Making a quilters themed solar light using a bubble gum machine

I love these bubblegum machines they make great displays for that special item in your garden or house.  Today I’m going to make a quilters display for the garden using this bubblegum machine. First, you need to take out all the pieces on the inside (this bubblegum machine didn’t work).

I had my son cut off the metal nub on the inside of the lid with his Dremel.  You need to do this for the solar light, so the light shines into the display instead of concentrating light in one spot.

After taking out all the pieces, this is what it looks like on the inside.

Next I used a Styrofoam sheet to make a floor for the inside.  I had to cut two pieces which I glued together.

I needed to cut a hard piece of cardboard to use for the floor on top of the Styrofoam. I used a piece from a checker board. It was bought at a garage sale for cheap (missing pieces).

I then glued a piece of material to glue on top of the cardboard to give it a finished look. Next I glued the whole thing down onto the Styrofoam.  Finally I glued down the plastic sealer that came with the bubblegum machine.  It holds the glass dome in place.

First, picked out the items I wanted in the glass dome.  I ended up picking out two quilters sitting at a table, a dog and two little candlesticks. Which were made from two buttons for the base, two blue beads and two pieces of stiff white wire material for the wicks.  I glued these all together to make the candles.  Remember a lot of times quilters work till all hours of the night they need candles.

I made sure I hot glued down all the different items I used for the theme.  Then I hot glued down the globe to the top and the red cap. Now, for the light.

In Walmart they sell 97 cent solar lights and all you need is this piece off the top. This is where the LED is and the solar panel.  Make sure you put a little hot glue to hold it down into place.

This is what it looks like lit up.  These type of lights are unique and look beautiful in a garden, and best of all no electric bill! Use your imagination and it will soar!

Making a beautiful display for your dollhouse

You will need a candlestick holder, you can see the one I used.

You also need one of these plastic containers from a bubblegum machine.

I used two small elephants for this project.

You also need felt.

I also used pieces of fake greenery.

Also a cap from your laundry detergent.

I use tacky glue for some things in this project.

I also use E6000.

I first took the laundry detergent cap and glued down a piece of green felt on it with tacky glue.

Then I used hot glue to glue down the piece of greenery.

Then I glued down the statue I wanted to use. I’m using an elephant charm.

Then using e6000 I glue the cap into the top bubblegum cap.

Then I glue the bubble gum holder back together again.

Then it gets glued down onto the candlestick holder.  You can use any item you want to, use your imagination and it will soar!

Using a coin holder for a picture frame for a dollhouse

This is the coin holder you would need to use.

This is what it looks like when you open it up.  Now you are going to add a beautiful picture to the inside, make sure the picture is the same size as the cardboard coin holder that is in the case.

I like to look through magazines for a nice picture.

These are the pictures that I chose for the dollhouse.  I also painted around the edges of the holder to make it look like a frame.

Wedding Solar Lamp

Here's another new project.  As you can see in the picture this is an old outside fixture with rounded glass inserts.  This is one of the fixtures I will be using.

 

 

Here is the other item I will be using, an old brass lamp.



After I took apart the old brass lamp these are the parts that I have to work with.  I took out all the electric from the lamp.

 





 

 

This is the long bar which you find inside of lamps when you take them apart, it holds the parts of the lamp together.  These are the bars I reuse to put different parts together, they have threads on both ends with bolts.



As you can see in the picture I've added a couple of new items which I will be using.  A globe from a light fixture, two pieces located in the front from other light fixtures that I kept from past projects.  Also you will see on the end the old light fixture without the glass, which I took out to clean up.  The brass lamp was put together a little differently with the bar, to the way I wanted it and bolted into place on both ends.







These are the two pieces from other fixtures that I am using with this project.

After hot gluing them both together this is what they look like installed on top of the lamp.

Here is another view of what they look like on top of the lamp.

I've been waiting along time to use this decorative piece for one of my projects.  As you can seen it is an egg with a bride and groom on the inside which is decorated beautifully.  I love this piece.

As you can see I hot glued this item on top of the two pieces that I already installed on top of the lamp.  It makes a great looking stand.

I then put the glass pieces back into the old light fixture and put it on top of the lamp, you would think they both were together to start with they matched up perfectly!  I also added some fake white beads.  The bride and groom are now inside a glass in dome.

This is what the project looked like at the end.  I installed the other light fixture on top of the glass dome with hot glue, I love hot glue.  I also added some fake white beads as you can see in the photo.  I topped it off with a top off a solar light, at night it lights up the glass fixture.  Just remember you need to let the solar light get the rays from the sunlight so it can light at night.   This piece would be great for someone that just got married, or if your having a bridal shower and need a center piece for the bride and grooms table.  Or even an anniversary that you just don't know what to give them.  I hope you enjoyed this one!!

Paris themed solar light display

This post will include a list of necessary items to complete the project, as well as a step by step instructional on how to construct this wonderful solar powered display unit. (Photos included)


This project includes the following items-

1. An old lamp base
2. Top part of an old lamp fixture
3. Solar light top
4. Mirror disk from Michaels Craft supply store
5. A Paris themed snow globe (Small)
6. Black Spray Paint

This is the old lamp base as well as the top part of a light fixture.

This piece was spray painted black (NOT THE GLASS) to give it more of a rustic feeling.

This mirror disk bought from Michaels is what we are going to be inserting through the top of the old lamp unit to create a reflection of light when the solar light is installed.

This piece is the top of a solar light purchased from WalMart. This piece was also spray painted black in order to match the lamp fixture. (Solar light top must fit the top, and cover the hole on the top of the lamp fixture)

After installing the disk mirror (From Michaels) this is what it should look like from the top. This piece is also going to be hot glued to the bottom of the light fixture inside of the glass display. As you can see it is a mirror which will increase the amount of light that will be given off by the solar light we are going to be installing next.

This is a Snow Globe bought from a garage sale. It will be shortly installed on top of the mirrored disk with hot glue.

After installing the Paris themed globe, it should resemble something like this.

Next you are going to install the solar light top inside of the hole on the top of the light fixture. NOTE: DO NOT glue the solar light on the light fixture, as the batteries inside of the light may need replacing after a period of time.

Once the project is complete, when it get dark; it should light up, and give off extra light due to the mirror plate. Which will also light up the Paris themed snow globe inside of the light fixture, which will enhance the ability to see the Eiffel tower.

NOTE: Any snow globe or small figure can be installed in place of the snow globe.

 

This project is perfect for anyone that wants to light up their yard at night, a walk path, or to be displayed inside as decorative piece inside your home. Also can be used as a night light for a child. However you do need to make sure that the solar light top get enough light to charge through the day so it can function properly at night.

 

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New projects, tutorials, finished crafts will be posted often.