The MilkBell lampshade is my latest addition to the series of upcycle design lampshades I made. Again it’s a design that uses discarded plastic milk cartons. Like I wrote before, these cartons are great for making upcycle lampshades. They’re made of sturdy plastic, they have a fantastic transparency and are easy to work with.  And I haven’t run out of ideas for more designs using these everyday objects.

Plastic carton turns into bell shaped lampshade

The MilkBell is a variation to the MilkDrop lampshade. Where the MilkDrop was a design made by using one lamp frame ring, this design makes use of a frame that consists of two connected rings. The top ring and a smaller bottom ring. And that’s how this nice balloon/bell shape was established. So let’s look at the process of making this lampshade.

Photos © Gilbert de Rooij

After cuttting out pieces I started joining them by using an ‘Eyelet Crimping and Hole Punch Function Pliers‘ and eyelets. This way I was able to create strips from the plastic pieces, with a certain length so they would give the lampshade a different look. Next I fixed one end of all 12 strips to the top ring of the lamp frame. The other 12 ends I attached to the bottom ring. And that’s it.
When I say it’s a reasonable easy lampshade to make I know that for one trying it for the first time it could be a challenge. But hey, for me it’s a challenge every time. Trail and error is the way to go.

What you’ll need:

• 24 [+1 spare] Plastic milk cartons or other sturdy plastic
• Small snap-off blade knife
• Scissors
• Eyelet Crimping and Hole Punch Function Pliers with eyelets
• Lamp frame [in this case 24/19 cm. diameter]
• Tie-wraps, 20 cm. / ± 3 mm.

Please share your result and/or findings with me.
Have fun!

Design by Gilbert de Rooij | upcycleDZINE