Liquor Lights - Easy Outdoor Solar Lights

I love to reuse and recycle lots of things, and I always find a use for glass jars. After throwing a few parties in the last year, I had I gorgeous tequila and other liquor bottles that I saved. Just waiting to find an idea on how to reuse them...

Then as I was replacing/repairing my outdoor solar lights, it occurred to me that I could stick the  plastic solar tops on my pretty jars and bottles.

All sorts of glass bottles will work for this project. At first, I wanted to do only the "fancy" bottles. Then I came to really like just the 2 liter Vodka bottles with a handle.  I like all the different heights and sizes too.

Step 1:
Have a nice collection of bottles ready. Remove labels (I soak in soapy water and then use a knife to scrape the last bits).

Step 2:
Unpackage your solar lights. Take the top off the lights, where the light bulb is. Remove any protective covering over the solar panel, and make sure it is turned on. Put it in the sunlight, solar panel up, while you work.

Step 3: Place the solar tops on the mouth of the bottles.

Step 4: Wait for it to get dark!

Voila! 

Three Toned Dresser Redo

This project Mom and I got to do together, which is very rare! We painted it with love for my niece who was spending the summer with my family in California. My guest room doesn't have a dresser, which a long term guest needs. So after scouring a local Free Cycle site with no luck, I put a WANTED notice on Free Cycle and immediately someone offered up this simple dresser. 

Mom and I picked up these beautiful glass knobs at Cost Plus World Market and used paints I already had on-hand. 

My niece picked the colors and wanted to do three different colors. We removed the original wood knobs, cleaned and sanded down the entire dresser. We left the top natural (no stain!), just sealed it with Wipe On Poly. With the drawers removed, we painted the body a light grey. The drawer fronts got Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Aubusson Blue and the drawer trim is a bright white. I started adding Floetrol to all my paints a awhile, and found it leaves a smooth, more consistent finish.

The whole dresser was finished with Wipe On Poly after it had dried.

Total cost was just the knobs (since I had everything else in my crafting stash), which wasn't too bad and it turned out so perfect!