It may take up to three hours to make, and three days to dry, but it's worth it. When the light is switched on the shade casts pretty shadows around the room.

Step 1 Inflate balloon to your preferred size. Tie string to its top.

Step 2 Ensure you have enough doilies to cover balloon and overlap on all sides. We used five 30cm doilies and one 40cm doily.

Step 3 Pour fabric stiffener and a few tablespoons of PVA glue into bowl. Mix thoroughly.

Step 4 Soak one doily at a time in mix. Squeeze out excess mix. Repeat with enough doilies to cover half the balloon.

Step 5 Support balloon in second bowl, with tie at top. Cover top half with doilies, leaving enough space around tie for a hand to fit in and change a lightglobe. Ensure doilies overlap — paint more mix here to reinforce.

Step 6 Leave balloon in bowl (don't let doilies touch bowl) or hang in draft for 24 hours to dry.

Step 7 Turn balloon upside down and repeat steps 3 and 4. Cover remaining area of balloon with doilies. Dry for 24 to 48 hours.

Step 8 Pierce a hole in balloon top and, using your finger as a plug, slowly let balloon deflate while your other hand peels off the doilies. Remove balloon.

Step 9 Tie four pieces of string to top of doily lightshade and attach it to an existing pendant fitting, or ask an electrician to install one.

Looking for more projects? Check out our craft projects section.