It’s time for our Dollar Store Design Squad challenge. I made a moss basket solar light out of a $1 moss basket and some clearance prisms from the craft store!
You will definitely want to check out my friends’ projects at the end of this post.
Here are the items I used to start my hanging solar light. The prisms are marked $5, but I got a much better deal than that on sale or clearance last year.
Materials needed to make a wire basket solar light
- Wire Moss Basket
- Glass Prisms
- Solar Light
- Spray Paint
- Glue Gun
Remove chain from basket
I removed the chain from the basket—this is so easy to do because of the small clips that hold the chain on.
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Reattach the chain clips onto the sides of the wire basket.
Hang glass prisms onto wire basket
I began by tying three glass prisms evenly spaced around the wire basket. You can find lots of hanging glass prisms on Amazon
Adding more prisms one at a time until I feel like there is a good balance of shimmer!
Trim extra line from prisms
The prisms hang from something similar to fishing line material. After tying several knots, I snipped off the excess line with my scissors.
Hot glue assures knots stay in place
I got this awesome cordless glue gun at a conference from Arrow. It was so perfect for this basket solar light project since I was working on it outside as it hung from a tree. I put a bead of hot glue on all the knots, securing them.
This little dab of hot glue will keep the prisms from sliding around on the wire basket solar light.
Paint solar light
Using blue painter’s tape to protect the photo cell, I spray painted a solar light I already had. I wanted it to be black so it would match the hanging wire basket.
I prefer to spray a couple of light coats for the best coverage.
Hot Glue Prism to Solar Light
I used one more glass prism for the bottom of the solar light. There was a hole in the base of the light. I simply threaded the line through it and added a dab of hot glue on the inside and the outside for good measure.
Don’t you love the way the glass prisms of the moss basket solar light catch the colors from the yard? I can’t wait to hang this in my backyard camper retreat.
Be sure to check the awesome project below from my friend Debbie!
Dollar Tree Rae Dunn Inspired Scroll DIY
What is your must have purchase at the Dollar Store?
gail
see more Dollar Store Ideas Here
Hanging from a tree? Does the solar get enough sun to work?
Yes!
The newer solar lights don’t need near as much sunshine as they used to.
gail
Gail, that is so clever and elegant! I was imagining spray-ainting the basket white as well as the solar light, hanging the crystals and using it in the large, east-acing bay window as a night light. Where did you get the hanging basket? You said at the dollar store, but was it DollarTree?
Naomi,
Thanks for your sweet comment! Yes, the Dollar Tree is where I got the moss hanging basket. I would love to see your project when it’s done!
gail
Love it Gail! I really need to make some for my outdoor area. Pinning for later!
Hi Gail, this is so cute. I have to get a cordless glue gun. The fishing line, here in the heat, will become brittle in about 2 weeks. I would use thin wire. Nothing fancy either because it will need regular repairs. Have you tried covering the solar square with clear nail polish? I don’t remember where I read that. Probably from you. It has made my lights last from a season to a year. Otherwise they get really cloudy and don’t charge..