Many people associate LED lights with Christmas or other festive occasions, but you can place them in a bottle and use them for any occasion where you need some shining light. They are a winner next to a pathway or a staircase. I made a note in my diary once: ‘In my empty bottle I was constructing a lighthouse.’
Recycled items
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empty brown glass bottles (as many as you need)
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battery-operated fairy lights that will fit through a 6-mm hole (10 small white LEDs with a clear cable)
You will also need:
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permanent marker
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assistant or workbench
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hand-held drill fitted with 6 mm tile bit
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safety goggles
Method
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Wash the bottles and remove any labels. Dry thoroughly.
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Mark an area in the side but near the base of each bottle with a permanent marker. Ask your assistant to hold the bottle firmly in a horizontal position, or secure the bottle in a vice on a workbench.
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Carefully drill a hole through the marked spot; this should take about 10 minutes. Do not force the bit through the glass — allow the drill to do the work. Thereafter, rinse the bottle again and leave it to dry completely.
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Make sure that the lights can go through the hole; if not, you need a bigger hole or smaller lights. Feed the lights one by one into the bottle through the hole, leaving only the battery outside the bottle.
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Two AA batteries should give you enough power for between 30 to 50 hours of illumination.
Caution: Always wear safety goggles while drilling through glass or ceramic tile.
Caution: Always wear safety goggles while drilling through glass or a ceramic tile.