Etched Porch Sconce NightLight

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!

Getting up to nurse and change diapers during the wee hours is hard - harder when it's dark!

So I fixed up a dirty (really dirty), old (really old), porch light.  Etched some numbers on the glass (for fun), and Wired it for a nightlight!



1.  Clean and Spray paint old porch sconce

I picked up this old porch light from a thrift store.  It was muddy, rusty, and had an old wasp's nest in it.
I scrubbed it good and sprayed it with Rustoleum Hammered Black paint.

2.  Glass etch the panes

Armour Etch takes only 5 minutes to permanently etch glass!

• Cut numbers out of a piece of Contact paper (use a die cutting machine if you have one)
• Apply to the glass panes of the sconce
• Press out all the bubbles
• Paint on a thick layer of Armour Etch with a disposable foam brush.
• 5 min later rinse off in a stainless steel sink (porcelain can get dulled)

When using glass etching cream work in a ventilated area, use disposable gloves, and take care to keep it off your skin and clothes (and kids).  It's a very strong chemical.

I think glass etching is very addictive - I wanna do it somemore!!!

3.  Wire to an electrical power cord

I stole a cord from an old nightlight lamp I had (I wanted the switch).

You can buy a power cord with a switch
or buy a switch to use with an electrical lamp cord.
Many of these are available at the hardware store or online.  I'll be posting a detailed electrical wiring tutorial on Friday.

4.  Attach to wall
with a pancake box.  It fit perfectly inside the sconce base and lined up with the screw holes.

I used my Dremel with a metal cutting blade to cut notches in the sconce base and the pancake box for the lamp cord.  Then I smoothed with a grinding bit.

Now I've got a nice nightlight for middle-of-the-night feedings!

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