Out in space: Create your own moon lamp using a balloon
When the full moon is out in force some people are overcome with a romantic feeling, and others suffer from trouble sleeping. If you are in the former group, check out this DIY lamp project that will bring that beautiful moonlight inside your home (but can also be turned off if you want to sleep!) This lamp also adds a little something to the room during the day - don't waste another minute, get started making your moon lamp straight away!
You'll need:
- 1 large balloon
- glue
- 1 paper towel roll (or newspapers)
- 1 felt tip pen
- 1 hanging light bulb + cord
- 1 brush
- 1 sponge with very large pores
- acrylic paints in ivory and dark mustard
Here's how to do it:
Start by inflating the balloon and drawing an even circle around the knot using a felt pen. The size of the circle depends on the side of the lamp socket that will eventually need to fit inside the balloon. It doesn't have to be exact down to the millimeter.
Mix water and glue in a 1:1 ratio and dip the inflated balloon in the mixture. Make sure the entire balloon up to the circle is covered without gaps. You can also use a paintbrush to apply the mixture in an even coating.
Next, place paper towels (or shredded newspaper) onto the balloon until the gluey surface is completely covered. Repeat this process until you have three layers of glue/water and paper towels. Once the glue drys, the towels will be hard and less transparent. If there are loose pieces of paper once everything has dried, remove them carefully with a brush.
Now, paint the balloon with ivory paint. If you only have white paint, you can mix it with a few drops of mustard paint to create an ivory tone.
Once the first layer of color has dried, grab your sponge and dip it in the mustard paint. Stamp the sponge all over the balloon to create a moon effect. You can make it look like the surface of the moon if you press harder in some places and lighter in others. Check out a few moon images online or stare out your window to get a realistic idea of how to apply the paint. Once you have the perfect moon-like surface, let the paint dry.
Using a knife, cut the bottom out of the balloon where you drew the circle. Pop the light bulb inside your moon, turn it on, and you'll be in awe!
If you'd prefer a red-orange harvest moon or a blue moon, try using colored light bulbs. Use your creativity to make this lamp your own!