Barn Style Lamp Reminiscent of Catching Fireflies

by Dawn

6 Materials

30 Minutes

Easy

Did you enjoy catching fireflies in a jar as a child, only to realize their glow lasted only a short while? Why not recaptute that warmth with a simple light using items you might already have in your home?

barn style lamp reminiscent of catching fireflies

I just love using common household items in my decor and crafting. Not only are they cost effective, but they also make fantastic conversation pieces! I whipped up this simple "farm house" light in the same fashion, and you can, too!

First things first, I gathered my materials:

A glass jar with a lid (large enough to house the light bulb soon to fill the interior)
A light kit for a lamp. These are available at hobby stores, OR can use my shortcut by . I carefully disassembled an old lamp whose style no longer suited my tastes to reveal the electrical light assembly inside.
A light bulb (I prefer clear for this project, as it more closely resembles the glow of fireflies)
A ruler
A drill with large bore bit or a small hole cutting attachment
Small piece of duct tape

Using my ruler I found the center of my jar's lid and drilled a hole large enough to fit the light assembly thru

I strung the light assembly thru the hole in the lid, then patched up the extra space with a small piece of duct tape.

I screwed in the light bulb.

I then screwed the lid onto the jar being careful not to break the light bulb (how many innocent light bulbs have I shattered during my years of crafting by rushing myself 😊).

I placed my DIY firefly lamp into its place of honor in my home, and....

....completed the look with some similarly styled objects I had in my craft room.

I just LOVE the simple and charming look, and hope I've inspired you to create some warmth on the cheap for your favorite space!

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A large (gallon size) canning jar with lid (Walmart)
Drill with large bore drill bit (My tool kit)
Lamp light assembly (Out of an old lamp which I disassembled)
Clear light bulb (Walmart)
Ruler (My toolkit)
Small piece of duct tape (My tool kit)

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2 questions

B. Enne on Aug 04, 2017

nice project! Are there any problems with heat?

7
Mfo27732912 on Aug 07, 2017

If you wanted the illision of fireflies, wouldn't a small string of white Christmas lights do the trick?

5
Carol Hoipkemier on Aug 11, 2017

How would I go about making this a hanging light? This is the first 'jar light' I have thought about making...and it would be great as a hanging light.

Thanks.

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2 of 24 comments

Samantha Woods on Aug 19, 2017

What watt light would you use... I am concerned about the glass getting too hot and shatterI guess.

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Maude LaFountain on Aug 20, 2017

I love it !!! But I think I will cut a hole in the side of the jar and add the Fairy lights to it ....I have 4 of those Glass Hole Bits for doing that ...I have taken a Run Chata Bottle and drilled a hole in the bottom and added some battery operated lights to it and it makes a perfect night light in the bathroom or bedroom .....and it really wasn't that hard to drill the hole ....I just laid the bottle on an old towel and put me some painters tape in a X and started drilling slow kept pouring some water over the drilling part to keep the bottle from shattering...works like a dream !!!!

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