Logo

Logo
Welcome to your creativity!

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Lights! Outdoors! Action!

Outdoor Chandalier


Need some more light outside? Well there is an easy way to achieve this without wiring! While rummaging through your local thrift shop or Habitat for Humanity Store you have probably passed by one of these:
 Don't let these little beauties go unnoticed any longer. Especially if you can get them for $5 or less.
Get it cleaned up. Use a wet rag and soap, let it dry and then I like to go over it with  a cloth and alcohol (not the drinkable kind) just to make sure that all the dirt is gone. With upcycled things, especially lights, dust has been running rampant and can be difficult to remove.

Grab a can of your favorite color spray paint. Make sure it is outdoor use. I chose this awesome purple for a flash of color.
 Remove the wiring at the top by snipping it off with wire cutters. Super simple.
Spray your chandelier on each side using SEVERAL LIGHT COATS. Spraying heavily will result in drips, which are a pain to remove. Lightly spray, walk away and do something fun, then come back and lightly spray again. Repeat process. Waiting is worth it to void using the sandpaper and ultimately making your process longer. Let dry at least 20 minutes between coats. Once dry, Give it a good clear coat to help protect it.

 Next, I purchased these solar lights from Walmart.

Moonrays 91381 Payton-Style Solar Powered LED Path Lights, Set of 8, Black Finish

I only needed 5, but then I got 3 extra for my yard, so YAY!

The solar lights were a bit heavy, before you attach the tops you will need to adhere the clear bases to the inside of the light sockets. I used a generous amount of E6000 around the base and inside the socket. This took about an hour to fully dry. Then I attached the tops. 
 I wasn't sure if the glue would be enough even still, so I wrapped the bottom part of the base with Electrical tape to give it extra support. Then I used a hanging basket bracket to hang the chandelier on the fence.
 It really looks good hanging up at night. Have fun with your lighting project!