Crawling through junk shops makes me happy on 99 kinds of levels. I’m happiest when I can find something that’s rusty, worn out and pretty much cast aside. Not only are those items generally cheap as chips, the bonus is the challenge of figuring out how to repair them – or better yet recycle them into something that I need. This light fixture is a great example. Picked up a local shop for less than $1, the rusty, crusty lure of it caught my eye, even though it was no longer functional with a missing cord. So what’s a girl to do? Turn it into an outdoor fixture, of course! With a thrift store find and a simple solar light, I made a unique fixture.
The missing cord didn’t matter much, since I wouldn’t be needing it – but luckily it had this hoop to hang it from. I promise I cleaned it up as best as could be…. this was truly one of those lovely vintage pieces that had lots of… ummm… patina.
I picked up a solar light at Walmart for about $3 in the garden section. Did you know those little tubes come off of them? Yep! All you’re gonna need is the bulb portion.
Make sure to pull out this little tab, that’s what make it “go.”
Then I pulled out my old, reliable hot glue gun. I know, it’s all worn out. I bought a new one, but it just didn’t work as well as this one….
Fill up the socket hole about 3/4 of the way with hot glue. You could also do this with outdoor silicone caulk – but hot glue works faster.
Now put the end of the solar light into the socket and twist it in place about 1/4 turn, just to make sure that the glue gets into the grooves of the piece. Typically I don’t suggest hot glue for outdoor use, but the grooves of the socket plus the ones on the solar light will lock it all in place.
Then just hold it in place for a couple of minutes until the glue dries, hang it up, and it’s done. I love how it looks like one of those lights from the pier – but it’s wireless, solar powered and oooohhh so cheap!
Hanging right above my swing, it gives it the perfect amount of light – which is a good thing when you live in the sticks where things are SO dark at night. Now we can enjoy the swing any time, not just during daylight hours. It’s our favorite place to sit outdoors, and now it’s ready 24-7 🙂
And if you’re looking for more great outdoor ideas, my friend Andrea has listed 26 of the best I’ve seen. Love all her ideas for getting out and having more fun.
Speaking of fun… Lisa has come up with a list of fun things to do with the kiddos – we all need those ideas to keep away the “I’m bored!” blues, huh?
Happy Friday!
gina says
June 1, 2012 at 11:43 amClever! I’m curious as to whether the light still soaks up the energy with the fixture around it.
Gina Shabby Creek says
June 1, 2012 at 11:51 amHi Gina (great name by the way 🙂
Yep, it’s still working great, even with the fixture around it. It charges great and lasts all night.
Thanks for stopping by!
Gina
Mom says
June 3, 2012 at 7:32 pmSo does the top (where the solar panel is) have a hole for the sun to get thru?
housevintage says
June 1, 2012 at 12:10 pmI love this, industrial chic and cheap!
Anne says
June 1, 2012 at 12:35 pmwhat a fabulous idea! You are so clever!!!
allisamazing says
June 1, 2012 at 12:41 pmWhat a great idea and it looks amazing!
Shauna@Satori Design for Living says
June 1, 2012 at 12:47 pmBrilliant! So often the solar lights are less than charming and you’ve found a way around that.
Michele {The Scrap Shoppe} says
June 1, 2012 at 1:39 pmLOVE this, Gina!! Pure brilliance. 🙂 I had the same question as Gina above, so I’m glad to hear it still absorbs the light without problem. Something like this may end up on my patio!
Angie CountryChicCottage says
June 1, 2012 at 2:40 pmLove it!! 🙂
GirlRural.com says
June 1, 2012 at 2:47 pmGina, once again I have to say “genius!” I LOVE this idea and these lights are easy to find in junk shops out where everyone has chickens. I just have to do this.
Courtney Hooper says
June 1, 2012 at 3:22 pmLove this!! Great idea!
Sara says
June 1, 2012 at 3:58 pmTotally going to look for some cast off fixtures. This is brilliant!! (wish I had a light bulb graphic to insert here…)
Daniela @Frugal Aint Cheap says
June 1, 2012 at 6:37 pmWhat a fantastic idea!!! Looks perfect above your swing!
Unknown says
June 1, 2012 at 7:51 pmOhhh great idea. I am going to a junk market tomorrow and am thinking I would love to do this on a chandelier for my porch!! Thanks so much for the inspiration!!
Richella says
June 1, 2012 at 9:00 pmYou are a brilliant woman, Gina. This is so cool! And what a nice romantic glow that light casts, right where you need it. Love it!
Bliss says
June 2, 2012 at 12:35 amJust what Richella above me said.
