Green it Yourself: Light bulb Terrarium

I recently saw pictures on this flikr, and I decided to get my craft on. After an hour or so, I made my first light bulb terrarium and vase:

I loved this project because you basically can give your used light bulbs a whole new life. It’s a great green way to decorate your house with industrial-chic pieces at very little cost! I put together the following tutorial for you to make your own – I want to warn you that you are working with glass, so be careful (definitely not recommended for kids).

*click images for larger views*

First up, the terrarium.

What you will need:

• A glass bulb (I believe you can use white ones as well, you’ll just need to clean the lining out)
• Pliers (the skinnier the better)
• A flat head screwdriver
• Sand
• Dried moss (not live!)
• A plant (if you can get tillandsia those are best – they don’t require soil. Unfortunately there are none around here right now, so I used garlic chives)
• 12 gauge jewelry wire

First you will need to remove the metal end of the light bulb (note: I have no idea the technical names of these parts, sorry!). Using your pliers, bend up the sides of the metal piece and then twist it off.

Next you need to remove the black glass on the bottom. Using my screwdriver, I chiseled away at the glass. Be careful! You might want to use goggles and gloves for protection.

Once that is off, you will need to break the glass that holds the wires in the center of the bulb. Use your screwdriver again and smash the inside until all of the center glass is gone. Use your pliers to remove any wires or glass that are stuck in the bulb. Be very careful during this part – there is some air pressure within the glass and one of the glass tubes shot out at me my first time trying this (oops!).

Your hollowed out light bulb should look like this.

First fill the bottom portion of your bulb with sand, dirt, and dried moss. This will help control the moisture and hopefully keep any mold away. Finally, stick your plant inside the bulb using your pliers (I also used a chopstick to help push it down).

I made a little holder for my bulb by taking some of the 12 gauge jewelry wire and bending it into a circle. Water from time to time using a spray bottle. Viola!

And now a light bulb vase:

What you will need:

• A glass bulb (I believe you can use white ones as well, you’ll just need to clean the lining out)
• Pliers (the skinnier the better)
• A flat head screwdriver
• 12 gauge jewelry wire
• Wire cutter

Hollow out your light bulb as instructed before. You’ll mostly be working with a wire cutter and wire for this project.

Begin by cutting a strip of wire roughly 12″ long. Bend it into a square and secure the ends together by twisting the wire. Take a second strip of wire long enough to wrap around the base of your bulb like so.

Attach two strips of wire between the square and circle pieces, and twist them securely shut. Place your bulb into the circle, and you’re done! You can easily use an egg holder, three semi-circle adhesives attached to the bottom, etc. as well to keep the bulb steady, but I like the industrial look of the wire. Enjoy!

Have any other useful creations to transform your used bulbs into? Please share!

~Maria

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