DIY {half} globe light fixture cover

DIY Globe Light Fixture Cover

After I completed the wall mounted-pallet shelf, I updated some of the light fixtures including the one in the sitting room…

allen-roth-edison-orb

Allen + Roth Edison Oil Rubbed Bronze

However, the glass on this specific light is very thin and it cracked during the final stages of assembly, just by screwing in the light bulb. The crack was located in such a way that it wasn’t safe. I feared the entire glass piece was going to come crashing down.

cracked-glass

So, one rainy day, I gathered some supplies from around the house and created a new cover? fixture? globe? well, northern hemisphere at least.

DIY-globe-light-fixture-cover-tutorial

Here is what I did:

Materials: 

  • LOW WATTAGE light bulb
  • old globe (I have an addiction. I can’t pass up a globe at the thrift store, thus a collection on hand.)
  • craft paint (I had DecoArt’s Patio Paint/rich espresso on hand.) A high heat/temperature paint is a better, safer option.
  • double fold bias tape (Again…I had brown left over from a patio cushion project.)
  • hot glue
  • Sharpie
  • Edited to add: Flameproof coating

Tools:

  • Utility knife
  • Needle-nose pliers
  • Scissors
  • Glue gun
  • Craft paint brush

I started by disassembling the globe by gently pulling the frame from the north/south pole. My globe popped right out.

globe

I also chose a globe that wasn’t in the best shape, so the north and south hemispheres just pulled apart. (Cut seam along the equator with a utility knife if needed.)

split-globe

Next, using a Sharpie, I traced the fitting (or draw a circle the size of where the globe will be held into place on the light fixture).

globe-light-tutorial

I used a utility knife to remove some of the map/cardboard and discovered a metal circle underneath. I was able to remove it with pliers. Then cut away the rest of the cardboard/paper with a pair of scissors.

globe-light-cover

I painted the inside of my globe and let it dry (well, sort of. I may have been too eager to move on to the next step)…

paint-inside-globe

Then attached the bias tape around the perimeter with hot glue.

gluing-bias-tape

Since I was impatient with waiting for paint to dry and had a little “oopsy”…paint on the bias tape, I used a Sharpie to create a design to distract from the accidental smudge. Imperfection adds character.

globe-light-border

Ready to install.

globe-ceiling-light-cover

Heading to the basement: This is also the path to the basement and I can breathe a sigh of relief that the cracked glass isn’t going to hurt someone when it comes crashing down or that it’s no big deal if my 6’2″ husband carrying a ladder accidentally hits the globe. I kept worrying he’d ‘ding’ that thin glass on his way through…now, it’s okay.

sitting-room-ceiling

It fits with the style of our sitting room too…

sitting-room

Easy enough.  (Would also work as a lamp shade…decorative only.}

half-globe-light-cover

 Mystikit: Purchase the materials and tools needed to make this half globe light fixture cover.

sitting-room-diy

*more DIY projects in this space:

 *This light shade is mainly decorative. In our home, it is rarely turned on for more than a few minutes at a time. Please do your homework and consider safety in your own home before using a globe as a light fixture. 

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