Cut Out + Keep | Project » Lightbulb Vase

A cute way to recycle old lightbulbs.
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Please put on the goggles & gloves for protection before beginning this project!

Taking the pliers, bend up the small silver (or gold) piece of metal at the very base of the lightbulb and wiggle it until it comes loose.

*The piece I am talking about is NOT the large silver corkscrew looking piece. It is a small silver circle ontop of a little, glass black circle.
You have two options for this step:

1. Use heat to crack the black glass. You must immediately cool it after, as to not crack the clear glass.

-OR-

2. Use the pliers or other tools to smash the black glass (I've found a box opener to be effective).

3.Larger lightbulbs have secondary layers of glass in them which must also be broken.

*Both of these risk cracking the bulb and injuring yourself so please be careful!
There will be a small glass tube and wires inside which must be removed.
Clean out all debris inside the bulb by washing it out or shaking out all the little pieces. If you have a frosted bulb you must clean out the powder inside with water.
Paint the light bulb with acrylic paint. I chose a dot pattern for mine.
OPTIONAL: Drill small holes in the sides of the large, silver corkscrew piece and thread wire or yarn through for hanging, or simply wrap it around to hang.

-OR-

If you choose not to drill the holes, you can make a small round holder to place it in.
It's meant to be a vase, so stick some real or fake flowers in it and fill it halfway with water.

Or use it to hold your paintbrushes, pencils, or anything else you can think of.