Easy Dollar Tree DIY Solar Lantern with Video

ByChas

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Are you ready to make a DIY solar lantern? I ran to Dollar Tree, grabbed a few items, and made a couple of different solar lights.

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I love solar lights and I love to upcycle items. You’ll find a ton of more solar light creations at the bottom. Let’s get started with this DIY project

DIY Solar Lantern Materials

DIY Solar Lantern Materials

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DIY Solar Lantern Video

For this project, you could use the adhesive of your choice. I'm using hot glue, but where you place this item will determine what kind of adhesive you should use. I start by adding a little bit of hot glue to the back of each of the dollar store rocks and placing them on the glass vase. I am starting at the top of the vase and working my down. You can place the rocks in a pattern or just adhere them randomly. Here's a quick look at the finished vase and I'm thrilled with how it turned out.

DIY Solar Lantern Tutorial

1. Glue the rocks to the vase

For this project, you could use the adhesive of your choice. I’m using hot glue, but where you place this item will determine what kind of adhesive you should use. I start by adding a little bit of hot glue to the back of each of the dollar store rocks and placing them on the glass vase. I am starting at the top of the vase and working my down. You can place the rocks in a pattern or just adhere them randomly.

Here's a quick look at the finished vase and I'm thrilled with how it turned out. Now we're ready to move on to the next step.

Here’s a quick look at the finished vase and I’m thrilled with how it turned out. Now we’re ready to move on to the next step.

I'm grabbing a couple of handfuls of the dollar store rocks and placing them into the bottom of the vase.

2. Place some rocks inside the vase

I’m grabbing a couple of handfuls of the dollar store rocks and placing them into the bottom of the vase.

I've got a dollar store solar light and I have separated it from the base. I'm placing that in the vase and pushing it down into the rocks so that it stands upright.

3. REmove the solar light base and push into the rocks in the vase to make the solar light lantern

I’ve got a dollar store solar light and I have separated it from the base. I’m placing that in the vase and pushing it down into the rocks so that it stands upright.

Next, I will take the dollar store bucket and turn it upside down. I am placing the vase on top of the overturned bucket and I will glue it into place to make sure it is secure.

4. Glue the vase to the upside bucket

Next, I will take the dollar store bucket and turn it upside down. I am placing the vase on top of the overturned bucket and I will glue it into place to make sure it is secure.

I will be using the faux flowers for the next step. I'm going to remove a couple of the flowers and leaves from the stems. I cut a piece of burlap ribbon and laid it flat. I added a dab of hot glue to the leaves and placed them on the ribbon then did the same with the flowers.

5. Make a ribbon accent to wrap on the DIY Solar Lantern

I will be using the faux flowers for the next step. I’m going to remove a couple of the flowers and leaves from the stems. I cut a piece of burlap ribbon and laid it flat. I added a dab of hot glue to the leaves and placed them on the ribbon then did the same with the flowers.

I will wrap the ribbon around where the vase and the bucket come together then hot glue that into place, holding it until it cools.

6. Glue the ribbon to the DIY Solar Lantern

I will wrap the ribbon around where the vase and the bucket come together then hot glue that into place, holding it until it cools.

I have a second vase so I will make another lantern. I will leave this vase clear but I'm going to take a couple of handfuls of the dollar store rocks and place those inside.

DIY Solar Lantern: 2nd option

1. Fill the vase with rocks

I have a second vase so I will make another lantern. I will leave this vase clear but I’m going to take a couple of handfuls of the dollar store rocks and place those inside.

Just like before I'm going to place the solar light down into the vase and then push it into the rocks so it stands up.

2. Add the solar light

Just like before I’m going to place the solar light down into the vase and then push it into the rocks so it stands up.

I'm going to place the clear vase onto another upturned bucket and hot glue that into place as well.

3. Glue the Vase to the upside down bucket

I’m going to place the clear vase onto another upturned bucket and hot glue that into place as well.

