Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Garden Flower Light



Have you ever looked at something and thought, "I don't know what I'm going to do with that, but I'm getting it anyway!" Well that's what I thought about a couple of solar lights I found at Homesense last year. They were on clearance at 70% off - $3.60 to be exact - and since they were purple, you know I had to get them! Lol! But by that time, Fall was in full swing and I put the solar lights away in the garage and pretty much forgot about them. Then, for this month's DIY Challenge the theme is all about solar lightsIf you're coming over from Terrie @Decorate and More with Tip, welcome! Wasn't her garden decor using solar lights pretty!

Well, for this challenge, I thought about the solar lights I had gotten and what I could do with them. Then it hit me, why not make the solar light into a flower with surrounding petals! I've made a few flowers using soda and beer cans - you can see some of them here, here and here - but didn't think the cans were large or sturdy enough for making petals to go around the solar light globe. It's pretty big and soda cans just wouldn't work!

So looking around the hub's workshop, I found sheet metal that was labeled 28 gauge. I knew the higher the gauge the thinner the metal and easier to bend, so I decided it would be perfect to make petals for the globe solar light - or so I thought! 

You might be thinking how was I going to bend the petals and attach the metal petals to the surrounding metal where the glass globe screwed in without welding.  I did some research on connecting metal to metal and found out super glue was at the top of the list besides epoxy glues (which I didn't want to mix). So I gathered a few supplies and got started.
  • Galvanized sheet metal
  • Heavy duty gloves
  • Petal Template
  • Tin Snips
  • Metal File
  • Primer and Paint Combo Spray 
  • Multi purpose acrylic craft paint
  • DAP RapidFuse All Purpose Adhesive
  • Painter's Tape
  • Globe Solar Light

Disclosure I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites, this post may contain links. I may receive a very small commission at no cost to you! The affiliate money I earn helps pay my crafting expenses. Thanks so much for your support!

Here's how I made the garden flower light:

1. Draw a petal shape on sturdy poster board for a template .  .  .
and cut out.
2.  Trace your petal pattern onto the metal using a marker. 

3.  Then, cut out using tin snips wearing protective gloves.
Be careful! The metal can be very sharp!
4. Once all the petals are cut out, use a metal file to sand down the sharp edges. Then shape the petals by bending or curving them on a secure oval shaped surface. I looked around my home to see what I could use that was sturdy enough for me to shape the petals. I finally decided to used the safety bar in my bathroom to help curve the metal. I had no problem bending the metal (sorry, I couldn't take pictures while bending the petals) but the look just didn't seem natural enough for petals. 
5.  Once the shaping is done, spray paint the petals on both sides using a paint and primer combination spray can, allowing to dry between each layer.

6.  Add additional decorative designs on the area that would be the flower center using multi purpose acrylic paint and a brush and let dry. 


7.  To secure the petals to the base of the solar light globe, add DAP RapidFuse to the petal edge. The directions said this glue is better than super glue (which I know it is since I use it all the time in craft projects) but in this instance, it didn't adhere after 30 seconds or even a minute. So I decided to use hot glue to help it along. BIG MISTAKE - unless you wear a mask and do this outside. Immediately after applying hot glue to the RapidFuse, a puff of smoke shot up - wow, it didn't like the combination. Luckily, I was working right beside my open sliding door. I quickly pressed the metals together and went outside. Once the metals stuck - after a few seconds - I drank lots of water in hopes of flushing whatever that was, out. I didn't feel anything different and there was no lingering fumes that I could smell. However, I did go to the DAP website on hazards and the first thing mentioned was not to use with a heat source and to get fresh air if mixed with heat (which I did).

For the other petals, I  taped the two pieces together using painter's tape until the two areas bonded using RapidFuse.

8.  Continue gluing on each petal, one at a time, using painter's tape to hold together until secure. 



I had intended to add another layer of petals to the solar light, but it's  been very windy and rainy for a few days and time ran out for making more petals and posting this for the challenge. 
A finished four petal garden flower solar light.
Right now, the garden flower light looks pretty among the phlox and azaleas! But hasn't been outside long enough for the sun to power the cells to see how it looks at night.

Welcome to our monthly DIY Challenge hosted by Terrie @Decorate and More with Tip! On the first Wednesday of the month, Terrie hosts a DIY Challenge with a group of talented bloggers who love to create budget friendly décor for their homes. For the month of May we were tasked with a Solar Light Challenge

 Next up is Tammy @Patina and Paint sharing how to make a solar lantern! 
To see more solar lights ideas click on the blog titles below to check out their awesome solar light creations!

 

                                         
DECORATEANDMOREWITHTIP                    PURPLEHUESANDME

                                        
 PATINAANDPAINT                                        THEHOUSEHOUSE
 

                                          
PAULASHANDMADESPACE                                         B4ANDAFTERS

                                        
SWEETSOUTHERNGRACE                                 KSOLYMPICNEST

12 comments:

  1. Gail this looks amazing and so pretty in your flowers. I like the 4 petals but I am sure with more it would be that more beautiful. Great job creating a cute decorations for your garden to enjoy this season!

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  2. Gail this is so cute! I love anything that has colored glass. I collect glass solar sculptures for my garden and this would fit right in! Thanks so much for sharing. I'm definitely going to give this one a try!

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  3. Wow, Gail! At first glance I thought the metal petal was a garden ornament you had purchased and then added the solar globe. Never would have guessed it was hand made. Great tip on the glue btw. Will not be doing that...ever! Glad you were able to quickly expose yourself to outdoor air.

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  4. This is so cute! I will be looking for a solar globe. I have metal that I think will work. Thanks for sharing!

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  5. Your light turned out so beautiful! I love the color!!

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  6. Oh wow! This came out so cute. I love the petals and how it looks perfect in your garden.

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  7. I love how your solar flower matches the phlox! I bet it would look pretty with more petals--- but wow it looks like a lot of work to make them. I've pinned to my Creative Solar Lights board!

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  8. Que bonita y deslumbrante idea amiga¡¡

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