How to Make Tin Light Reflector Flowers
Do you love flowers?
I certainly do. I’ve loved flowers since I was a little girl, and I love repurposing things into flowers just as much… maybe even a teensy bit more than I love the real thing.
I’ve been waiting to make these vintage Christmas tin light reflector flowers for a while because I needed just the right thing to pull it off… and I just found it when I was going through my stashes.
It was this vintage metal card holder. I had totally forgotten I even had it, and it’s the perfect thing to make these light reflector flowers.
After thinking about it for a bit I decided to use some knitted circles from an old broken clown doll that I had taken apart, and my marble collection. All I needed to put these flowers together was my handy dandy hot glue gun.
You can decorate these light reflector flowers any way you want. I’m just using what I have in my thrifted stashes.
The first thing I did was bend some of the card holder circles thingies down so that they were a little more random.
Here’s what it looked like when I was done.
Using my hot glue gun I added some glue to the backs of the tin reflectors.
And then just added them onto the circles.
I only had one of the star ones so I thought why not put it in, just to add a little something different.
Once my light reflectors were all on I added the knitted rounds and the marbles, again using my hot glue gun.
This was so easy.
Here’s what they look like from the back.
It was fun to look through the marbles to find the centers.
I wanted each one to be its own little unique flower.
Some of the light reflectors have a lovely aged patina, and I didn’t worry about polishing them at all.
I could have my light reflector flowers just like this… or stuck them in a vase or a basket or something, but I had something else in mind.
I placed the flat stand on my desk and bent all the flower stems back until they were almost flat.
You can see what I mean a little better in this pic.
By doing that I could easily slip the stand into this metal wall pocket, and the flowers pop up beautifully.
A little dry moss in the wall pocket to cover the stand, and this project is done.
My tin light reflector flowers look so pretty on my kitchen door, which is the door we use all the time. They make me smile every time I come home.
Because my kitchen colours are aqua, red, and yellow I decided not to use the pink knitted circles for this project. They’ll be saved for another day.
The best thing about making repurposed flowers of any kind is that they don’t have to be perfect.
Real flowers aren’t perfect… so repurposed ones don’t need to be either.
In my world imperfection is perfection. 🙂
Thanks so much for reading, and until next time…
keep on keepin’ on!
XOX
Don’t forget to pin this to your favourite Pinterest board.
cute, cute, cute may i ask where you got the light reflectors? thanks
Thanks Chris! I found these particular reflectors at a thrift store, but I have found them at garage sales too. I tend to pick up things like this whenever I see them hoping that I’ll find a repurpose for them someday.
This would be so cute with pics of grandkids in the flower centers instead of the yarn medallions! What a way to show off the family garden (instead of family tree)
I’ve never seen reflectors like that. Do you remember where they came from?
That’s a wonderful idea Melanie! I found my vintage reflectors at a salvation army store this past Christmas. I frequently visit all the thrift stores in my area during the Christmas season looking for vintage Christmas items.
Oh, my word!! This is so great!!!! I’m going to keep my eye out for some light reflectors! Our “extended family” is visiting from England and we always have a thrifting day!! So good to see you in my inbox, Tuula!! Dona
Thanks so much Dona! It’s so good to be in your inbox. 🙂
This is adorable, Tuula! And putting the tin reflector flowers in the metal wall pocket really makes them pop!
Thanks very much Gail! It always feels good to finally make a project that’s been in my brain for so long.
I was feeling doubtful at first, but the final shots -especially against your fabulous blue door- are beautiful! So colorful!
Thanks Becky! It’s always fun to create things from a mish mash of items. That’s what keeps repurposing fun for me.
How clever you are…..really like this idea…good job.
Thanks so much Linda!
Aww, those are so sweet!
Tania
Thanks Tania! My door is set for the summer now. 🙂
Adorable, Tuula!
Thanks very much Lora!
I did an internet search and found different varieties on Ebay. Just type in vintage tin Christmas light reflectors in the browser search bar and you should find different places that sell them.
Thanks Jennifer! I tend to find mine at thrift stores and garage sales, but for those who don’t have that kind of luck ebay is always a great option.
What a GREAT idea! So so cheerful! It would make me smile too!
Thanks so much Sandy!
I do love flowers of all kinds. These are so cute.
Thanks very much Debra!
Glad I read through the comments, I was going to ask the same thing: where did you find the light reflectors? I’ll keep my eyes open at garage sales/thrift stores for these cuties! Great project!
Thanks Audra! I find most of my project items at thrift stores and garage sales, and they go in my stashes until I think of a way to use them someday.
Adorable!! It was cute just standing on it’s own but in the wall pocket it is just perfect. Love it!
Thanks AnnMarie! I really needed something for my front door so the wall pocket was just the thing.
That’s a great idea! And – I even have some of those tin reflectors from a trip to Goodwill?along with fabric puffy circles from the same Goodwill Outlet( pay by the pound at the Outlet)
Thanks very much! How fun that you already have the supplies. 🙂
Gosh I love how you paired all of these assorted vintage treasures and made such adorable wall art! Super super cute, Tuula 🙂 Check out feature next week at the ToTT Party 😉
Thanks very much Marie! It’s always fun using stuff from my stashes in projects.
Tuula, this is so cute Tuula! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
Thanks very much Cecilia!
I absolutely love that Tuula! Also love how it looks against your blue door…it certainly pops! How did you make the tin backings? Gee whiz I just sold one of those photo holders at a yard sale…practically gave it away too. Wish I had it back now!
Thanks Florence! The tin backings are vintage Christmas light reflectors.They made this project so easy because they already looked so much like flowers. I’ve had my photo holder for a while and haven’t seen another one. Too bad about yours going at the yard sale, but we can’t keep everything. If I had a dime for every time I found a use for something after I got rid of I’d have a like little nest egg put away. lol.
Spotted this at a link up. I was so intrigued. What exactly is a “christmas tin light reflector?” I keep looking at them. I am so interested in these flowers. Beautiful piece! Especially on the door.
I recently started a new link up on my EyeLoveKnots blog, and would love if you came to link up!
Thanks Alexandra! Vintage light reflectors like these were used around the large light bulb strings on Christmas trees to reflect the lights to look pretty. They simply fit over the light bulbs and they have pointy things that stick out to kind of hold them in place. I hope that helps!
Tuula – I am so thrilled I found your site last night !! This is definitely another Pinterest score !!
Thanks Jean! I’m thrilled to have you. 🙂
You’ve done it again! Really cool!
Thank you so much!