Don’t throw away those old light bulbs just yet! I have a fun, easy DIY for you that will brighten up your home decor or workspace :) A little while back I found this image on tumblr and immediately saved it to my inspiration folder:
I gathered a couple of light bulbs and got to work! I found this DIY to be very simple, but it requires working with glass so you definitely need to be careful.
What you need: A light bulb (any shape or size will work!), pliers and gardening wire.
Step One: First you need to remove the little silver layer on the bottom of the light bulb. Work the pliers under the layer to create a little lip, and then you should be able to peel it right off with the pliers.
Step Two: Now you have to remove the black cap from the bottom of the light bulb. This was the most difficult part for me – you DEFINITELY want to wear safety goggles and be extremely careful, as it is glass. Some sites suggest using a hammer to crack the black glass but this didn’t work for me – with some time, I was able to work the pliers into the hole left after you remove the silver cap, and snap the glass. I used the pliers to tap the rest of the black glass off the bulb. Do this outdoors or over a hard surface so you can sweep up the bits of glass.
Step Three: Once the black glass was removed it was really easy to get the little glass tube and wiring on the inside of the bulb out – I simply tapped it with the pliers and it broke right off.
And now you have your empty lightbulb! I didn’t like how the metal part looked so I covered it with a little piece of fabric:
Step Four: Add flowers and water, and hang with the gardening wire!
Now I want to make more! In addition to brightening up my desk space at work, these would be adorable for a summer party or, as Jemma just suggested as I was making it, as bathroom decor!
Obsessed!!
I also saw that image on Pinterest and I can’t wait to try it. Just a few notes, I’ve read that you should never use florescent bulbs because the stuff inside is toxic. Also, some bulbs have a white coating on the inside which I believe is just kaolin, which is safe to remove, simply use tissue to white it out. Anyways, thanks for the DIY, can’t wait to try it.
I’m getting married soon and this would be a great idea for down the isle hanging off the chairs and off the trees!
so nice!!!!! looooove it!!!
I’m making these for my new house whether my boy friend likes them or not. So simple yet adorable.
http://dailydoseofsunlight.blogspot.com/
I love that! they’d be so cute to have lined up across a window
ahh sooo cuuute!!
love love love
Such a creative, easy sounding, eco-looking, adorable project! These would look great at an outdoor dinner party during the summer! I think I’m going to have to try them, and hang it on my bulletin board with a thumb tack like shown. Can’t wait! xoxo
That is beautiful…
I am so going to be makign these tomorrow.
My friend is visiting from Korea and she will love it!
THANKS<3
I saw this on a blog the other day and I am really excited to try it! I think they would look really cool hung at different lengths from tree branches or around a big patio umbrella! :D A good recycling project also!
http://www.forsurejadore.blogspot.com
you women,and men, are wonderful
I love this so much!! so very cool
the best DIY I have seen in a while!!! now I cant wait for a light-bulb to go out! :P
these are so wonderful! muy creative !
that is so pretty and creative.
I love this. Totally linking to it later today! Gotta hurry before those summertime blossoms all but disappear!
I saw this on pinterest. I had some of these that I made many years ago while living in Mexico. I put a piece of ivy in each one and watch them grow like crazy. It was awesome! I just had to keep refilling the water and they took off filling the bottom of the bulb with roots. Thanks for sharing the how-to. That’s how I did it too! :)
Great idea. So chic and creative.
this is such a great idea! Light bulbs are so hard to recycle–this is a great solution
I love it and reblogged at http://1129designorecchinigioielli.blogspot.com/2011/08/un-vaso-da-fiori-illuminante-tutorial.html
hope you don’t mind :)
nicoletta
Berty: Just because you take it apart, doesn’t mean you can throw away the pieces. I’m sure non-broken light bulb disposal policies still apply.
WOW! A great idea!
I wish I could figure out stuff like this but reading your blog is the next best thing! Those light bulb vases look so clean and beautiful. A great way to recycle broken ones :)
Well, aren’t these just the cutest? So lovely, thanks for posting!