Mini DIY Paper Lampshade Idea: LED Lights Upcycle

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE SEE OUR FULL DISCLOSURE POLICY FOR DETAILS.

Recycle old battery LED lights and make DIY mini paper lampshade covers to create trendy home decor accents for your kid’s bedrooms!

These cute little DIY paper lampshade covers are a great way to recycle and jazz up any old battery operated LED lights that you may have lying around the home.

This quick and easy paper craft project is perfect to brighten up your home and they really look fab in kids bedrooms!

DIY Mini Paper Lampshades - learn how to make these pretty paper cone covers for your old LED string lights

Step Up Your LED Lights With These Mini Paper Shades

Hello Kenarry readers, it’s Sam here from A Happy Home In Holland, back again with another simple DIY craft idea for your home.

I actually came up with this idea when my youngest, who has just started getting homework from school, wanted to create a desk area in her room to work (I love that she is so enthusiastic about it all).

We moved a few things around and I added some plain led lights to brighten it up a bit.  I then thought, hang on a minute, I can make this much cuter!

And so I took them up to my craft room and this is what I came up with.

Mini paper lampshade covers!

DIY Mini Paper Lampshades - learn how to make these pretty paper cone covers for your old LED string lights

I managed to score these little books of patterned paper at my local thrift store.

And if you are anything like me you will probably already have a lot of these sets of battery operated LED lights in your Christmas decor box.

If your scrapbook paper stash is full of fall colors, you’ll adore this pumpkin garland paper craft too!

DIY Mini Paper Lamp shades - learn how to make these pretty paper cone covers for your old LED string lights

Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links for products or services we think you’ll like. This means if you make a purchase from one of these links, Ideas for the Home by Kenarry® will make a small commission at no additional cost to you so we can keep the great ideas for the home coming your way. All opinions expressed are derived from personal experience.

DIY Mini Paper Lamp Shades Tutorial

They always say that the simplest of ideas are the best.  And, well, you can’t get simpler than this quick little DIY papercraft project.

Supplies:

Upcycle and personalise your old led string lights with this simple paper craft tutorial - great for kids bedrooms!

Craft Tips

The entire tutorial is in the printable card at the bottom of this post. Before we get to it, here are some tips that I hope will help you out.

Cut out perfect circles with a compass

This lampshade will look so much better if you draw a symmetrical circle with a compass, believe me. You can try to just wing it, but the cones won’t be as even.

DIY Mini Paper Lampshades - learn how to make these pretty paper cone covers for your old LED string lights

Use double-sided sticky tape

I didn’t even try to use regular tape folded in half. The double-sided tape holds it better and it’s so much easier to use.

I also put another piece of tape in the middle of the cone, where the light will go.

This just helps to secure the lights and stop them from sliding out of the cones if you accidentally make your holes a bit too big

Tighten the cone’s hole

As you roll the paper to make a cone, tighten the hole as much as possible, then firmly secure the paper in place by pressing it down onto the double-sided tape.

DIY Mini Paper Lamp shades - learn how to make these pretty paper cone covers for your old LED string lights

Don’t worry if you have slightly misaligned the paper cones because you can always trim any bits that lap over too much.

That’s it! Here are all of the steps in more detail. They make the perfect party decoration too.

DIY Mini Paper Lampshade

Recycle old battery LED lights and make DIY mini paper lampshade covers to create trendy home decor accents for your kid’s bedrooms!
Prep Time5 minutes
Work Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Keyword: Craft
Author: Sam Franklin

Equipment

  • Sharp pair of scissors
  • Compass
  • Pencil
  • Ruler
  • Thin double-sided sticky tape

Instructions

  • First set your compass to a diameter of approximately 5.5″/14cm and draw a circle on paper or card.
  • Carefully cut your circle shape out avoiding wonky lines or jagged edges.
  • Cut the circle shape in half to make a semi-circle.
  • Put a thin strip of double sided sticky tape along half of the straight edge of the semi-circle.
  • Add one of the small double-sided foam squares to the middle of your semi-circle and stick one of the lights in place.
  • Carefully roll your paper or card around the light to make a cone.  Tighten the hole as much as possible, then firmly secure the paper in place by pressing it down onto the double-sided tape.
  • Repeat previous steps until you have created a mini paper lampshade for each individual light.
Did you follow these steps?Tag us on Instagram at @kenarryideas or leave us a comment rating below.
DIY Mini Paper Lampshade Covers - learn how to make these pretty paper cone covers for your old LED string lights

See I told you this was an easy project!

How to Match the Lights to Your Decor

I love that this mini paper lampshade idea is so versatile.  You can basically tailor this idea to suit your own taste and decor by just changing the pattern, color or texture of the paper.

You can use fall-themed paper in October, red and green paper in November-December. You can also use them to decorate for a baby shower or birthday party.

Which colors are you going to use?

More DIY Projects and Tutorials

If you are looking for more creative inspiration then you may like to take a look at some of my other DIY projects and tutorials.

Stencilled Burlap Pom Pom Pillow

Stencilled Burlap Pillow Tutorial


Simple Air Dry Clay Display Cones

Everlong Chalk Paint Review And Tutorial
Chalk Paint Upcycle Idea

Love the ideas you see here on Ideas for the Home by Kenarry®? Subscribe today to get our weekly Ideas in Your Inbox newsletter plus other exclusive gifts and offers — all for FREE!

What’s Next?

While you’re here, be sure to check out other paper crafts on Ideas for the Home by Kenarry® –

Originally published October 2017. Updated October 2018. 

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating