Coastline Treasures

Loving lighthouses from a distance is great but what about up close?  You can have your very own lighthouse in a day.  Seem impossible?  Not with the right materials, tools, and some patience.  Gather the items that you will need; sheet metal, either aluminum or steel, wood, screws, nails, hardwire cloth, and an outdoor fixture. Cut two wood round pieces; one 6 inches in diameter for the top, and one 12 inches in diameter for the bottom, both with a ¾ inch hole in the middle.  Take the sheet metal and carefully bend the metal curving it to fit the two wooden rounds.  Trim the excess metal and screw into place.  Make a 16 inch base with a 20 inch top securing the lighthouse on top.  Now make a 10 inch wood round with a ¾ inch hole in the center.  Fasten the 10 inch wood round to the top of the lighthouse screwing in place.  You are ready to paint.  Do a little research and paint it to match your favorite lighthouse.

Once painted, it is ready for the final touches.  Cut a 2 inch by 24 inch piece from ¼ inch hardware cloth and attach it around the edges of the 10 inch wood round top.  This represents the railing around the balcony of the lighthouse.  Using a standard plastic or ceramic utility light socket, prepare the electrical cords and run the wire through the ¾ inch holes drilled in the wood rounds.  Attach an outdoor fixture that has a top, to act as the roof of the lighthouse.  Once completed, set in place and build around the base with brick, stones, dirt or the like to cover the base and add stability.  For more detailed instructions, go to Ubuilder.com.  Now sit back and enjoy your very own lighthouse décor.