Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Upcycled Solar Porch Lights

If you follow me anywhere, you KNOW I'm a Chick-fil-A fan! Last year they challenged us to use their salad containers and upcycle them. I used mine to hold plants and a bird feeder. This winter, they've challenged us to use their soup bowls and upcycle them.


My husband came up with the idea to make solar lights out of them somehow. I thought it was a great idea, but where to start! At first I wanted to use them along the garden, but since the garden is tucked in for the winter, it's not cleaned up enough to use in my post yet. What to do, what to do...?

I figured I'd get started on the craft, and go from there as to where I'd place it.


First off I started with 4 soup containers, tops and lids. I already had spray paint and the tools I'd need. All I had to do was scrounge up solar lights. We have some Fred put in the garden last year, but there were only a couple and they were in pretty bad shape. While we were out shopping, We found an 8 pk on sale for $5!! I need to go back and get more.


I started off by painting the bowls of the soup containers. I went with green in case I decide to put them in the garden once it comes alive with new growth! Yay to having the spray already!


From there, I cut out the square logo out out of the lid, not realizing I was going to end up using them later! After cutting out the logo, I put the round solar light on top of the lid, and gauged the size I needed to cut out to fit it in the top. It took several tries, but I'm sure I could've traced around it. I'm just too lazy!


When I put the top on, I realized that the light wouldn't shine out very well. I debated putting designs on all four sides, but that's when it hit me that I should figure out how to add the logo square. It wasn't easy to make sure it could fit, but I cut out a square roughly the same size as the square and put it in through the back so I could tape it in place.


I added the lid to each of them and waited for the sun to go down. I really had no idea how it was going to turn out, but it totally worked! I was actually pretty giddy about it! I made everyone go outside to admire my handy up cycling!


My step daughter told me I should add designs around the sides. Go figure! I haven't done it yet, but I still might. I really like how the light shines out the top and front. Maybe adding slits to the side or I might just let her get creative about letting the light come through the other sides!


I may get a red spray paint and make 4 more. I could put the green ones in the garden and the red ones would blend well with the brick steps! I'm excited about the possibilities!


What would you do with upcycled Chick-fil-A soup containers?

22 comments:

annies home said...

what a great idea you have came up with here. Very creative thanks for sharing
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Natalie said...

I could make a bunch of these and put them alongside my driveway on both sides. My whole family LOVES Chick Fil A!

Peggy said...

This is such a cute idea. I like that it is simple enough that the girls can make them.

Audrey Stewart said...

I think this is the greatest idea ever! I love lights outside everywhere. You could paint these different colors to match the holidays.

Anonymous said...

Honestly, this is a taste and clever way to upcycle. I'm going to dig something up & give it a go.

Shelly Leatham said...

This was such a great idea! I love the fact that you kept the logo too!

kymom13 said...

I have no idea what I would use the containers for. But I really love your lights! Ingenious!

elizabeth miller said...

I love their chick fil a biscuits with cheese added.

Edye Nicole said...

What a cool craft! I'm always looking for new DIY's to try out and this has been added to the list.

Unknown said...

We just finally got a Chick Fil A where we live. I like how you made the lights so you can move them wherever you need light. My steps don't get sunlight so I couldn't use them there, but I could use them in the back yard. Super cute!

Maryann D. said...

I have a Chick-fil nearby but I have not tried it as of yet. I like crafts especially when we can use items that we already have available. This is a really fun and neat idea!

clc408 said...

I'm all for recycling things into useful items. I don't get enough sunlight in my yard for solar lights but I'd definitely do this upcycle if I did.

Hillary Franklin said...

This is an awesome idea. We upcycle or repurpose everything we can. I really dislike throwing money down the drain or items that still might have a use just in a different form. I have tons of pallet wood and I have a whole deck in the works...thanks for the tip...I might make these for that area.

Amy Orvin said...

What a great idea here. I would have never thought to use them as solar porch lights. I only reuse them as containers to store food.

Jennifer H. said...

I would have never thought of this. I like the color green that was used.

John H. said...

I think that it's cool when you can make stuff like this.

Unknown said...

this is so great I did not know you could do this

Brooke Lorren said...

This is a cute idea. I don't usually have chicken soup at Chick-fil-A, but this is a good idea if that is one of the menu items that you get a lot.

Annmarie Weeks said...

What a clever idea! And I like how you painted them, too!

slehan said...

That's a clever way to recycle them. Seems to work just fine.

slehan at juno dot com

Chrissy said...

I love the idea of painting these! I don't know that I'm crafty enough to come up with any project on my own that doesn't have step by step instructions, but this made me realize that the soup containers would make a great canvas for an art project for my daughter. :)

Trisha McKee said...

I think this might be the most unique, awesome project I have seen in awhile. The best part about this is we just got a Chick-fil-a in our town! I want to try their soup... and work in a project!

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