When you have a creative mind you can come up with all sorts of ingenious idea. The trick is to think outside the box and to see beyond the typical use which has been designated for a certain item or idea. For example, think of light bulbs. There’s not much you can do with them besides light up your house. Or is there? Take a look at these projects and you’ll understand what I’m saying. They all feature ways in which you can recycle and repurpose light bulbs.

Valentines’s Day Light Bulb

If you haven’t thought of a Valentine’s Day gift then you’re in luck. We’ll show you how to use a light bulb to make a lovely gift. Take the light bulb and pull out the contact and crack the glass insulator. Clean the bulb and remove everything inside it. Then make heart filaments using red wire, attach them to a piece of wood and then fit the glass bulb over the filaments.{found on saleenamarie}.

Tiny Terrarium

Another very interesting idea is to make a tiny terrarium in a light bulb. Remove the insides of the bulb as well as the metal tip. Put adhesive silicone bumpers on the side of the bulb to keep it steady. Then simply add sand and tiny plants.{found on thehipsterho}.

Old ship

Here’s a more interesting version of the old ship in a bottle. This time it’s a ship in a light bulb. First remove the wolfram and filament and then either make a tiny ship or use one you already have. Make water imitation with the hot glue gun and put the ship in the bulb.{found on instructables}.

Oil Lamp

Let’s now try something else: an oil lamp made of light bulbs. To make it you need paraffin oil, a wick, two light bulbs, a piece of wood, black gloss paint, magnets and epoxy. Hollow the bulbs, insert the wick and add the oil. The wood, paint and magnets are for the stand.{found on site}.

Flower vase

Another interesting thing you can make using a burned out light bulb is a tiny vase. First remove the filaments and everything else and either attach silicone pads to the bulb or hang it somewhere.{found on site}.

Hanging tiny planters

Instead of a vase, you could make a tiny planter. We’ll just skip the prep process since it’s the same every time. Put some soil in the bulb and then add the plan or the seeds. Hang it somewhere or display it on a mantel somewhere.

A light bulb can also be a lovely decoration. For this project, you don’t even have to take it apart. Put some glue on the outside of a light bulb and then spread glue over it to make it look uniform. Take a piece of cord, make a loop and tie it around the base of the light bulb.{found on kittenhood}.

Table decorationCardsTree decoration

You can also use spray paint to give the bulbs a makeover. After that, you can use them in all sorts of different ways. For example, use them as decorations for the wedding table or for the trees.{found on capitolromance}.

Lightbulb Topiaries

Save the burned out light bulbs and, when you have enough, make a topiary. Preferably, you’ll need bulbs in different sizes. You’ll also need spray paint, wire, a basket, floral foam and tulle.{found on ruffledblog}.

Concrete hook

Here’s another very interesting idea: a concrete light bulb wall hook. Basically, you pour concrete into an empty light bulb, you put a large bolt in there like the one in the photo and then you let the concrete dry.{found on site}.

Pendant chandelier

A burned out light bulb can still be a part of the pendant lamp or chandelier. Use several bulbs to make a unique pendant lamp. Remove the filaments and, if you want, use spray paint or acrylic paint to make the bulbs look more interesting.{found on inhabitat}.

Place cards terrarium

Here’s another version of the tiny light bulb terrarium. You can basically make it look however you want and use any plants and materials you want. The tiny terrariums can be used as wedding favors or you can offer them as gifts.{found on asubtlerevelry}.

Light bulb centerpiece

This is a battery-powered light bulb centerpiece. It looks very interesting and it has a sleek and modern design. You can come up with your own version and it doesn’t even necessarily have to be battery-powered. It can simply be for display.{found on warmhotchocolate}.

Rope wrap

Here’s how you can make light bulb pears. You need twigs, bulbs, rope and glue. Break the twigs and glue a tiny piece onto each bulb. Then glue one end of the rope at the base og the twig and start wrapping. Secure the other end with glue and that’s all.{found on toddlindsey}.

Addicted to ropeWrapped the center with jute

Using light bulbs of different shapes and sizes you can make an interesting display piece. You need rope to tie them all together. You can also use a large glass container, a few light bulbs and a candle to make a nice decorative piece.{found on cfabbridesigns}.