I'm going to take the ribbon just like before and wrap it around the vase and the bucket and hot glue that into place.

4. Add the ribbon embellishment

I’m going to take the ribbon just like before and wrap it around the vase and the bucket and hot glue that into place.

Are you ready to make a DIY solar lantern? I ran to Dollar Tree, grabbed a few items, and made a couple of different solar lights.
Are you ready to make a DIY solar lantern? I ran to Dollar Tree, grabbed a few items, and made a couple of different solar lights.

Here are both of my completed DIY solar lanterns. Which one do you like best, the one with the rocks or the clear one? Let me know in the comments. I’m gearing up for spring here in Colorado but we always end up with snow and warmth in the months of March and April.

Are you ready to make a DIY solar lantern? I ran to Dollar Tree, grabbed a few items, and made a couple of different solar lights.
Are you ready to make a DIY solar lantern? I ran to Dollar Tree, grabbed a few items, and made a couple of different solar lights.

DIY Solar Lantern Video

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DIY Solar Lantern Q&A Section

What are other solar light ideas?

Remove the lids from mason jars and add a solar lid with fairy lights to each of them for a beautiful firefly or fairies effect
Use clay pots and a solar path light and make a jack-o-lantern during Halloween to light the pathway
Make a DIY solar light chandelier
Add solar candles to your lanterns
Make solar lamps to put around your seating area
Save your tin cans and make solar lanterns
Make a lighthouse

Where should I put solar lights?

on your patio
pathway lights
add a solar light bulb to light fixture
above your house number ( or purchase a solar address sign)
the top of fence poles
on your deck

It is best to keep your solar lights so they get plenty of sunlight. The more sunlight they get the longer they’ll run.

Do you want a DIY solar light post? With just a few inexpensive materials you can make your own and save tons of money!
Do you want to make a DIY mushroom for your yard or garden? Look no further! With just a few items from the dollar store, you can create one that glows.
I let it dry for 24 hours and now it sits on a table on my front porch. This is just one way to use solar lights outside.
Many people know I love thift stores and solar lights. Put them together and I can create some great things for my yard. Do you have an old chandelier you don't know what to do with? I picked up a few from thrift stores, Facebook Marketplace, and Nextdoor.com, and I'm turning them into solar chandeliers.
There are lots of possibilities for how you can add a light to the top of your flower pot lighthouse. If it’s going outside a solar light is a perfect fit for this project.
I bought some candle holders from a thrift store, blue mason jars from a garage sale, and put them together with some solar lights to create a beautiful light up sidewalk for my home.
Here's a look at them lit up in the evening.
I let it dry completely and love how it turned out.
Terra Cotta Pumpkin Solar Lights - I use these to light up my walkway during Halloween. You can find the tutorial here - Flower Pot To Solar Pumpkin
I found this candelabra at a thrift store and with some paint, silicone, and solar lights I changed it into a solarabra.
Add a candle, led light, or solar light.
Here's the solar light lit up on my back patio.

More Solar Light Projects

Are you ready to make a DIY solar lantern? I ran to Dollar Tree, grabbed a few items, and made a couple of different solar lights.

I hope this inspires you to create some of these fun DIY solar lanterns of your own. I’d love it if you’d subscribe to my YouTube channel and my blog at chascrazycreations.com. Thanks for watching and I’ll see you in my next video. Don’t forget to like, share and subscribe.

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My website is about what I repurpose, upcycle, organize, clean, and hack today. I love to teach, craft, organize, inspire, help, collaborate, and build a community!

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2 Comments

  1. Hi, Chas! I’m kinda partial to the one covered in the jewels! But, because I’m sorta on the lazy side, I’d probably do the clear one!! Lol!! Just being honest here! Love following you and your great ideas for being on a budget and still getting great looks! Thanks so much for sharing…

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much for sharing, and I appreciate your honesty. I can totally relate.

      Reply

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