You know how much I enjoy making the glass garden sculptures, and lately I’ve seen some here and there at art fairs that have solar lights in them. I loved that idea, so I wanted to try some of my own.I took a bunch of gold glass I’ve been collecting from the usual sources (rummages, estate sales, and Goodwill).
I had some old solar lights from the yard that we weren’t really using. They were just jammed in the garden and not doing much. I took them off their poles and decided to use them here.
I put some glue around the edge of a small glass, and placed the solar light inside. You want to use a glass that will allow the light to fit tightly inside.
Then, start the sculpture as usual. Glue each piece one by one as you build your sculpture.
At the top, glue on the glass and solar light.
At this point, I sat back and looked at the other glass I had, and knew I wanted to make another one so I could use both solar lights. While I sat back, my writing (and sculpting) partner Genevieve wondered if she could have a treat.
Of course, I couldn’t deny her.
But back to work! I had this really old (and very heavy) ashtray that I got at a rummage for 10 cents. No one seems to use ashtrays anymore, but I remember my relatives all having a few ashtrays like this back in the day because let’s face it, everyone seemed to smoke back then. I’ll bet at the time no one could imagine that those glass ashtrays would be part of a garden sculpture years later. Ain’t upcycling awesome?
I flipped the ashtray over to use it as the base.
Then I built up the pieces from there. Same routine as the other sculpture. When I was finished, I added the glass and solar light to the top.
I was a bit worried that the glass might be too dark for the light to show through, but it wasn’t at all. In fact, it seemed brighter in the gold glass than it did in its previous incarnation as a plain solar light. I took a picture of it as it started to get dark, but it’s still hard to see. Trust me though, when the sun went down, it was very bright. They actually looked really cool. I’m going to move these to the garden now.
[easyazon_image align=”right” height=”160″ identifier=”B00UTLAW62″ locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”https://cherieburbach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/51EI0bosKoL.SL160.jpg” tag=”wwwthediffere-20″ width=”100″]This project is featured in my book, [easyazon_link identifier=”B00UTLAW62″ locale=”US” tag=”wwwthediffere-20″]Glass Sculptures: How to Make Beautiful Sculptures for the Garden Using Vases, Bowls, and Other Glass Pieces[/easyazon_link].
Cyndi L says
Cherie, you are such a riot! Is there no colored glass that is safe from you? 🙂
Cherie says
LOL! Hide the glass! I might start gluing our drinking glasses together next! You never know!
Eileen says
Solar light – what a brilliant idea!
Depression glass is so pretty, especially when you have light reflecting off it.
Cherie says
Thanks, Eileen! I wish I could capture it in a better picture, but the glass is so pretty at night.
Peggy Williams says
Hi Cherie.
Great post! I’ve enjoyed your site so I’ve nominated you for the Illuminating Blogger Award for informative, illuminating, blog content. It’s a pay-it-forward sort of blogger to blogger award. If you’re interested, you can check out the details at the award’s site: http://foodstoriesblog.com/illuminating-blogger-award/ You can also read what I said about your site and why I nominated you on my blog at http://madcitywriter.blogspot.com/2012/06/musings-receives-illuminating-blogger.html Hope you’re having a great day! -Peggy
Tammy says
What a great idea! Depression glass is so inexpensive too.
Cherie says
Yeah, I’m finding it everywhere very cheaply. Otherwise, these would be too expensive to make I think.
Kim says
Oh my gosh- brilliant!!! This is officially on my to-do list! I bet they are so pretty in real life- thank you for the idea Cherie!!
Cherie says
You’re welcome~! I hope you make some too!
Kim says
I was so excited I forgot to tell you Genevieve is sooo adorable and please give her some ear scratches from me ♥
Cherie says
Done! LOL – She said to tell you that she’s very happy you made the suggestion. 🙂
Becky Pancake says
Beautiful Cherie
GeekGirl says
Thanks, Becky!