I came across this dirty old lamp shade at a garage sale the other day. It set me back $1. Admittedly, I had no idea what I was going to do with it when I bought it, but it had good bones that spoke to me.
Good bones really are the key to seeing diamonds in the rough when looking at salvage items like furniture, knick knacks and especially houses. If you can see pass the outdated, ugly and dirty to the heart of the matter you will find many treasures.
These bones landed on my dining room table as a new centerpiece with a boat load of potential. I made a boxwood wreath at the base of my new “vase”. I plan on changing out the floral arrangement with a hurricane candle and other flowers. I can think of a bunch of different ways to use this set up. 
The delicate scallop is breathtaking to me, it’s what sold me. Those bones I tell ya!
We even talk about good bones in people.
“She has great cheek bones”
“She has the frame of a ballerina”
The truth is we all have good bones.
Some bones move feet that carry the good news to many. Some have bones that run the race of life to the fullest. Some bones ache to the point they feel dead. Physically and spiritually.
Bones unable to cast off the dirty rags that cover them, making them feel tired, unworthy and un-fulfilled. What once was on fire and alive now sits smoldering.
I have felt like the bones Ezekiel walked though in the valley God showed him. Dry, brittle, like I could crumble at a moments notice. I’m sure others saw no signs of spiritual life in the empty display I presented.
But just as God promises,
This is what the sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. Ezekiel 37:5
God breathes life into dead places.
He lays out his promise in this chapter of the Bible. A promise filled with abundant life, a new heart, a new home, a life cleansed. He covers us with a new flesh. God stirs the wind from the very corners of the Earth to blow life giving breath into our lungs. He enables us to stand again.
To stand when we feel fallen, clothed in grace when we feel disgraceful, clean when we feel dirty. This new breath can ignite a fire in the deepest darkest parts of your heart and give you the strength to carry on, stand firm and follow your call.
If you feel dry and dead in your spiritual walk ask for God to breathe life into you. To stir the dry dust and awaken the Spirit living in you. To put you on your feet again.
What is old and dead doesn’t have to be. It’s why I love hunting for junking treasures and it’s why I love the word of the Lord. God’s word is filled with promise. Open your bible today. Open to any page and see what promise is spoken to you. Let me know if your bones feel alive again. I pray they will.
Please feel free to pin this post for later or share it so others can see, I’d appreciate it so much! If you’d like more ideas about DIY’s to do with old lampshades look here, to read more fun upcycles go here or check out what I did with this…
I’d love to have you around more often! Join the e-mail list to get all the latest projects!
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I’ve picked up some old lampshades to do something with, but never thought of something like this. Thank you also for the encouraging message, I need that today!
So glad it touched your heart
It would be much easier to just glue some coordinating lace on top bottom and around over the stains – or fringe. You could try gentle scrubbing first with nail brush and White hand soap. It looks wrong in my opinion without its fabric.
thanks for the ideas!I love it as it is, but I bet you could find one to make over so easily! That’s why I love DIY – you can always make it your own. So glad you stopped by!
Love your uplifting blog! Love this! Who would have thought this would work, but it does! Definitely adds interest!
thank you and thank you. We are enjoying our fun centerpiece! I have a candle in it now!
That turned out so pretty! I’ve got an old lampshade in our garage and I might have to do something like this with it! Thanks for the inpsiration!
Glad to share the idea, hope it works for you!
Wow, what a difference. I love how you deconstructed the lampshade and repurposed it. The frame is so pretty and intricate.
Thank you – sometimes the simplest things make the biggest impact!
Your ideals are great, I love the lamp shade andthe bible verse made my day
Glad to add some light to your day!
What a fun idea, I love it.
thank you so much
Such a creative idea, Love anything vintage looking, its looks very european
Maria
Thanks that makes me feel so official 🙂
This is jus beautiful! Great Upcycle!
Big impact with little effort is the best!!! Thanks Michelle
What a fabulous upcycle! I would have never thought to do this.
Thanks! It is a fun space to change out now, it is so versatile!
Wow! I would have never thought to turn an old lampshade into a centerpiece but I LOVE this! You truly do have an eye for seeing the best in things!
Thank you, it has become one of my favorites!!!
Absolutely genius!!! I love the look!!!
Thank you! Obviously it is one anybody can do! My favorite 🙂
Thank you for the inspiring words! They are so true but sometimes we all need reminders!
Trust me…I write all this for myself! Just glad it happens to speak to others as well
I’ve tried 3 times to write this and it keeps reloading. That said it must b important.
“God will fight for me, I need only to b still” wow and wow.
I was distracting myself with a lil Hometalk waiting for a call from my attorney. (A bit anxious)
Amazing what our Lord can do!
Great comfort. Thank you
PS
love the shade????Jan
I love how God weaves things together! He is never outdone! So grateful I could be a part of lifting your day. I hope your call went well. Trust Him regardless.
Love the lamp shade. Really love the scripture and your thoughts on that. I really needed that today. God directed my fingers to your blog.
I can’t tell you how good that makes me feel, I hope you and your day are feeling better
OOOOOH!! I bet it would look TOTALLY stunning if perhaps the frame was painted gold it silver or something similar… Lately I’ve been loving the rose gold look!! I happened to stumble upon ur blog here, n that particular bible verse is definitely what I needed to read! As it goes: “the Lord works in mysterious ways”! U now have a new subscriber! Thank u!!
welcome Toni – so glad to have you and I don’t believe in coincidence! you are here for a reason!
