Solar + Mod Podge = AMAZING

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY:

When it's June in the Midwest you can only bet that we are outside -- whether it be work, play or relaxation -- you can find us soaking up the sun in the great outdoors.  And since we are spending so much time outside now -- we thought we should definitely invest in some solar lights for the front yard patio.  Have you shopped for these lately?!?  They are like $8.00 - $10.00 per light -- seriously!!  I have been browsing them for months now trying to find a good deal...but no luck so far.  So of course I turned to my trusty blogger friends for some ideas and inspiration......enter these two lovely ladies:

They both had WONDERFUL projects -- and I totally "borrowed" their fabulous ideas and created something new.  So go visit their blogs too and check out their projects:

Heather over at Our Life in a Click did some incredible solar light jars -- for only $6.00!

And at Pam's blog, Gingerbread & Snowflakes  she has a great tutorial on how to "tint" glass! Visit her tutorial -- it's awesome.  (I mentioned this last week on my PB knockoff table lamp).





Okay, are you ready for the project!?!

I picked up a box of wide mouth Mason jars (12 jars for $7.82).

And I already had my food coloring-Mod Podge technique down from  my last project like this.  But just for some additional instructions (you get better each time you do it!) -- here's how I did it:

Pour about a 1/4 cup of  Outdoor Mod Podge onto a plastic plate and add 5 - 7 drops (depending on how light or dark you want your color) of food coloring.  I used McCormick's Neon Food Coloring (except the yellow - which is from a plain old box of food coloring).  BTW - this was MORE than enough of the mixture to cover three glass jars.

Mix it together with a paint brush until it's completely blended.

Then paint it on!

Let it sit for a minute or two.

Take a paper towel and crumple it up.  Dip it into the Mod Podge mixture and stipple the jar until you get the desired look.

 
If anyone else is a "messy crafter" like I am -- here's a tip:  I took an old Crystal Light container and put the jar on top of it.  That way I could hold the end of the container while I kept my hands free and clear of the Mod Podge mixture that was being slathered on my jars.

And don't be frightened if your jars look like this initially:

 Hello Electric Green!  They do mellow out as they dry to look more like this:

Now that the jars are done -- time to add some light!

I picked up these little solar lights at Menards for $2.00 a piece (still wish I would have bought more!)

Then I took the post and clear plastic off -- leaving just the solar top and light.

These lights sit perfectly in the tops of the jars -- they are pretty snug, but hold the light up:

Next step is to wrap some wire around the lip of the jar to hang them from a hook.  I'm thinking you might able to use some sort of twine too?  Just a thought.

I wrapped my wire around a few times and hooked them around each other so that each side had an end of the wire.  Then I twirled them together in the middle to make a handle.  (Make sure your wire is wrapped really tight around the glass).

The last step is to hang them on a hook.  I searched high and low for some sort of shepherd's hook that didn't cost an arm and a leg.  I found these online, but I'm a "results-now" kind of girl -- so I didn't want to wait for them to shipped.    I did happen upon these 18" plant prop rods at Home Depot though.  And for $.74 a pop -- I took twelve!

Simply hook the wire around the loop and you're ready for some night-time light  from your colored jars!

Aren't they cute?  I'm in love with these!  But what's even better is the price:

MATERIALS:

12 pack of wide mouth jars:  $7.82

12 solar lights at $2.00 each:  $24.00

Wire:  Had

Mod Podge:  Had

Food Coloring:  Had

12 Plant Prop Rods at $.74 each:  $8.88

GRAND TOTAL:  $40.70 which means just $3.39 PER LIGHT

Not bad!

And how 'bout a peak at night?

(luckily my talented hubby knows how to take better pictures at night than I do!)

And today I'm linking up to these fun parties!

UPDATE:

 So I have gotten an enormous amount of emails from all the lovely bloggers out in the blogosphere who have had some questions about the Mod Podge Solar Lights -- and I wanted to post a little update to my instructions.

1.  What kind of jars did you use?

I used Ball Pint Sized Wide Mouth Canning Jars:

 I found mine at Menards for $7.00ish -- but if anyone lives by a Fleet Farm, I would try there too. 

2.  What kind of solar lights did you use?

This is kind of hard -- I bought these lights from Menards.  BUT - you don't have to do EXACTLY as I did -- you could use a bigger light and have it sitting on top of the jar -- just leave the plastic case thing on the light so it helps the light stay the jar:

3.  Where do you get outdoor Mod Podge?  

If YOU find out - let me know!  It's something you may have to order online -- I couldn't find it in any stores.  I know Joanne's website has it, but their store didn't.  So -- check around online -- you can probably get it cheaper than in the store too.  Oh - and sadly there are no Hobby Lobby's around me -- but I'm sure they have it.

Feel free to comment or email with any other questions -- I'll do my best to answer -- but I'm no expert!!

If anyone makes these lights -- let me know -- I'd love to show them off on here!