Generally, if I can use one upcycled material per craft, it’s a win. When I can nail down three upcycled materials, I feel like a magician! This upcycled lighthouse that doubles both as a nightlight and a bookend is one of the projects. All of the recycled materials are used relatively in tact, and they piece together beautifully to make this multi-purpose, satisfying craft.

If you have a kid that dreams of the ocean. loves boats, or has a thing for lighthouses of course, then this is your project.

What you’ll need:

• One 10-ounce plastic bottle, empty and dry (mine was a Method Home hand-soap bottle, but you could also use a vegetable oil bottle)
• Pencil
• Scissors
• 1 tennis ball can lid
• Red and white sand
• Funnel
• Black electrical tape
• One 4-ounce baby food jar
• 1 battery-powered votive
• Black permanent marker
• Permanent glue dots

Make It:

1. To create the lighthouse’s gallery ledge, center the opening of the empty bottle on the tennis ball can lid and trace. Cut a slit into the plastic and cut out the circle. Set this aside.
2. Use the funnel to pour alternating layers of red and white sand into the bottle. (You can measure out even stripes or just eyeball it.) Fill all the way to the top and seal the opening with electrical tape.
3. Wrap electrical tape around the threaded part of the baby food jar, and color the bottom of the outside of the jar with the black permanent marker. Slip the gallery ledge around the mouth of the bottle.
4. To create the lighthouse’s lantern room, stand a tea light on top of the bottle and cover it with the baby food jar. (My jar lid sat perfectly atop the bottle and tea light, but if you find yours is less steady, use glue dots to keep it in place.)

August 20, 2020| Decor, Early Elementary, Everyday Crafts, Kids Rooms, Older Elementary, Styling, Upcycled