Making a beautiful scene using a wooden clock shell with solar lite

This is the clock shell I will be using.  You could use any clock shell for this project.

To cover the hole in the back wall of the case you need a piece of hard cardboard, this piece I’m using I got off a cardboard placemat.

This is a picture of the circle I cut out to fit the hole in the back of the shell.

I needed to bring the inside bottom up so I used a Styrofoam material to bring it up.

The last piece of Styrofoam I cut, I glued on a piece of indoor/outdoor grass looking carpeting.

This is what it looks like on top of the Styrofoam.

For two of the items that I will be gluing down on the inside, I used a disco looking Christmas ball and the base of this cheap candle stick.

I glued the ball on top of the candlestick base.  I need to make two of these.

I will also be using this angel figurine.

Here I'm showing you the two pictures I got off the internet that I will be using.  The background picture which is a stairway to heaven and a saying I typed out, "Angels here on earth". I glued them down with tacky glue.

I painted the inside of the clock shell the same blue I painted one side of the cardboard circle I cut out from the cardboard earlier. Now I am gluing this piece into the back hole opening.

In this picture I glued in the two disco ornaments that I made earlier and the angel figurine.  I also glued in some small fake flowers.  You will also see some lace trim I glued around the opening.  The crown on the top was a piece I cut out of a playing card.

I had this very small piece of decorative trim lying around and I thought this is the perfect time to use it.

In this picture I did some detail painting using metallic gold paint from folk art collection.  I also glued on the trim and added some jewels to the bottom.

This is what the back of the clock shell looks like.  You can see the picture part of the cardboard I made so you can see it in the back, the other side has the picture of the stairway to heaven glued down onto it.  I drilled a hole in this circle for a solar light cap.  You will see what it looks like on the inside. As you can see on the clock case box it used to be a clock.  When I bought this at a garage sale it was just the case no clock was in it so I got it cheap.

Here is the solar light I’m using.  I bought it from Walmart, they sell single solar lights and it costed me 97 cents.

This is what it looked like lit up.

I used a piece I got from something I took apart, I put it around the solar light on the inside of the clock case.

Now this is what it looks like.

This is what the back looks like with the solar light.  Use your imagination and it will soar!

Making a solar tv for dollhouse from vintage coaster holder

This is a vintage coaster holder. You can use any coaster cabinet for the tv. 

This is what the inside looks like with the doors open.

This is plastic I got from a throw away container, I like to use these for a lot of my projects.

You need to cut a piece of the plastic to fit the size of the opening. Remember you need to have the doors to be able to close.

You will also need two pieces of wood.  They will be on the front plastic area. You will see in the pictures.

I had this picture which was part of a card that had a kitty on it. It's made of transparent plastic so I had to also cut a piece of paper for in back of the picture. So you need a piece of the plastic, a piece of white paper and the picture.  They all need to be the same size.

First is the plastic piece from container, on top of that you glue down the piece of white paper and then the kitty. In another blog I show you how to make a solar tv out of a picture you would download off the computer, you can check that one out also.  Let’s get back to this one.

Now you need to glue the two pieces of wood on the piece you just put together, you can see this in the photo.

Next, go on the internet to find images. Print out a picture of a tv panel, you will be using this next.

On the one piece of wood, you will be cutting the tv panel out of the printout and gluing it to the wide piece of wood.  On the thinner piece of wood, cut out a piece of the brown area on the picture and glue it down using tacky glue.

On the panel I cut a piece of wood dowel making a circle that could make the dial 3D, I covered it with aluminum foil or you can paint it silver I then glued it over the picture of the tv knob.  The line on top of the knob is a piece of a round toothpick which I also glued down and drew a black mark on it.  I then glued this whole piece to the inside of the coaster holder as you can see in the photo.  To make it easier what I do with my projects is put tacky glue in different areas of the piece and then putting dots of hot glue in the areas that don’t have tacky glue on it.  The tacky glue keeps the piece in its spot while the glue is setting.

Here’s what it looks like with the doors shut.  Next is the solar light getting installed to light it up.

In the back of the cabinet you need to drill a hole the size of the LED on the solar light so it can slide right in and be held into place.  If the solar light keeps sliding out use some black electrical tape to make it tighter.

In Walmart and the dollar tree you can buy cheap single solar lights. All you need is the top part of the light, with the solar cell and the LED.  But remember don’t throw out the other piece you need to recharge the solar panel for it to light up.

After putting the solar light into the hole in the back, this is what it looks like with the doors opened.

This is what it looks like with the doors shut. Use your imagination put in any picture maybe use a picture of a family member etc.. Use your imagination and it will soar!

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 night light with a solar light

Here's what the solar lights look like, I use a lot of them. Your can purchase them at Walmart for 97 cents each.  We will be using the black cap part that's where the solar panel and light is.

I got this beautiful ornament from a flea market really cheap. Why was it cheap you might ask? Because it had no LED in the candle.

You can see in this photo it was a Hallmark ornament, well time to light it up.

Here's the part of the solar light we are using. See how it lights right up when the panel is in darkness?

If you look on the bottom you will see how I just put the solar piece right into the hole on the bottom. Instant light! Just make sure that you keep the rest of the solar light stick so you can recharge the light in the sun, then when you want the ornament to light up put the black cap back in the ornament.  There are so many ornaments that you can light up with a solar light.  Think of how many times you are having a party in a hall and are looking for a unique centerpiece something that hasn't been done before.  If the solar light is charged in the sunlight all say it will stay lit for your party all night.  Use your imagination and it will soar!