Light up some MEMORIES Switch on the sentiments with action-figure lamp

STO ry an D PHOTOS by Mary ra SCH

Kids are about 90 percent heart, and that’s what makes them so loveable, genuine and innocent. They’ll give you an unvarnished opinion on just about anything, and they can extend instant meaning and nostalgia to everything they touch. Does “Can you save this rock?” sound familiar? Maybe you’ve been asked to save the kids menu from a restaurant in order to preserve some tic-tac-toe matches? (You know, for later reference.) Those endearing qualities are what make this project so fun, and such a challenge to get started!

Getting my family to part with any one of their “guys” is unquestionably the toughest part of this lamp project. After braving the depths of the toy closet, we found some duplicates that were reluctantly handed over and ultimately needed the help of a few new figures that joined us from a local thrift store. Picking out the figures for the lamp can be part of the fun, and it’s an activity that definitely should be approached with caution depending on the child’s current level of sentimentality.

I understand this sentimental behavior, and admit when I dug up my set of mini Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that were a gift from my husband when were dating, I wasn’t willing to part with them. They were a team of pizza-loving heroes that I took a shining to when I was growing up. In fifth grade, I proudly wore my TMNT t-shirt with my neon pink shorts and felt like I was … how did they put it? “Totally Tubular!” Besides this love of crime fighting reptiles, I am the misfit in my house of sci-fi lovers. However, I am pleasantly surprised at how fun it is to make this powerfully heroic lamp.

By the way the remaining 10 percent of a child is an even combination of questions, laughter, hugs and something that apparently needs candy to survive.

Here are the steps that you can take to create your own unique crime fighting, action packed custom lamp that is sure to thrill the comic lovers in your life.

MATERIALS:

Lamp (preferably one with a skinny pole for the base)

Fast Drying Super Glue

Drop Cloth

Painter’s Tape

Plastic Priming Spray Paint

Gold Spray Paint

Assorted toys of your choosing

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Begin by collecting your desired figures, dinosaurs, fairytale characters, cars or any mix of the above. It’s time to brainstorm!

2) Start placing the guys on the lamp using your favorite fast drying super glue. Take your time to make sure that the contact points with the lamp are glued well. As you continue to place guys on the others, move the arms and legs to have as many touch points as possible in order to glue the figure to as many places as possible. This will make your pile of action figures more stable.

3) After all of your characters are placed, check to see if any limb, tail, or accessory moves. If it does, secure it in place by gluing the joint. You can add action to this lamp by securing the limbs in an action stance.

4) Continue to check for unstable figures and secure them with glue. Wait for the glue to dry thoroughly.

5) Prep for painting by spreading out your drop cloth in a well-ventilated area. Take the lampshade off your lamp and remove the bulb. Tape off and/or bag any areas that should not be covered by paint.

6) Place your lamp in the middle of the drop cloth and begin spraying even, light coats of plastic primer. I am highly recommending the primer as it ensures that all of the bright colors are covered. It will take a few coats with dry time in between to fully cover the figures, as there are many grooves and lots of dimension that can only be covered when sprayed from different angles.

7) Leave enough dry time between spraying the primer and the gold paint as directed on the back of the can.

8) Apply the gold paint in many light coats making sure to lift up the lamp to see the many different angles that spray needs to cover.

9) When you are satisfied with the coverage, replace the shade and the bulb, plug it in and bask in the glow of your amazing new lamp.