How to Make a Vintage License Plate Lampshade

This crafty Vintage License Plate lampshade craft project is a great way to recycle and use those great metal Vintage License Plates you collect. You can make a Vintage License Plate lampshade with new license plates as well.

This simple Vintage License Plate lampshade is perfect for a game room, poker room, or bachelor pad.

You can use any old or damage fabric lampshade as the base for this project to save money.

You can buy Vintage License Plates online, at antique stores, and flea markets. These Vintage License Plates have a lot of great color. They are perfect to make into a lampshade for a game room accent lamp. Click here to check out more ideas from Rebecca.

To make a Vintage License Plates lampshade you will need:

Small Fabric Lamp Shade (can not be taller than your pencils)

Vintage License Plates

Rivet tool

Rivets

Tin Snips

Hot glue or epoxy glue

Hammer

The first step is to clean your Vintage License Plates. Simply wash them out with hot water and soap. Now they will not be sticky.

Now, use your tin snips to cut your Vintage License Plates.

Use a hammer or rubber maillot to flatten out your Vintage License Plates. This will also help you curve the lampshade after you attach the lampshade form together. For a more hammered look use a metal hammer, for a smoother finish, use a rubber mallot. You could also keep the plates bumpy.

Now, you need to completely remove all of the fabric from your damaged or existing lampshade. Start by poking some scissors through the fabric, then cut away. Once you have the body of the fabric removed then start working on the material wrapped onto he wires. This will take some time, but is a great way to save a little money and salvage and existing lampshade.

Tip: If you don't have a damaged or existing lampshade you want to get rid of you can buy these wire frames of a lampshade at any lampshade store. Some arts and crafts stores will also sell them.

Now, you need to take your lampshade and roll it on a piece of paper and trace it. This will be the pattern of your lampshade to help you know what pattern to make your Vintage License Plates pieces for the lampshade.