Indoor Nightlight From Solar Stake

by KattywhampusLOL

6 Materials

2 Hours

Easy

Whether it's to soothe a young child's fear of the dark (or your own), or to set a mood of some type, indoor lighting has been something our ancestors have wanted for thousands of years. Here is one more way to take the edge off the darkness, and add some ambiance, too, if that's what you like.

I got the idea to do this by looking at some bling-bling candle holders that a woman made for a wedding. A few weeks previous to this I had purchased the last 3 yard stakes on the shelf at Menard's for a home improvement idea I have. I only needed 2 of them at the time, but I used the 3rd for this project. Back in the summer last year a neighbor near my daughter's house had a box sitting by the curb saying "FREE" on it and my granddaughter found a dessert plate and a small bud vase. She gave them to me so I could use them at my house. When this idea came to me, I couldn't wait to go get the paint and the bling so I could do it, so I went to the store for silver metallic paint and self-stick bling gems. In fact I began the project without a thought to taking a picture of everything before getting started, which is why you aren't seeing a white bud vase with blue flowers, nor a clear glass dessert plate. Sorry. When estimating the cost of the project I only include the cost of what I have actually used on that project (NOT the $4 cost for the entire tube of E-6000 glue, for example, when I've only used about 50 cents worth). I also did not include the time it took to go to the store, shop, and come back, since I keep my eye open at any time I go to the store for things I can pick up. On he trip I made specifically for this task I ended up browsing and buying a few other things for another project I have in mind, so I did not include travel time.

I took the cleaned, clear glass dessert plate outside, turned it upside down, and sprayed it with well shaken metallic paint. I also spray painted the bud vase too. After they dried I brought them inside and began adding the bling to the top of the glass plate along the engraved decorations lines on the back of the plate.

OOOPS! Didn't mean to include the cuttings that I haphazardly tossed into the center, but there they are. I covered the dots that edged the plate with teardrop self-stick gems rather than circular gems because I thought it gave a little interest to the entire look of it. I also covered half the stem of the stem of the stake with bling gem tape by wrapping it around the stem and cutting off the excess. I wanted it to come just a bit below the opening of the bud vase so I could push it in firmly and allow it to stand straight without gluing (this will let us take it out and replace it once the light dies, IF that ever happens).

I then added the bling gems to the sides of the bud vase in lines. I did my best to kep them straight, but I can guarantee I did not do a perfect job. Nonetheless, I do not expect it to be closely inspected while those gems are blinging from sunlight, or in the dark while the light is on and stories are being told.

Next I applied the self-stick bling gems to the top edging of the solar light collector. They don't cover the area needed to collect the light, but are stuck solely to the plastic edging that surrounds the collector area. Then I used the E-6000 a bit heavily on the bottom of the vase and put in on the plate, trying me best to get it level. This is the first time I have made a project like this and, although not perfect, I am happy with the results.

The only thing left to do now is to hide it until I decide to give it away (please, pay no attention to the scuffed up wood in the background. THAT is yet another project I was working on when THIS idea came to me. LOL)