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A Hunker report describes a DIY from TikToker April P that decorates outdoor solar lights with Dollar Tree acrylic gems and hot glue. The look can be adapted to lights with clear surfaces, but the report says the featured light model was not listed on Dollar Tree’s website and notes that a two-light design may leave one solar panel facing down.
A Dollar Tree DIY highlighted by Hunker shows how TikToker April P decorated solar stake lights with acrylic gems and hot glue, offering a low-cost way to change the look of outdoor path lighting. The project is a craft idea rather than a new product launch, and the report says the specific lights used in the example were not available on Dollar Tree’s website when it was published.
The project uses diamond-shaped acrylic gems to cover the clear portion of a solar light, with smaller clear gems added as accents. Hunker says April P used blue Floral Garden Acrylic Gems, sold in a bag of almost four ounces for $1.75 according to the report. A 9-foot Plastic Diamond Wrap Ribbon, also listed at $1.75, is another suggested option for adding smaller stones in connected strips.
The basic method is to attach gems in rows over the light’s transparent section. The report says the acrylic allows light through, while gaps between the pieces can also let beams pass. Leaving more space between the decorations or using fewer gems may allow more light to shine through, although the finished brightness will depend on the light and how much of its clear surface is covered.
April P’s example joins two decorated light tops with their solar panels facing outward. Hunker notes that this arrangement may be inconvenient because one panel faces downward. Alternatives include keeping the lights separate and returning them to their stakes, or attaching several lights to a piece of painted or stained scrap wood with their panels facing up.
A Low-Cost Pathway Lighting Refresh
The idea gives homeowners and renters a way to personalize inexpensive outdoor lights without replacing the full fixture. For readers who already have solar stakes, decorative gems may also offer a small-scale craft project using materials available in a dollar-store craft aisle. The report does not establish how long the decorations last outdoors or whether they improve illumination; its focus is the visual change.
There is a practical trade-off between coverage and light output. The gems and glue occupy the area through which the lamp shines, so covering more of the clear housing could alter the pattern or amount of light. People considering the project can preserve open areas or use fewer embellishments, then check the result after dark before decorating additional lights.
The solar panel placement matters as well. Solar lights need exposure to daylight to recharge. In the paired design described by Hunker, the panel facing downward may receive less sun, potentially affecting its operation. Keeping each light upright and unobstructed avoids that particular issue, while a tabletop arrangement should leave the panels facing upward.
solar pathway stake lights clear lens outdoor
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How April P Changed the Lights
Hunker presents the project as a response to the plain appearance of many affordable solar stake lights. These fixtures are commonly used to illuminate walkways without household wiring, but their basic design may not suit every outdoor space. April P’s approach keeps the solar-light components and adds decorative material to their transparent sections.
The source says the exact solar lights in the example were not listed on Dollar Tree’s website when the article was written. Store stock can vary, and the report says similar lights may be available at local stores, with some options costing as little as $1.50 apiece. It recommends looking for a model with a clear surface large enough to hold the gems; readers should check current local availability and prices rather than assume the cited items remain in stock.
Dollar Tree’s craft section may carry other faux gems or decorative stones that can substitute for the blue acrylic pieces. Hunker advises choosing stones with a relatively flat base so they can attach to the light. The article describes hot glue as the adhesive used in the example but does not report testing other adhesives or the project’s performance in different weather conditions.
“The specific solar lights used in the inspiration project aren’t currently available on the Dollar Tree website as of writing.”
— Hunker
blue acrylic diamond gems for crafts
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Stock, Brightness and Outdoor Durability
The report does not say when the featured light model might return to Dollar Tree’s website, and it gives no guarantee that local stores carry the same design or prices. It also does not provide measured brightness comparisons between decorated and undecorated lights, so the effect of different gem patterns is not quantified.
Outdoor durability remains unreported. Hunker does not specify how the hot glue or acrylic gems hold up after prolonged exposure to rain, heat, cold or sunlight. The article also does not identify a particular adhesive rated for outdoor use. Readers should treat the example as a craft suggestion, not as a tested weatherproofing method, and inspect finished lights periodically for loose pieces or damage.
clear acrylic craft gems assorted sizes
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Check Fixtures Before Decorating
Readers interested in trying the project can first check local Dollar Tree stores for solar stakes with a clear housing and confirm current prices and supplies. Before attaching gems, they can decide how much of the transparent surface to leave open and keep the solar panel exposed to daylight. A single light is a practical test of the appearance and operation before making a set.
After installation, observe the light after dark and check whether it charges and illuminates as expected. Hunker provides no follow-up testing or product availability update, so the next useful information would be whether the featured materials remain in stock and how the decorations perform over time outdoors.
hot glue gun and outdoor rated glue sticks
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Key Questions
What materials does the Dollar Tree solar-light DIY use?
The Hunker report describes acrylic gems, smaller clear decorative stones and hot glue. It also mentions a plastic diamond-wrap ribbon as an option for attaching several small gems together.
Will the gems block the light?
Hunker says light can pass through the acrylic gems and through gaps between them, but it does not provide brightness measurements. Leaving more of the clear housing uncovered may allow more light through.
Can the project work with any solar stake light?
The report says it can be adapted to a solar stake light with a clear area large enough to hold decorations. The fit will depend on the shape and size of the fixture.
Are the exact lights from the example still available?
Hunker said the specific model was not listed on Dollar Tree’s website at the time of writing. Store inventory may vary, so readers should check local availability for similar lights.
What is the drawback of joining two lights together?
In the example, one solar panel faces downward. Hunker says that could make charging less practical; keeping lights separate or arranging them with panels facing up avoids that orientation problem.
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