Today, I’m going to show you how to make a bucket light for camping. Bucket lights are such a fun way to light up the summer nights. I made this light for our camping trip last week and it was a hit! Everyone loved it! Best of all, this project is EASY, you just need a few easy to find supplies. If you want to customize your bucket light with a vinyl design, you’ll need a Cricut or Silhouette machine! Read on for all the details.
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED
- 5 Gallon Bucket and Lid (I found mine at Walmart)
- Vinyl (I used Black)
- Application Tool
- Transfer Tape
- Battery Operated LED Lights
- Command Strips
- Electronic cutter (cricut explore, silhouette or other cutter)
- Cut File (available for free in my resource library)
HERE’S WHAT YOU DO
STEP 1: DOWNLOAD THE FREE SVG FILE
The first thing you’ll need to do is get the free SVG file you’ll use for this project. I keep all the SVG files I use for the projects I make in my SVG Library. These SVG files work with Cricut and Silhouette machines, as well as many others. This library is open to everyone and is free! You can access the library here. Look for the file called Life is Better at the Campsite. It will be listed under the Summer category.
STEP 2: CUT AND WEED VINYL STENCIL
Open the design in your software program and size it to fit on your bucket. I sized my design to 10″ x 7″.
When everything is sized correctly, you can cut the design with your Cricut or Silhouette. Once it has finished cutting, weed away the excess vinyl.
STEP 3: APPLY TRANSFER TAPE
Cut a piece of transfer tape a little bigger than the design. Place the vinyl on the transfer tape and smooth it down with an application tool. Then, trim off the excess transfer tape.
STEP 4: POSITION VINYL ON BUCKET
Place a piece of tape over the transfer tape. Then, position the vinyl decal on the bucket. Once everything is centered and straight, press down on the tape. The tape will hold the decal in place.
STEP 5: REMOVE VINYL BACKING
Separate the vinyl and the backing from half of the design. Then cut off and remove the backing.
Press the vinyl into place, but don’t remove the transfer tape.
Remove the strip of tape and the rest of the vinyl backing.
Press down the rest of the vinyl and rub over it several times so it sticks to the bucket.
STEP 6: REMOVE TRANSFER TAPE
Carefully pull the transfer tape off of the vinyl.
STEP 7: ADD LIGHT TO BUCKET
Place a command strip on the LED light. Using a command strip will keep the light in place, but will also let you take it out to replace the batteries.
I used these LED lights from Amazon. They come with a remote control so you can turn the light on and off without taking off the lid. You can pick from lots of different colors and patterns, too. We used the bright blue for a light and then switched to red for a night light for the kids.
Secure the light to the bottom of the bucket and put on the lid.
This light turned out so cute! It’s such an easy project and everyone loved it!
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Thank you Angie. This is so much fun.