I've been wanting to do this for a long time.....like years and finally got around to it a few weeks ago.  I used to play flute but haven't in forever and don't plan to again but I love my flute and think that it is beautiful so I wanted to make it into a lamp.  Found the lucite lamp base at a thrift store, add a shade (that I don't love but it'll do for now), and a wiring kit and tada!  I love it.

What glue do you use and what do you use to apply it with?

I've decoupaged altoid tins but the finished project always looks like a preschool art project gone terribly wrong with this obvious layer of glue over the top.  Kind of looks like my kid spilled the glue bottle and forgot to clean it up.  I want to do a lampshade but I'm nervous because I don't want it to look like crap!

Also, I always use scrapbooking paper and magazine scraps because it is always so pretty but is this what I should be using?  Would it be better to stick with tissue paper?

Should I be using a clear finish?  What kind do you use?

Thank you!

Here's the tutorial I used. 

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/paper_trees/

This one was a lot of fun!

Here is the tutorial I used:
http://foldingtrees.com/2008/11/kusudama-tutorial-part-1/

I've never made anything with paper besides cards so I'm pretty impressed with myself.  It did take what seemed like an eternity but for my first try not bad. 

For my son's 7th birthday I knew I wanted to do cupcakes instead of cakes and came across these adorable guys in Family Fun magazine.  We had a lot of fun making these!

chocolate cupcakes and chocolate frosting
nila wafers for the mouth
nutter butter for the ears
m and m eyes
and some food gel