This weeks post is our first IBC (International bloggers club) Challenge of 2022. Our theme this month is “Bodacious Books”, the challenge is to create a project using a book in some way. My idea for this project was to create a lamp with a book as the base.  And if you follow my blog you will know I am steampunk mad, so it will be no surprise that I chose to make a steampunk-themed book for my lamp.

This project was very simple to make and it can be decorated to suit the style and theme of your home. This was one of those projects that started as a steampunk book lamp but by the time I had finished it also had a built-in clock.  More about IBC at the bottom of this post.

How to make a steampunk book lamp

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Find a suitable lamp

To make this project you will need a lamp with a pole long enough for the height of the book. I had this old lamp but it was so boring it just got thrown into my cupboard waiting for inspiration to strike. It turned out to be perfect for this project, so being a hoarder does pay off sometimes.

My first thought was to use a real book and hollow out the middle to fit over the pole on the lamp.  While this could be done fairly easy, I felt I could cause issues with the balance of the lamp. The spine side of the book tends to be a bit heavier than the other side.  The only way to counteract the imbalance is to have the hole off centre which would not look very good.

Prepare the book

In the end, I used a paper mache box in the shape of a book for $6 from a craft store. Before I started decorating the book I wanted to make sure the book would fit onto the lamp. I took a photo of the lamp and wiring so I put it back together correctly later.

To start you need to find the centre of the book and add holes at the top and the bottom for the pole to fit through.  You can use a craft knife to do this, I used a hole saw because I was using it for a wood project I am working on.

The pole fits through the book holding it in place.  It was at this stage I thought it was a waste to have the empty book.  If you are the kind of person that likes to have a hiding place for items, this is a good place.  I thought it would look cool if I added a clock to the front and the mechanism will be hidden inside the book.

Decorate the book

To decorate the book I used a mixed media technique, while some may think you need to be arty to do this, you don’t!. I will show you step by step how simple the process is. To start you want to create some texture on the surface.  To do this I use some craft glue and paper towels. Spread a layer of glue over the surface and lay the paper towel on top of the glue.

Next, using your fingers gently move the paper towel around to make some creases on the surface.

Once the glue has dried, you can add another layer of glue or mod podge. This will make a better surface for the other embellishment to stick to later.

I like to add a few different textures to my projects.  This can be achieved by adding items such as burlap, mesh, rope, leather and even cardboard like I did in this replica Camera.

The glue I found works the best is crafters pick the ultimate glue.  Add a layer of glue to the surface area and place the mesh over the top.  I like to brush the surface with glue using a small brush to make sure it stays in place. 

Making the steampunk embellishments

Over the years I have collected so many silicone moulds and I used these to make my own embellishments.  I used epoxy resin in the moulds rather than clay and other mediums because it is stronger. The mould I used below is a stamperia mould. They have a great range of moulds you can buy if you don’t want steampunk.

Adding the clock to the book

For the clock, you will need a clock mechanism.  Over the years I have made a few clocks using the clock making kits you buy online.  Another option is to go to a charity shop where you can pick them up for next to nothing and reuse the mechanisms.

For the face of my clock, I used another steampunk silicone mould. This was not designed as a clock face but it was easily adapted by adding a hole in the centre for the mechanism.

Next, I place all the embellishments where I wanted them before I glued them in place. Once you are happy with the placement, glue them in place using hot glue.  To make the hole in the book I used the same size drill I used for the hole in the clock. The clock mechanism can now be glued to the inside of the book lamp using hot glue.

Painting the book lamp

I did add some other embellishments from my craft stock to decorate the book. The lock and metal corners were added for more texture. Next, you can the entire surface using black acrylic paint.

To get the bronze highlights I used a metallic bronze wax paste. I have struggled to find this brand again, but there are many brands out there offering the same colour.

This is applied by adding the wax using your finger to all the raised surfaces first.

Once you have added the bronze to all the raised surfaces you can add a very light colour to the black in between the embellishments.  I do this by using old makeup brushes.  The hairs on my brushes are all damaged which is caused by using this method.

But I have found this is the best way to add a light layer rather than painting the colour on. I add a tiny amount of colour to the brush and swirl it between the gaps.  This is how it will look once you have added the light colour in between the gaps.

Seal the book surface

The wax will need 8 hours to set before you can seal the surface.  I added 2 coats of spray gloss polyurethane to the book. To finish the book I painted the hands of the clock silver so they would stand out against the bronze. I put the lamp back together and added the lampshade.

Adding the lampshade

The small lampshade looked a little lost on the lamp.  I did have a bigger but it was a beige fabric.  I decided to paint it black using acrylic paint.  To get a smooth surface it helps to water down the paint. Next,  I decided to add a zipper to one of the corners with some gears inside and it went downhill from there.

Adding the zipper to the lampshade

When I glued the zipper to the lampshade, I added I little bit too much glue to the surface.  Once I smooth out the zipper the glue came out the sides onto the lampshade.  I thought just wiping the glue away would be fine but it was not.  It left a shiny patch next to the zipper.  I did try and repaint it but I still had the stripe marks.

This side view photo will show you what it will look like if you add leather to the surface.

For the back, I did not add any embellishment but I did add the tissue and paint and highlight the surface with bronze wax.

When I was taking the photos I noticed the book kept opening slightly.  As an afterthought, I used a small magnetic that I saved from a repurposed jewellery box. I glued it to the inside of the box to hold it closed.

More Project ideas using books

This spellbook is a great idea for Harry Potter fans and great for Halloween.

Another option is to turn an old book into a jewellery box. 

More about IBC

If you follow my blog you will know I am part of IBC (International Bloggers Club) which is a group of talented bloggers from around the world. We have members from Spain, South Africa, Australia, the United States, and Canada. Each month we come together and create a project with a common theme.

If you missed last month’s “Felted fixation ” theme here is the link to my Steampunk Nutcracker.   The “Bodacious Books ” contributions from my fellow bloggers for this months challenge are listed below, please feel free to jump over and give them some love.

1. Birdz of a feather |Upcycled book 
2. Interior Frugalista|Vintage Style Decoupage Wooden Book Box
3. Me
4. A Crafty Mix|Linen Book Covers

 

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