How to Make Your Own Eco Lamp

Adjust a mathematical compass to a 2½-inch radius. This radius will draw a 5-inch diameter circle on the top of your cork disc, leaving a 1-inch border between the penciled compass line and the edge of the disc. Draw the line accordingly.

Snap a carving bit onto a high-speed rotary tool and carefully draw the bit over the penciled circle on your cork disc. Carve around the line until you drill a channel about 1/8-inch wide and 2½ inches deep. The deeper the channel, the better it'll hold your shade.

Flip over your solar light bulb assembly. These assemblies usually consist of a solar light bulb mounted on a solar-powered energy source that looks like a black box. You should be looking at the bottom of the black box.

Glue a thumbtack to each corner of the black box with craft adhesive, such as E6000. Allow the glue to dry for at least an hour. Press the thumbtacks into the center of the carved cork disc. The tacks hold the bulb in place, but allow you to remove or replace it when necessary.

Remove the adhesive backing from a piece of clear acetate. Smooth decorative paper or fabric over the acetate, trimming away the excess. Curl the acetate into a cylinder and slip the bottom edges of the cylinder into the channel in the edges of the cork disc. This serves as the lampshade for your new eco lamp.