The Eleven Dollar Lamp

In Target last week while waiting on prescriptions for Craig, I saw a bottomless glass bottle lamp on sale for $11.00.  Cheap!  It suddenly hit me that the big round clear glass vessel would be perfect for seashells or seaglass if I could just figure out how to fill it and attach some kind of base to the bottom.

Once home, I realized the easiest method would be to scratch the idea of attaching a permanent base and just arrange sand, seashells and seaglass on top of a round plate.  Then I could just sit the glass lamp on top of it.   No glue required, and I could take the lamp apart at any time to dust or change the contents.

After experimenting with different plates, I chose an antique blue and white from the depths of my kitchen cabinets.  I kept trying to find a shade from my dusty collection in the linen closet, but finally decided I'd have to buy one.  Then I saw this idea on Pinterest using sisal rope and a hot glue gun and the light bulb clicked on.

After a trip to the local hardware store for 100 feet of sisal rope, a pack of glue sticks for the hot glue gun, and a few burned fingers -- I present the customized $11 Target lamp.

By the way, that Sand and Sisal blog has all kinds of DIY coastal decorating ideas -- enough to keep me busy until the next beach trip!