Plant Pot turned Sand Pail!

Materials: SOCKER plant pot, drill, metal file, sisial rope

Description: We couldn't find pink metal sand pails for our beach party, so we decided to "hack" the IKEA socker plant pots! We simply drilled holes in the sides, and filed them down with a round metal file. Then we used some sisal rope, that fit the hole quite snuggly to create the handle. There you have it, a great sand pail that won't fall apart after a couple of uses, and that matched our pink party decor!

See more of the pink sand pail.

~ Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist, Toronto, Ontario

Socker Solar Lanterns

Materials: Ikea SOCKER Plant pot, Solar-Powered LED Path Light, String

Description: I wanted solar lights on my balcony but didn't want to shove the standard path lights into my small planter boxes, so I figured I'd make a hanging solution.

First, pull off the plastic stake part of the solar path light, leaving just the top solar panel and clear light diffuser.

Using a large hole saw bit, I cut a hole in the bottom of the 4 3/4" SOCKER pot. That hole still wasn't large enough to drop the solar light in, so I pounded around the edge with a hammer to open it up more. This also helped get rid of the jagged metal edges. Hit the edges until the lights will easily drop into the hole and not wiggle about.

Using a nail, I then punched 3 (mostly) evenly-spaced holes around the edge, inserted the hanging strings, tied a knot on the inside and then joined them into a loop at the top. I think it's easier to do this before the light has been glued in.

Then I ran a thick line of glue around the hole and dropped the solar light in. Let the glue dry then hang the lanterns where they'll get decent sun exposure. Simple and inexpensive hanging accent lights!

~ Walter, New Jersey

Socker Lamps

Materials: SOCKER zink flower pot, HEMMA cord set

Description: We needed some cheap lamps for our upstairs hall and stairs. Searching through the lamp and lighting section of our local IKEA, didn't give us the solution, so my husband came up with the idea of taking the SOCKER galvanized steel flower pot, cut a hole in the button matching the size of the HEMMA cord set using a jigsaw with a blade for cutting metal.

Screw the cord set on, put in a light bulb and hang your lamp up. Perfect lighting for a busy hall, for less than $8 a lamp.

~ Eva Byskov Andersen, Denmark