A couple of years ago my husband bought me a 'sunshine in a jar' to put in the garden. It used a small solar panel to charge a bulb that glowed in the jar at night. I thought how easy it would be to reproduce; I wanted to do it with the kids at Blue Barn Camp this summer so I started looking around. You can get Mason Jar lids with the panel in them but they were too much to be buying in for camp. Then I happened to be in Target and noticed they had garden light stakes with small solar panels, they came apart easily and only cost a $1 each perfect.
You will need:
Mason Jar
Garden light stake
Garden Twine
Grey duct tape
Frosted glass spray (Optional)
Step 1
Remove the lid of the mason jar. Keep the rim but you will not need the inner circle. Also take apart the solar panel so you are just left with the solar part attached to the bulb. I kept all my discarded pieces for a future project but please recycle if you have no use for them.
Step 2
Cut 4 pieces of duct tape, tape around the solar panel sticky side down.
Place solar panel into jar and stick tape around rim of jar. Do not fold tape over but instead trim with scissors.
Step 3
Tie string around the mouth of the jar to act as a handle. Screw on the rim of the jars lid over the duct tape.
Step 4
Your jar should be ready to charge in the suns rays now.
For a frosted glow you should turn your jars upside down on a protected surface and spray them with a water resistant frosted paint. This part should be completed by an adult due to the fumes.
Enjoy...
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