~Bliss~
Stacy Risenmay says
June 2, 2012 at 1:17 amI love this idea! My house is super old and there are no outdoor electrical sockets so even if a light had a cord I couldn’t use it. This is perfect!!!
- Brittany aka Pretty Handy Girl says
June 2, 2012 at 1:45 amWhoa! That is amazing and so adorable! Love it Gina!
Erin Spain says
June 2, 2012 at 2:21 amThis is so clever! Great job!!
-Erin @ DIY On the Cheap
Brenda says
June 2, 2012 at 3:26 amI love it! Never realized you could use those lights off those little stakes- so smart!
amanda says
June 2, 2012 at 4:52 amLove this. We spend our vacation time with our five kids in remote northern Ontario, our cabin in water access only, and there is no electricity. We LOVE this. But it’s nice to have a light for seeing around after dark.
Solar lighting would be so much safer than candles or gas lanterns!
And super cute, too. Nice job!
Janine LaTulippe says
June 2, 2012 at 6:42 amTotally awesome. I can’t wait to try this. Why don’t they sell these at the store? Thanks for sharing. Hope to see you at True Aim.
Deboakley says
June 2, 2012 at 10:53 pmThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Deboakley says
June 2, 2012 at 11:00 pmI wonder if you could use heavy duty/industrial velcro instead of hot glue? I’m just thinking that when the battery has lost all of it’s charge (which they do eventually), you’d want to replace it, and if it’s glued in, one wouldn’t be able to do that.
I absolutely love this idea! Those little solar stakes are not real attractive, and they’re so small that they don’t look all that great lining a path. This is a wonderful idea for using them in a more practical, and very creative way!
Gina Shabby Creek says
June 3, 2012 at 2:42 pmHi Deboakley,
I guess you could use velcro, I didn’t think of that! My other lights have been working 4+ years, and I’ve never changed the battery. That’s a great idea, though!
tracih says
June 3, 2012 at 1:28 amWhere is the solar panel located? I love this idea too…just trying to figure out how it works. We have used solar lighting some in the past but my experience has been that unless the solar panel comes into direct sunlight for many hours, they will not charge. I would love to try this idea.
Gina Shabby Creek says
June 3, 2012 at 2:44 pmHi Traci,
The panel is inside the bulb, and apparently doesn’t need direct contact because it’s charging great! But, you could always just unhook it in the morning to flip it over and let it charge if need be 🙂
stefanie says
June 7, 2012 at 3:01 pmLOVE this!!!
hahaha, I have that same old burn the heck out of your finger glue gun!
Shelly @A Creative Space says
June 13, 2012 at 4:20 amJust in case you are not tired of hearing it… Fabulous, totally fun idea. Patina… great word. I don’t have anything like that, I’ll have to find some old cans, or SOMETHING!!! 🙂
Suzanne@Meridian Road says
June 23, 2012 at 8:08 pmPure genius!
Mercedes says
June 23, 2012 at 8:49 pmlove. Love. LOVE!
Susie~From My Home To Yours says
June 24, 2012 at 1:27 amDefinitely one of the best, original ideas I’ve seen in a while! We’ll all be lighting up the night soon…
Blessings, Susie
Liz - Imageremix says
June 24, 2012 at 1:49 amThanks for the “how to”. creative, crafty and clever. Sweet! Found you at Funky Junk. Hope you’ll stop over and visit my place at Quirky Vistas!
Liz
ZoeB says
July 27, 2012 at 7:12 pmI’ll bet a metal colander would would be interesting and let out an interesting pattern of light.
Lisa Rusczyk says
March 11, 2013 at 12:19 amLove this idea!
Herballistic Garden says
July 28, 2012 at 1:09 pmVery ingenious! I didn’t think something like that would work unless the sun could reach the solarpad…but apparently it does! Wow! Thanks. 🙂 wendy
Laura Ingalls Gunn says
August 28, 2012 at 2:51 pmGina this is brilliant AND those outdoor lights will be on end of season clearance really soon! 🙂
Burlap Bag Lady says
September 19, 2012 at 4:48 amGina this is a great idea! I already have some light fixtures that I have had laying around for a while which i picked up from a garage sale knowing something great like this would come along!
Thank you =]
Brittney says
March 20, 2014 at 10:06 amI am going to do this! AMAZING!
Bernadette says
April 12, 2015 at 9:02 amGreat idea but how will the energy get in if the solar panel is upside down?
Gina Luker says
June 24, 2015 at 9:38 amIt doesn’t have to have direct light – it’s still working years later.