During a baby’s first months, a night light illuminates late-night visits from parents. Later, it assures a toddler that the far reaches of her room are monster-free.
Yet this nursery essential, so often plain in appearance, is easy to overlook. In the time it takes for the sun to set, you can create a decorative night light shade that will brighten a child’s bedroom in more ways than one.
Basic night light how-to
You’ll need a night light kit that consists of a half-circle metal night light frame, a plug-in fixture and a bulb. These are available at some lighting stores. If you can’t find a kit, here’s a Web site to try: www.lampshop.com.
You also will need card stock, masking tape, a pencil, scissors, peel-and-stick styrene (available at crafts stores), a paper or cloth decoration (see the project ideas that follow), clear-drying craft glue, clothespins and 1/4-inch double-fold bias tape (available at sewing-supply stores).
1. Gently wrap a piece of card stock around the front side of the metal frame and use masking tape to hold it in place. On the card stock, trace the border of the frame. Cut out the shape with scissors, making an arc-shaped template. Lay the template against the frame again to be sure the edges align. Trim if necessary.
2. Peel the backing from the styrene, and adhere it to the back of the decorative paper (or cloth) you intend to use. (If you’re using backlight film for the “Baby Face” decoration that follows, skip this step.)
3. Place the template on the paper or cloth. Draw an outline around the template. Cut out the shape, creating your shade.
4. Run a thin line of craft glue along the front of the metal frame. Attach the shade, and adjust positioning if needed. Using several clothespins, secure the shade to the frame, and let the glue dry.
5. Run a thin line of craft glue along the top of the frame, and then run bias tape along the top of the frame, folding it over the frame and shade; trim ends. Repeat along the bottom of the frame. Then cover each side with glue and bias tape, leaving a 1/4-inch overhang of tape at each end.
To finish, dab the loose ends of the tape with glue, fold them under, and glue to the back of the frame.
Punched-shade decoration
Dress up a lampshade with a word spelled out in punched holes. When the light is on, the letters will be illuminated. (Try “Shhh … ” to set the mood for a baby’s room.)
Using your computer, print the word on plain paper in a decorative font. Use the arc template (from step 1, above) to cut the printed page to size.
Tape the paper onto a sheet of colored art paper (avoid dark colors). Place the taped layers on a cardboard work surface.
Using a bookbinding punch, poke holes in each letter or symbol, following its lines and curves. Adhere the punched colored paper to styrene (as described in step 2, above).
Cut the shade to size, and remove the template. Then follow steps 4 and 5, above.
Handkerchief decoration
Look for vintage handkerchiefs at flea markets. Monograms are but one pretty design you might find. You won’t need a whole handkerchief, so don’t worry about imperfections. Just make sure it’s free of stains and tears.
Use the arc template (from step 1, above) to cut styrene to size. Then plan your design: If you use the decorative part of the handkerchief to cover the middle of the shade, simply fill in the empty spots around it with pieces cut from the rest of the cloth (the seams will look decorative).
Lay the styrene with its adhesive side up. Peel off the backing, and smooth the cloth, with the design facing up, over the styrene. Then follow steps 4 and 5, above.
Baby face decoration
Use photo-editing software to add a background of stars, polka dots or stripes to a close-up photo of your baby’s face. Print the results on backlight film (available at photo-supply stores and www.thecraftypc.com).
Then follow the steps for “basic night light how-to,” above, skipping step 2. (Backlight film doesn’t need to be affixed to styrene.)
Storybook decoration
Illustrations from old children’s books are a wonderful source of lampshade material. Rather than taking apart the original, color-photocopy the page (or part of the page) you want to use. Then follow the steps for “basic night light how-to,” above.
Map decoration
A night light with a geographical print can be educational and attractive. Reduce or enlarge a map (or a portion of one) using a color photocopier. Then follow the steps for “basic night light how-to,” above.
Questions should be addressed to Living, care of The New York Times Syndication Sales Corp., 609 Greenwich St., 6th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10014-3610. Please include your name and daytime telephone number. E-mail to: living@nytimes.com.
2005 MSLO LLC
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