Succulent Planters from Light Fixtures

Hello again!  I am back with another fun repurposed project for you today!

You know I love to be thrifty and repurpose, and so do my friends (my friends that live by me, cause you are also my friends)…which is why this project was possible.  My friend Leslie gave me her old bathroom light fixtures when I went to pick up some jewelry from her, she is amazing and has beautiful affordable jewelry that she makes…oh wait, I am getting off subject…right.  Light fixtures.

These light fixtures intrigued me, well the curved glass did, and I kept pondering on them each time I passed by in the garage…what to do with them?  Hmmm.  I eventually came up with today’s project, Succulent Planters from Light Fixtures!

Ok, I guess technically it is Succulent Planters made from light fixture glass, but it was just easier to say light fixtures, so I went with it.

Now let me tell you another fun thing, not only am I sharing a repurposed project today, but 7 of my awesome DIY friends are sharing repurposed projects too, it’s your lucky day!

Just like the One Board Challenge I was a part of in July.  I am hosting my own challenge for September and of course I wanted to do a Repurpose It Challenge, because that is what I love to do!

Stay tuned at the end of my post for links to the other bloggers participating, and get ready to see some awesome repurposed projects.  🙂

Now, onto my repurposed light fixtures into succulent planters…

I kind of love them.  🙂  Mmmm.

So, like I said, it all started with this old fixture, and I actually had two, one with 5 lights and one with 4, that my friend gave me.  I knew the glass coverings were meant to be repurposed, I could just feel it…

I came up with several different ideas, but the one that stuck in my head was to make them into planters.

I have been SLOWLY working on my master bedroom and I really wanted to bring some plant life to my space.  I went to my stash of deck wood that my father in law gave me, and grabbed a long board, it would be perfect for planters.  Cause you know, deck wood, it is made to be in the elements…water.

My deck wood was just the right width for my glass fixture at 5 1/2 inches wide.  I grabbed a scrap piece of it and another piece of scrap wood and started figuring how it could work (left photo).  Once I knew what I wanted I traced around the glass onto the board and cut out the semi circle with my Ryobi Jig Saw.  Then I did a dry fit.

I decided to make planters out of all 9 glass fixtures, since I was doing it anyway, I might as well make them all, so I cut the wood.  Plus I had a few different ideas of how to display them, and I wasn’t sure how many I would need.

After sanding the pieces, I added glue and finish nails to attach the semi circle to the rectangle.

Then I used the glass and a scrap piece to mark where to drill holes.  I added holes to the top so I could hang them if I wanted, and holes where the hardware would attach to the glass front.

I decided to go with a Natural Stain to bring out the rich wood color.  It is amazing the difference it makes.  The dark wood planters on the right have been stained the rest haven’t, when the stain was dry I was ready to add the glass fronts.

I was able to use most of the hardware from the original fixture.  I replaced the small machine screws with 1 1/4 inch machine screws from home depot.  The longer screws allowed me to attach the hardware through the 3/4in thick wood.

I took the hardware to the store to make sure I got the proper size screws.  When I got home I attached the metal brackets onto the wood.  Then I attached the glass fronts.  It was really easy!

Now all I had to do was plant!  I got these succulents for a great deal at an Ace Hardware nursery.  It was totally buy chance, I asked Siri where the nearest nursery was and she took me there.  They were cheaper than the other store I had tried so I got them @ $2.49 each.  I am sure you can find great deals online too, but I was out of time, or I am just impatient.

I decided not to drill holes in the bottom for drainage, because the glass was not totally flush on the sides and front where it connected with the wood.  I knew the water could seep through the cracks.  I can move them to a place to water them, and when the water is done draining, return them. 🙂

To make them hanging planters I added leather lace through my top holes and tied knots to secure it in place.  In the photos above I was testing to see which way I wanted to have my leather knots.  I liked them both, but decided the knots in front added character, and made it easier for multiple uses…more on that in a second.

For example, if I want to use my planters as book ends.

The extra leather just flattens out nicely next to the book, whereas the knots would be a little harder to conceal.  Of course you could remove the leather straps completely, but I like to change things up often and have my projects versatile.  I am weird that way, and lazy.  It is hard to untie leather knots. 😉

This way works too, circle planters…I knew these glass fixtures were meant to have a higher purpose, this is so fun!  I like the way they look on my DIY Tray Stand too.  I guess they don’t HAVE to go in my bedroom…

…but then I would have to come up with another plant project.  🙂

I guess I will have to decide.  Can you tell I was enjoying staging these?  Ha ha.

My original plan was to have them hanging.  I had some scrap wood that was already painted white, it was from a sun room and I used it to make my chippy decor box years ago, so I grabbed it and just randomly threw some pieces together.

I ended up having some boards the same size so I cut a couple to make a “sort of” pattern, I glued and nailed scrap wood to the back to secure the boards together.  I was really just winging it to see if I liked the look.  I hammered in some nails, and I was done.

Hanging succulent planters!  The white wood really makes the planters pop,

And now I see my decision on what to do with these planters is getting harder.  So I decided to bring them into my bedroom, I put them in the window…

…and I liked them there too.

Maybe I shouldn’t do things versatile…it only complicates my issues with making decisions!

But I guess it is good in a way, because I can keep changing my mind and it isn’t a big deal.  Right?!

I would love to know how you think I should display my succulent planters from light fixtures.  Please share your favorite, I can always use good advice. 🙂

And now, onto the blog hop!

Here is a sneak peek of all the cool repurposed projects for you to see!  Please go check them out, and send them some love from me!

Oh, and if you missed my post yesterday, then you will want to check it out, I am hosting a One Board Challenge for YOU and you have a chance to win $1,000 in Ryobi Tools!  I know right?!  Plus I finally posted my plans for my Floating night stand.

Hugs!
Mindi

I will be linking to these parties and Savvy Southern Style