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A Hunker report describes a DIY by TikTok creator April P that decorates Dollar Tree solar stake lights with acrylic gems and hot glue. The project is customizable, but gem coverage can affect how much light passes through, and a design joining two lights may leave one solar panel facing down.
A DIY shared by TikTok creator April P turns basic Dollar Tree solar stake lights into gem-covered outdoor decor, using acrylic embellishments and hot glue. Hunker reported on the project, which offers a low-cost way to customize pathway or patio lighting, though the amount of light and charging performance may depend on how the gems are arranged and whether the panels stay exposed to sunlight.
For the decoration, April uses blue Floral Garden Acrylic Gems and smaller clear gems, attaching them over the transparent part of the light with hot glue. Hunker listed the blue gems at $1.75 for a bag of nearly four ounces at the time of its report. It also described a 9-foot plastic diamond-wrap ribbon, listed at $1.75, as an option for adding several small gems at once. Prices and availability can change.
The basic approach is to place the gems in rows over the light’s clear section. Acrylic allows some light to pass through, and gaps between the pieces can let additional beams through. A more widely spaced pattern or a single row may admit more light than a tightly covered surface, while creating a less fully gem-covered look. The project is suited to stake lights with a clear area large enough to hold the chosen decorations.
In April’s version, the stake portions are removed and two decorated light tops are glued together, with their solar panels facing outward. The creator adds small clear gems along the edges and where the pieces meet. Hunker points out a practical drawback: with this arrangement, one panel faces downward. The report suggests turning the joined piece during the day as a possible workaround, but says leaving the lights separate is another option.
A Low-Cost Lighting Refresh
The project gives readers a way to change the appearance of inexpensive outdoor lights without replacing the entire fixture. Hunker says similar solar stake lights at Dollar Tree may cost as little as $1.50 each, although the exact product featured in the video was not listed on the retailer’s website when the report was written. That makes the idea accessible to people who already own basic lights or can find a comparable model locally.
There is a trade-off between decoration and function. Covering more of the transparent section may produce a denser jeweled effect, while leaving spaces between embellishments can allow more light through. The paired-light design also raises a charging concern if a panel is shaded or pointed down. Readers planning to use the lights along a walkway should test the finished pieces after dark rather than assume the decoration will preserve the original brightness.
The design can also be adapted for different settings: the report describes putting the decorated tops back on their stakes, or attaching several stake-free lights to painted or stained scrap wood as a patio-table centerpiece. Those are project suggestions, not performance tests or guarantees about how long the lights will operate.
solar pathway stake lights with clear lens
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How April P Built the Design
Outdoor solar stake lights are commonly used to illuminate paths without household wiring. The Hunker report focuses on appearance, noting that basic, low-priced models can be functional but visually plain. April’s DIY changes the clear light housing with craft-store-style faux gems, rather than changing the solar electronics.
The report says the specific lights used in the inspiration project were not available on Dollar Tree’s website at the time of publication. Store stock can differ, so the suggested approach is to look for a similar stake light with a sufficiently large clear surface. The accessory examples and prices in the report are a snapshot, not a current inventory listing.
April’s joined configuration is only one way to arrange the pieces. Keeping lights separate avoids placing one panel face-down and allows the decorated units to remain on their stakes. Another arrangement described by Hunker mounts a row of lights, with their panels facing upward, on a piece of scrap wood for use as a tabletop feature.
“The specific solar lights used in the inspiration project aren’t currently available on the Dollar Tree website as of writing.”
— Hunker’s report
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Brightness and Store Stock
The report does not provide measured brightness, charging times, battery life or durability data for the decorated lights. It also does not establish how well hot glue or the gems hold up to weather over time. Results may differ depending on the light model, the amount of clear surface covered, sun exposure and the arrangement of the panels.
Current product availability and prices are not confirmed by the report. Dollar Tree inventory can vary by store, and the featured light was not listed on the website when Hunker checked. The report also does not test whether the joined design produces enough light for a particular walkway or patio.
clear acrylic craft gems assorted sizes
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Check Fit Before Gluing
Anyone trying the idea will need to find a solar light with a clear section large enough for the decorations and confirm that the solar panel can still receive direct sunlight. Hunker’s instructions describe arranging the gems before attaching them, with spacing adjusted to balance the decorative effect and light passing through. Because the report does not offer durability testing, users may want to try the design on one light before decorating a full set.
For pathway use, keep the panels facing upward and observe the lights after dark to see whether the finished arrangement provides adequate illumination. Those choosing the double-sided design should account for the downward-facing panel; rotating the piece during the day is suggested in the report but may not be practical. Product stock, pricing and the long-term performance of the DIY remain subject to change or further testing.
plastic diamond wrap ribbon for crafts
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Key Questions
What materials does the solar-light DIY use?
The project uses acrylic gems, smaller clear gems and hot glue. Hunker also describes plastic diamond-wrap ribbon as an optional way to attach several small gems together.
Will the decorated lights still shine?
Acrylic gems allow some light through, and gaps between them can admit more. Hunker does not report brightness measurements, so the finished result may vary with the gem placement and light model.
Are the exact lights and gems available at Dollar Tree?
Hunker said the specific solar lights in the inspiration project were not listed on Dollar Tree’s website when it published its report. Store stock varies; the report listed the blue acrylic gems and diamond-wrap ribbon at $1.75 each at that time, but current prices and availability are unconfirmed.
What is the issue with gluing two light tops together?
In the described arrangement, one solar panel faces downward, which may reduce its exposure to sunlight. Keeping the lights separate or turning the joined piece during the day are alternatives mentioned in the report.
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