You can also spray paint any lamp shade.
So true! I have done that once before, such a great way to save money and a lamp! Thanks for reminding me of that tip
Wonderfully creative, and sooooo unique. It really gives a peaceful vibe. You have a really good eye. I absolutely love your sharing of The Word. You have done what I pray for each new morning, I always ask God to “help me to share Your love with others”. You have blessed me and a number of others with your sharing. I was very touched. Please keep up the good work. You brighten the world….God bless!
Thank you so much I appreciate the kind words and encouragement! Hope you have a great day and come back often
Wonderful idea. I absolutely love it.
Well, I had nit expected that! I am a bit of a ‘lampshade addict’ as they are quite the testament to each time era. And perhaps I remember my mom painstakingly hand wrapping and remaking those old shades! Sadly that art has now been lost too.
That would be so great to do, I hate when those arts get lost!!!
I love this post and I have to say I loved and so needed that message.
thankful it spoke to you Linda
Lamp shades are quite a challenge! I am trying to figure out an easy way to build one from scratch. I am thinking of using a beautiful wood veneer! There are just certain parts that will be a bit finicky to make…
THANK YOU!!! The healing words you applied are exactly what I needed today!! AND… your center piece is so lovely!! I have new inspiration….in more than one!!
yay – God’s timing is so good!
Great vision! That is an outstanding transformation. I just discovered your blog and I really like you style. I look forward for reading more from you.
Thank you – so glad you are along for the ride!
Me too. Thanks
Such a great idea and beautifully written Kim
Thank you Michelle!
Very creative idea, I love it!
Thanks so much, super easy too!
What a fantastic creation! Both you and the lampshade are spot on, Kim. I seriously love it. ❤❤❤
Thanks Larissa!!!
I was hoping you would leave the very top with the applique and maybe color it to go with the greenery, I loved the top of the shade. Love what you did with frame, it is unique.
That would have been a great idea, it was kind of gross though, very dirty and no real way to separate the applique from the shade fabric. thanks!
What a wonderful serendipity to read your uplifting, encouraging words when all I thought I was going to see was how to repurpose a dirty old cast off lamp shade. I know the feeling of being physically and spiritually dry as well as feeling fully alive. We all walk through those dry valleys when it seems like we’ll never feel alive again and then God brings us out of the desolate wasteland into His verdant valley of joy and rest. We can walk by the still waters and lie down in the green pastures, soaking in His love.
Thank you for your words and many blessings on your journey!
Denise
Thank you Denise you are so right, the dry definitely heightens the joy of the green pastures!
Love love love your post! I just became a friend….can’t wait to see more!
Hi friend, so thankful you are here!
I just found your site through Hometalk. I love what you did with the lampshade and I agree that the scalloped design is what makes it special. I love crafting and see the potential in a lot of used items as well.
I also love your encouraging words from the Bible. I have been a Christian all my life and a preschool teacher at a Christian preschool (starting my 36th year at the same school). Thanks for the uplifting words!
Blessings,
Kathy
Hi Kathy – I am so glad you are here, love that you found me through Hometalk!!! Thank you for your kind words and I hope to keep encouraging you!
Love the shade. I to found old cool shaped frames and turned them into hanging flower pots. Also I flatten one size and hung it off a outside railing. Lines it with coco liner and chicken wire. Then filled with soil. It’s beautiful and unique.
The lampshade is unique! What inspired me the most was the Scripture. It touched my heart today!
Thank you!
That makes me so happy 🙂
I just found your amazing site. Thank you for the wonderful message of hope and renewal. Our God knows what we need and always fulfills those needs if we sit still and let Him enter our heart. You are a blessing to know. The lampshade is a great idea. Perhaps a plate could be attached to the inside bracket to be used as a base for a candle or figurine.
welcome Margaret so glad you are here with us! That is a great idea for the shade too, thank you!
Hey! I love the repurposing of this lamp shade…but I love the scriptural tie-in even more! Those verses about Ezekiel’s bones are very precious to me. Our oldest daughter has a chronic condition that gave her painful joints and I prayed this verse for her year after year. I’m overjoyed to say that she has now graduated from college with several agricultural degrees! Praise God! Thanks so much for this reminder about God’s goodness and faithfulness! ❤️
Sweet girl, what a great accomplishment, so glad she is doing well!!!
Thank you so much, it has been a long journey! ❤️
I am so happy that I stumbled onto your site,…thank you so much for sharing….
Your lampshade is gorgeous….this came along at the right time, (my lampshade has kicked the bucket), your idea has given me inspiration to do something here as I have some old lampshades stuffed in storage doing absolutely nothing but taking up space…..
I love your choice of Biblical Verse, it came at an opportune time for me…thank you and bless your heart…..
Welcome Loretta and I am so glad to have you here!
I was attracted to the lampshade as I’m a repurposer myself. I’m also a Christian and was pleasantly surprised to get a bible lesson too. God turns graves into gardens and you turn junk into beautiful decor. I love multitasking! I’m going to sign up for your newsletter.
I am so happy you found the blog! welcome and I look forward to having you!!