Paper Cup Table Lamp -

Paper Cup Table Lamp

The Concept

This project was primarily about understanding electrical circuits — how power flows from a source, through a switch, and into a component that converts it into something useful. What started as a simple assembly activity opened up deeper conversations about LEDs, polarity, and basic structural engineering when we realized the original paper cup lampshade needed an upgrade.

What We Used

This is a kit-based project. The kit included:

Main wooden baseboard with a pre-drilled hole
Vertical wooden rod
Two small wooden block feet
Battery box with switch, red and black circuit wires attached
2 LED bulb (long leg positive, short leg negative)
Blue plastic cap or washer for mounting the bulb
Double-sided tape
Plastic cable tie
Paper cup lampshade

We replaced the original paper cup with a sturdier one and painted it with watercolors before assembly. That small change made the finished lamp feel like something Sven genuinely made rather than just assembled.

How We Did It

Building the Base

Assembly started with the base. Sven attached the wooden feet to the underside of the baseboard using double-sided tape, then inserted the vertical rod into the pre-drilled hole. The battery box went on next, taped to the top surface of the baseboard beside the rod

Connecting the wires and LED

Placing the Lampshade

The final step was placing the decorated paper cup over the top. When Sven flipped the switch and the lamp lit up, that was the moment.