Instructions:

1. Start with a normal lightbulb - bonus points for recycling burnt-out bulbs! They can be coated or clear but no fluorescent bulbs.

2. You will be dealing with a lot of broken glass, so gloves and protective eyewear is highly recommended. Other than that you’ll need a pair of needle-nose pliers and some 10mm self-adhesive vinyl tabs which should be available at any hardware store.

3. Start by using your needle-nose pliers to peel off the metallic disk at the end of your light bulb.

4. The black underneath this disk is glass, which needs to be broken in order to create an opening. 

5. This can be broken in a variety of ways, we were most effective by sticking the end of the needle-nose pliers in the small hole in the end and grinding away until you can get a significant opening. Other techniques are knocking the end (very carefully) with a hammer or against the table, making sure not to break the bulb.

6. Once you break through the black glass, you will find a second layer of clear glass holding the filament of the light bulb. We found the easiest way to get through this layer was again with the pointed end of our needle-nose pliers. Warning: we broke one bulb at this stage, so be very careful.

7. Scrape away shards of glass around the opening.

8. The coating on the inside of a light bulb is generally a powder, which comes off rather easily. We swirled around water with a bit of salt mixed in to create a bit of a abrasive texture. 

9. Finish up by cleaning the remaining powder with a paper towel - you should have a see-through light bulb by this point.

10. Stick on vinyl pads to a dried off bulb in a triangle formation. 

11. This is best done by trial and error, just move them around until you get an upright position.  

12. Voila - find some beautiful flowers and enjoy your new vase!

If you have any questions shoot us an e-mail at sarah@blissboutique.ca 

• Tags
• DIY
• lightbulb diy