Outdoor Basket Light, Dollar Store Style!

I had a lot of fun making my Solar Street Lamp

and I’m glad to have the light when I pull up in the evenings!  I’ve got plans for making more big ones and some small ones for the garden. Part of the reason I was inspired to “go solar” with my light is that I am married to an electrician and am experiencing the whole “shoemaker’s children go barefoot” thing! I don’t have any outside outlets or underground wiring for anything to be hooked up away from the house. So solar is the way to go for me! It’s easy…it goes on and off all by itself, no wires and it doesn’t cost me anything extra on my light bill! :)
When I saw Cheri’s post on basket and cage lighting, I was hooked! I’m not so much into the industrial look, but I like the basket style, especially the repurposed look with the antique and metal basket type. Like this

and this

and these.

I would prefer this style of lighting on a porch or deck rather than inside my house and the only way for me to get it  outside would be with more solar lights! So I started thinking of how to make solar lights work with a basket and was rewarded with a little inspiration after a trip to the Dollar Tree!

Baskets!

 

and Solar Lights!

 

That are the same color and  just happen to fit together almost perfectly!

Let’s make it a perfect fit!

I started by taking the chain off and reattaching it to the “bottom” of the basket…which is now the “top”.

Then I took the solar light apart and used a hack saw to saw the small end of the plastic globe off. It took away the
“where’s the rest of the light?” look.


Then I wrapped some Gorilla tape around the upper edge of the solar light so that it would fit snugly inside the hole in the basket. I ended up trimming the tape so that only a half an inch of the light was covered.

I added Gorilla Glue between the taped edge and the wire edges that poked into the tape to make it a permanent fit.
 

And that’s really all there is to it!

  

DIY Solar Basket Light…Dollar Store Style!

A close up:

Working:

 

My “smart” camera kept lighting everything up so I  couldn’t get a good shot of it lit up…and those little white things?… snow flurries!!!! I guess spring isn’t here just yet.

As I look at the pictures, I see the little “eyes” where the chain used to attach to the basket. Another basket could be turned “up” and attached here to make a “ball” style light or if you are the blingy type, all kinds of things could be wound through or hung from them. Lots of possibilities to dress this up!

This the second easiest project that I’ve ever done…second to my “stone look” planter”.

This light took about 10 minutes to put together not including glue drying time! How’s that for a fast and easy project?!?!? Oh, I almost for got thrifty! If you’ve got glue and tape on hand, the total out-of-pocket cost for this…a whopping $2.00!!!!If you have any ideas for dressing this up/changing it up, I’d love to see them!

My Solar Street Lamp received several features this week! I am so proud! :-)

 

My Family Definition Printable was “caught” by Gail

And my Door Restore was featured at

It was an exciting week!  The Pampered Chef giveaway will be up til Wednesday night as will the opportunity for the FREE shipping and cookbook!
Looking forward to an awesome but busy week again this week!

Linking up to some of these amazing parties!


   

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Fridays

    

Weekends