Project Overview: I had some old lightbulbs come into being. With Christmas being just around the corner, I wanted to see about turning them into something useful.

THE EASY WAY OUT
Throw them away.

MY WAY
Turn them into vases using as little money as possible and easiest solution for the base.

It seriously only took me 5 mins to complete the project.

Items:
- light bulb
- needle-nose pliers
- googles
- rubber & brass door stop
- super glue

1. Ripping open a light bulb is easier than you think. I just used some needle-nosed pliers to first pick/peel away the black “disc” like object wrapped over the edge. From there, I had to use the pliers to crack the interior part (where the filament is) and pull it out. (wear your goggles!..just in case!)
2. Once emptied and any sharp edges smoothed over as best I could, I saw online that you should rinse out your bulb with table salt. Apparently this helps clean out any last chemicals and makes the glass more clear.
3. For the base, I found a bunch of links online and people using bent wire to create it; but to me it seems too flimsy, especially if I imaged the folks I’d be giving it to using it at their office and potentially bumping into it and really not wanting water all over their desk. After a few walk through the aisles at the local hardware store, I spotted that door stops (in door hinge etc. section) would actually fit the lightbulb perfectly. I suppose that means as an adapt re-use project, I cheated a little bit for the first one as my prototype but for subsequent ones, I found some at Recycle Depots for cheap, and I really needed to get this first one done asap for a gift!
4. Ripping the rubber out of the door stop was a bit tricky. I used my needle-nosed again and used a bit of Goof-Off (solvent remover) to help release a bit of the glue which helped the rubber pop out.
5. Attaching the lightbulb was pretty easy, just a bit of super glue around the inner lip of the door stop (when the bulb would sit) did the trick.