A $2 Transformation!

This weekend I had a show at the DuPage Expo.  Since I just started doing shows in October of last year I am still very much of a newbie.  

 I needed some new displays for this show so I created one out of an old lamp I found at the Goodwill for $2. 

I was looking for one with a strong wire shade and a decorative bottom, also the shade needed to be supported by a harp (the metal thingy instead of clamped on the light bulb).

I first stripped the shade of all it's stained fabric.  No need for that.  I sanded down where they had glued it to the metal frame. 

I Then whipped out my Claudine Hellmuth Studio Black Gesso Paint.  In ONE coat I covered the  base, the metal shade, and the harp!  Can you believe it only took ONE COAT! Love this stuff. 

 And I will let you in on a little secret.  The black gesso can double as chalk board paint :) 

 How cool is that!!!

Once dried I had the perfect place to clip some of my items on.  I love it!  I loved it so much the hardest part was cutting the cord on it.  I almost wanted to keep it as a lamp and not a display piece.

 I also made the boxes in this last photo the same way except I used cardboard boxes from my Project Life and painted them black.  When it was dry I created a thin wash using Espresso Paint Dabbers and water.  I adorned the fronts with Tim Holtz Ornate Plates