Light it Up: Recycled Garden Light Projects

 

Enjoying your outdoor space does not have to reserved for daytime with the help of some creative outdoor lighting projects. Create just the right kind of ambiance with the addition of outdoor lighting. You can decorate for a party, or an intimate dinner for two and still stay under budget with the help of these recycled garden crafts. Recycling just makes sense and allows you to save money and be a good steward of the environment at the same time.

 

Glass Jar Lights

Instead of throwing away your glass jars, turn them into useful and attractive garden lights. The lights add romance and whimsy, giving off a soft glow. Be sure to bring these lights in if you expect inclement weather.

 

Project Supplies

· Bucket

· Dish soap

· Small to medium short and squat jars

· Drying towel

· Paint thinner

· Old rags

· Glass paint

· Craft wire – 26-gauge

· Resist outliner

· Wire cutters

· Pliers

· Battery-operated flickering votive candles

· 24-inch shepherd hooks

· Decorative craft beads

 

Project Instructions

· Peel the labels off of the jars.

· Soak the jars in a bucket with warm soapy water until all of the labels can be easily removed.

· Rinse the jars and turn them upside down on a towel to dry.

· Paint a base coat on each jar using glass paint.

· Apply as many coats as you wish, allowing each coat to dry out first

· Use a resist outliner to sketch designs on the jars. Practice first on a piece of paper.

· Wrap the craft wire around the jars and create a secure loop from which to hang the light.

· Before closing the wire loop add a few decorative beads for a fun effect.

· Place your wire hooks and hang the glass lights from the hooks.

· Insert a battery-operated flickering votive candle into each jar.

Tin Can Lanterns

These versatile garden lights can be used for centerpieces on tables for your outdoor gathering or placed strategically throughout the garden, around a water feature or strung up en mass for an alluring effect.

Project Supplies

· Empty tin cans

· Bucket

· Water

· Dish soap

· Nail

· Hammer

· Permanent Marker

· Metal wire

· Wire cutters

· Sand

· Glass tea light holder

· Tea Lights

 

Project Instructions

· Pull labels off of tin cans.

· Soak the cans in warm soapy water to remove glue residue and remaining label pieces. Dry the cans thoroughly.

· Make a simple design using a permanent marker and dots on the cans. Flowers, hearts and geometric shapes work best. The light will shine through the dots so more dots mean more light.

· Fill the cans ¾-full with water and place them in the freezer. Remove when the water is frozen solid.

· Lay the frozen cans on a towel on their sides.

· Use a nail and hammer to punch holes along your outline. Do this very carefully but quickly before the ice melts. Punch two holes on opposite sides close to the rim. These will be used to hang the lanterns.

· Dump out the remaining ice and dry the can thoroughly.

· Cut a piece of wire using wire cutters and thread it through the two holes on the top of the cans. Be sure to tuck the sharp edge of the wire against the inside of the can.

· Place a glass tea light holder and tea light inside each can.

· Hang the lights or omit the wire to use as table ornaments.

 

 

About the Author: Susan Patterson is a freelance writer with a frugal eye and interest in the environment. She writes on a variety of home and environmental topics including Sanborn Maps.