards of string, a 14-inch needs 300 yards and the 16-inch ball needs 400 yards or more, depending on how dense you want the lamp shade.

Blow up the balloon, or set the ball in the middle of the table. Draw a circle around the bottom of the inflated balloon or ball. Draw the circle large enough to simply slip the lighting kit and bulb up inside the shade when it's complete.

Draw a second circle on the top of the balloon or ball. This circle should measure just smaller than the lighting fixture's circumference, so the cord and plug can fit up through it, but not the entire fixture.

Dip the string in a vat of craft glue, or squirt a dime-size amount on your finger, then rub it on the string. Starting at the bottom of the balloon or ball, wrap the string around the ball, crossing over horizontally, vertically and diagonally in random directions, covering the string in glue as you go. Cover the balloon as much as possible for a sturdy shade with uniform coverage.

Cut the excess string when you get to the top, or lay it over the yarn below. Allow the lamp to dry for 2 to 3 days to harden.

Pop the balloon with a needle when the paper mache has dried, or deflate the bouncy ball with an air needle. Carefully remove the deflated balloon or ball through the shade's bottom hole, taking care not to break the paper mache.

Spray paint the ball if you want it a bold color you couldn't find the string in. Do this outdoors, away from children. Let the painted shade dry completely overnight.

Install and hang the lighting pendant per manufacturer instructions through the larger bottom access hole.