Video:How to Make a Lamp

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Transcript:How to Make a Lamp

Hi, I'm Debbie Anderson for About.com. Making your own decorative lamp can be a fun and creative way to add new light to your home. So today, I'm going to show you a fun and easy way to make your own lamp in just a few easy steps.

Supplies Needed to Make a Lamp

For this task, you will need a jar adapter light making kit, which can be purchased at your local arts and crafts store, a canning jar, an open type lamp shade, a 40 watt light bulb, cotton balls, and light-weight decorative rocks and marbles.

Fill a Jar

First, remove the lid of the canning jar to expose the open area inside the jar. Then, while remembering to be very careful, gently place small handfuls of the cotton balls, and the light-weight decorative rocks and marbles inside the jar, just until the inside of the jar is filled up to the top with these small decorative pieces. As an added tip, if you feel uncomfortable placing small rocks or marbles inside a glass jar, you can also place any other items inside the jar to add a fun decorative look to your lamp.

Add the Light

Once the jar is filled with the decorative items inside, carefully place the jar adapter light making unit on top of the jar and rotate the adapter in a clockwise direction, just until the light kit unit is screwed onto the top of the decorative jar, snug and tight.

Next, gently push the inside ring of the lamp shade down and around the top of the light bulb socket shell on the light unit. Double check that the lamp shade is secured and tight around the light bulb socket shell.

Then, carefully screw a 40 watt light bulb into the light socket opening in the top of the lamp, just until it is slightly snug. It's important to note here that when screwing in the light bulb, be careful not to over tighten the bulb in the light socket, or this could cause the bulb to break.

Check That the Lamp Works

Finally, plug the electrical cord for the new lamp into a nearby electrical outlet in the wall and push the light switch on the lamp to the “on position” to turn the light on.

And there you have it. In just a few easy steps, you've made your own new lamp and added a fun decorative light to your home. Thank you for watching. To learn more, please visit us on the web at About.com.