I love outdoor lighting. Solar lights. String lights. Tiki torches. Even campfires and fireworks if those count! There’s just something magical about it. I like the intimate vibe it adds to exterior spaces.

My in-laws just purchased a camper and have enjoyed a summer full of adventures. I wanted to make my mother-in-law something for their camper/campsite for her birthday. She also enjoys outdoor lights, so I thought a colorful LED camping light to set outside their camper would be a great gift!

Here’s what you need to make your very own:

• 2 Color Changing LED Puck Lights with Remote Control
• 2 Adhesive Strips (if your lights don’t come with these)
• Batteries (if your lights don’t come with these)
• 1 Clear Plastic Container with Lid (a container that is frosted or has a texture that will manipulate the light will work best; item linked is similar to what I bought - Menards has these in-store for much cheaper)

​Making this light is super easy and inexpensive. First, get your lights ready. The ones I purchased came with batteries and two large, double sided adhesive dots. Insert the batteries and stick an adhesive strip to the bottom of each light. Remove the lid of your container and secure the lights to the bottom.

​Test your remote to make sure everything works! Try turning the lights on and off, changing colors, and changing themes. I ended up making two camping lights and the great thing about the puck lights I used was that one remote could control all four lights, even though each set of two came with their own remote. 

​Once you have the lights in place and you know they work, place the lid back on the container. You’re done! It’s time to enjoy. These would be perfect for camping, outdoor décor at home, and even indoor décor if you want to add lighting to a small nook or vignette. 

From the moment I bought an old baby crib last year at an estate sale, I’ve been dreaming about the light fixture I’d make out of the mattress spring frame.

I used the sides of the crib right away as a cucumber trellis, I’ve now got the mattress spring frame hung, and still have a couple of pieces left to use for some home décor signs. One item, three different types of projects! Always consider the possibilities for what may appear to be “junk.”

Here’s what you need for this project:

• Baby Crib Mattress Spring Frame
• Sanding Block
• Spray Paint
• Swag Lighting Ceiling Hooks
• Strong Wire (20 gauge) or Small Link Decorative Chain
• Edison Bulb Multi Light Pendant
  
  • Click Here for the one I purchased
    

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First, I sanded down any bubbling rust spots and other imperfections on the mattress spring frame. I then wiped it down with a wet cloth and let it air dry. Once it was dry, I spray painted two coats over the entire frame. I didn’t hang the frame for a few days after I painted it, so it had more than enough time to dry.

While I thought through the ideas I had for the full light fixture, I installed the light pendant. Unfortunately, the existing light fixture was placed in a poor spot that is very off center in the dining room, but this light fixture idea ended up working out well for where it was placed.

Once I had a final plan in mind for where and how I’d hang the mattress frame, I measured out and marked where the swag light ceiling hooks would go. I determined where the marks would go by measuring the frame corner to corner. I didn’t have fancy tools like a laser level to guide me, so I did my best to eyeball my lines. My husband was there as a second set of eyes and we did pretty well!

When my lines were marked, I placed the ceiling hooks by simply twisting them into our ceiling panels.

Playing with electricity, especially in an old house, can be a little nerve wracking. But that didn't stop us from swapping out the light fixture in our kitchen!

Expert details on how to install a light fixture can be found here. Who better than Bob Vila to walk you through this? We're definitely not experts, but I'll show you some visuals and a life hack we learned from our installation below. 

The first and most important step is SHUTTING OFF THE BREAKER TO THE AREA YOU'LL BE WORKING ON! 

​Next, start to carefully remove the existing light fixture.

We chose to take out the plate that extended across the electrical box and utilize the new one. We did recycle the old screws because the depth of the electrical box was more than the length of the screws that came with the new fixture.

Before we began to install the fixture, we needed to trim and strip the wires at the top of the fixture where it would hang. We did not have wire strippers, so here's a life hack: You can use scissors (as long as you use them gently). I applied light and consistent pressure with the scissors on the casing of the wires until I was able to slide it off. The goal is to remove the casing without severing any of the wire.

Once that was complete, we cut the chain to the desired length and wove the wire through it.

Following the instructions in the box, we connected the electrical box and fixture wires accordingly, securing them with wire nuts. The final step included fitting the fixture's base over the electrical box and securing it.

We love the warm glow of this fixture's Edison bulbs and its farmhouse style. We got this one from Menards if you're interested!

We all know industrial cage light fixtures are very popular right now. I love the look of this style along with the masses. We have an exposed light bulb in our stairwell to the basement that I thought a cage light fixture would look great on. Trouble is, it is at an odd angle near the ceiling, so I had to get creative by creating my own fixture. This is another inexpensive DIY light fixture option that cost me under $12 to create.

What You'll Need:

• Plastic Light Bulb Guard Cage ($2)
• ​Razor Blade
• Spray Paint ($4)
• Light Bulb ($6 - I used a vintage-style Edison bulb for character)
• Screwdriver

I started off by cutting the cage in half. It was too big for me to use as it was due to the bulb's close proximity to the ceiling. This was fine with me, because I had envisioned 1/2 of a light fixture in the first place. If you are doing something similar, or like the look of hanging cage light fixtures (like the one pictured above) you could probably use the full guard cage and follow these same steps (without the cutting of course)!

So as I said, first thing I did was cut the cage in half at the hinge using a razor blade.

After I had the cage cut in half and removed the two screws that came with it, I spray painted it with the same oil rubbed bronze that I used for my clamp light lamp.

After allowing the cage to dry, it was ready for install! I swapped out the light bulb using a vintage-style Edison bulb and attached the cage to the base of the bulb using the two screws I mentioned earlier. See below for the before and after!

I've got an easy DIY project for you that can be completed in under an hour for less than $15! This project is perfect if you're looking to create a cozy corner in your home or need to add extra lighting to a room, but don't have a lot of cash to spare.

All you need is:

• Clamp Light ($5)
• Spray Paint ($4)
• Light Bulb ($6 - I used a vintage-style Edison bulb for character)
• Piece of wood (Free - Pulled from Cedar River - I used a 60 inch long piece of driftwood)

I chose to spray paint my clamp light oil rubbed bronze to match my home decor. If you like the industrial look, I think leaving the light untouched would look just as great. That would cut this project down to under five minutes!

The first thing I did was disassemble the clamp light so I could spray paint certain portions of it. I didn't want any of the electrical pieces getting goo'd up with spray paint...

I painted the inside/outside of the "lamp shade" portion of the light, as well as the silver portions of the clamp. I applied two healthy layers of paint to both items, allowing for dry time in between.

As you can see, the vintage bulb puts off a lovely warm glow in the far corner of our living room. This lamp is a piece I didn't know was missing until I created it.

​Happy DIY'ing my friends!