Unfortunately my dogs have decided they like my small solar lights too. When they light up the dogs think it's playtime just for them! They pull them up and toss them around the yard and sometimes they finish the game with chewing on the post. UGH! So the other day I collected 5 of my little light tops that now had no post and and was wondering what to do with them. I hated the idea of throwing them away. Then I was looking through a magazine and saw a hanging mason jar tea light idea. It was simple. Make a wire hanger for your mason jar, put a little sand in the bottom and then place a tea light inside. Eureka - perfect little yard decor and light. With this idea in mind I decided I should make a "solar" lantern with my little lamp tops.
What I did:
Unsecured the solar light top from the base
Used 24 gauge jewelry wire (it's what I had on hand)
Pulled out my box of extra beads and chose a few (gotta have a little bling)
Selected a clear clean jam jar from our recycle bin
1) Take a long length of wire and wrap around twice around the lip of the jar, making sure you have enough extra to create a handle/hanger.
2) Take a second length of wire and secure on the side and then wrap around the bottom of the jar. Use needle nose pliers or jewelry pliers and pull secure. After you get the wire shaped and taught take the loose end and add the beads so that they will hang at the bottom of the jar.
3) Secure the wire on the other side. And loose ends can be curled and shaped to accent the jar.
4) Add a handful of small rocks, pebbles, marbles, etc... to the jar.
5) Take the solar light top and secure to the top of the jar with ticky tack or glue.
Now you have a fun little summer lantern ready to accent your yard and make good use of a few supplies on hand. ;)
I will add a new picture when it's less windy! The wind was really making it dance. ;)
No comments:
Post a Comment