Woman Turns Dollar Tree Candle Holders Into Stylish Outdoor Solar Lamps

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DIY creator Liz Fenwick shared a project that combines Dollar Tree metal candle holders and stake-style solar lights with glass shades to make decorative outdoor lamps. The reported method uses adhesive and requires no wiring, though the source does not provide durability testing, weather ratings or a full cost for each finished lamp.

DIY creator Liz Fenwick has shown how to turn metal candle holders and stake-style solar lights into decorative outdoor lamps, according to a Hunker report. The project pairs a glass fixture shade with a solar light and candle-holder base to create a lamp for a patio table, with no wiring required.

The base in Fenwick’s version is a Black Iron Candle Holder sold at Dollar Tree, which Hunker lists at $1.25 each. The holders come in three heights, allowing a maker to keep a display uniform or combine sizes. Hunker also suggests using a similar candle holder already on hand or one found at a thrift store; the exact price and availability of the Dollar Tree item may vary.

For the light, the project uses a stake-style solar light. The stake is removed, and the light is placed inside an open-ended glass shade with its solar panel facing up. The shade is glued, wide end upward, to the candle holder. Hunker names E6000 adhesive as the material used to join the components.

Fenwick’s design has a flower-like appearance, with the glass shade sitting above the slim metal base. Hunker says frosted glass can conceal part of the solar light, while a clear shade can be painted or frosted. It also describes cleaning the glass before decorating it, and using spray paint made for metal if changing the stand’s color. The report does not give a complete bill of materials or a finished-lamp price.

A No-Wiring Option for Patio Decor

The project offers readers a way to repurpose inexpensive or secondhand household pieces as decorative solar lighting. Because the light is solar-powered and the assembly does not involve wiring, it differs from a hardwired outdoor fixture. That can make the format appealing for a table display where a portable, visually coordinated accent is wanted.

The appeal is also in the customization: candle holders of varying heights, different glass shades and paint or surface treatments can produce distinct arrangements. Still, the report establishes a craft idea, not a tested lighting product. It provides no measurements of brightness, runtime or resistance to rain and wind, so those practical considerations should not be assumed from the appearance alone.

How the Solar Lamp Is Assembled

Fenwick’s design brings together three main pieces: a metal candle holder, a small solar light and an open-ended glass shade. The solar unit’s stake is removed so the light can sit inside the shade. The panel remains facing upward, where it can receive daylight, while adhesive attaches the shade to the base and holds the solar light in place.

Hunker reports that the candle holders are sold in three heights and suggests alternatives such as thrifted bases or other decorative holders. Its article also outlines optional design changes rather than requirements: a maker can paint the metal, frost or paint clear glass, or add texture with air-dry clay or twine. The source does not report that every variation has been tested outdoors.

For a larger display, Hunker suggests grouping several lamps on a table or attaching multiple candle holders to a piece of wood. The examples include arranging holders in a row or placing a taller one between shorter bases. A repurposed cake pan is also mentioned as a display surface. These are design possibilities in the report, not evidence of a tested fixture or mounting system.

“These were so easy to make, and I can’t get over how pretty the results are.”

— Liz Fenwick, in a social media post quoted by Hunker

Weather Resistance and Runtime Are Unreported

Hunker’s report does not state whether the assembled lamps are waterproof or weather-resistant, how long they operate after charging, or how bright they are. It also does not identify the model or specifications of the solar light Fenwick used, or say how well the adhesive holds under outdoor temperature changes and exposure to moisture.

The article describes the lamps as outdoor decor, but that description does not establish a weather rating. It is also unclear whether the $1.25 candle-holder price remains current, what the glass shade and adhesive cost, or how much a complete lamp would cost. The report does not include independent testing or long-term performance results.

Check Components Before Outdoor Use

Anyone following the project would need to select a compatible solar light and glass shade, then decide whether to use the listed candle holder or a substitute. Before placing a finished lamp outdoors, readers should check the solar light manufacturer’s care guidance and the adhesive label for outdoor-use instructions. The source provides no update on further testing or a revised design, so durability and performance remain matters for users to verify rather than reported outcomes.

For a display, makers can experiment with matching bases or varied heights and arrange the lamps on a patio table. Any changes—such as paint, frosting, clay or twine—are optional styling choices described by Hunker. The next practical step is to confirm that the chosen materials and solar unit suit the intended location; no additional development has been announced in the source material.

Key Questions

What materials does the DIY solar lamp use?

The reported design uses a metal candle holder, a stake-style solar light, an open-ended glass shade and E6000 adhesive. Paint or glass frosting is optional.

Does the project require electrical wiring?

No wiring is described. The lamp uses a solar-powered light with its stake removed and the solar panel positioned upward inside the shade.

How much does one finished lamp cost?

Hunker lists the Dollar Tree candle holder at $1.25, but it does not give the price of the solar light, shade, adhesive or a complete finished lamp. The total cost is not established.

Can the finished lamp stay outside in the rain?

The report does not provide a weather-resistance rating or confirm that the assembled lamp can be left in rain. Check the solar light and adhesive instructions before outdoor use.

How can the design be customized?

Hunker suggests using holders of different heights, painting the metal, frosting or painting clear glass, adding clay or twine, or grouping several lamps on a table or wooden base.

Source: rss