Pottery Barn Lantern Knock Off---from picture Frames!!!

I have wanted to change the f-ugly light in our bedroom since the day we moved in!
I finally got around to changing it a few weeks ago..I know, I know, I could have shared this idea with you a few weeks ago, but life has been crazy around here!!  The kids are out of school and momma isn't getting her blog on as often!

I made this PB Knock Off Lantern out of old picture frames!!!!

It was inspired by these lanterns from Pottery Barn:

Pottery Barn Gothic Lantern

Pottery Barn Blacksmith Taper Lantern

 The idea came to me on the toilet. No kidding. No, I wasn't going...I was giving Audrey a bath and one of the pictures I had hanging above the toilet fell off and hit me in the back of the head.  The glass broke...this was like the 4th time I had replaced the glass in that one frame.  I was out of donor glass and was a little irritated.  I was looking at it asking myself what to do with them, when it hit me.  No, it another one didn't fall and hit me..I had the idea hit me!

I was going to make a lantern from old picture frames!!

Don't worry I got Audrey out of the bath before I started all this!!

Here's how it was made:

Step 1: Have a picture frame fall on your head Collect 4 matching picture frames.  Mine were 8x10 frames, you can choose smaller or larger-the lantern police won't arrest you for not following directions!

Can you guess which one broke?!? :)

Step 2: Collect your supplies. I used hot glue, gorilla glue, a speed square, needle nose pliers, and painters tape!

Apparently I didn't picture all my supplies-ADD kicking in!

Step 3: Remove all the glass and "guts" of the picture frame and the little metal tabs that hold it all in. (Please note: if you plan to leave the glass in the lantern, you should leave the little tabs in-but I didn't think about that before I removed all mine!)

Step 4: Use your speed square or other 90 degree angle tool to keep it square and put on the Gorilla Glue, then quickly shoot some hot glue on the ends, just to keep it in place.  I'm sure there is an easier way, but I try to look for the hardest way possible and do it that way.  I usually open packages and then find the easy 'pull here to open it' spot!

Sorry it's blurry! 

Step 5:  Repeat step 4 until it looks something like this

Step 6: Tape around the sides with painters tape to keep it together while the glue dries.  When all sides are done, you should have something like this.

Yes, that's the grout stirring paddle in the background!

Step 7: Find some light source to donate it's guts to your new lantern!  I picked this one up from H4H for $5.

Step 8: Forget to take all pictures for the rest of this blog...sorry!
After I took the H4H light apart I attached eyelet screws on the corners of my frame cube and ran chain I had from a previous project (like 3 years ago) from the eyelet screw to the ring on the top of the H4H light.  Spray painted it all black and had it sit for like 2 weeks before I picked up the wire nuts, so Mr. TSL could hang it.


Here is the light that was there before: GAG!!

And Now:

-Make your life beautiful!



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