Old lampshades are wrapped in fabric strips and transformed into interesting bowls.

Use old shades of your own or check out your local thrift store. Lampshades are usually available in abundance and for a very small price.

Using a heavy-duty wire clipper, cut off wire clips from lampshade. Rip or cut fabric into long strips (I prefer a torn edge for the texture and roughness it adds). Using a hot glue gun, glue end of fabric strip to the interior base of shade and start wrapping around entire shade. When you get to the end of a strip, glue it down and start with a new piece. Always begin and end your strips on the inside of the shade.

Place lampshade, with small end down, onto a thick piece of cardboard – trace and cut out a circle – this will serve as the base of the bowl.

Using this piece of cardboard as a template, cut out two fabric circles. Glue fabric to both sides of cardboard circle.

Using your glue gun, run a line of glue all around the interior, small end of the shade and press base into place.

You could line these bowls with a few sheets of wax paper, fill with home baked cookies and give as a housewarming gift.

My daughter's friend wants the pink one for her bedside table – perfect for holding hair clips and trinkets.