Coolest Upcycled Porthole Fish Night Light

Learn how to make the Coolest Upcycled Porthole Fish Night Light for kids, by using a recycled plastic container from Chick-fil-A.

The Chick-fil-A mom panel members were each given the fun challenge of transforming their Spicy Southwest Salad bowls into creative upcycled projects.

When I received my coupon in the mail for the new Chick-fil-A Spicy Southwest Salad, I couldn’t wait to purchase and try it.

Once I ate my delicious salad, I found myself thinking of many ways to transform the plastic bowl into something creative.

I finally settled on making the upcycled porthole fish night light for my little boy after countless hours contemplating over what to make.

I will honestly tell you the night light was very challenging, and it didn’t go according to my original plans.

I found myself making up things and improvising as I was making the night light.

Even though the fish night light didn’t go according to the plans I concocted in my head I still think it turned out nicely!

Supplies Needed to make Coolest Upcycled Porthole Fish Night Light

• 1- empty Chick-fil-A Spicy Southwest Salad container
• 1- sheet lightweight blue vellum paper (Michaels Craft Store)
• craft glue or glue gun (I prefer using a glue gun)
• brown primer spray paint
• bright [easyazon_link identifier=”B000JF53EY” locale=”US” tag=”thisolemom-20″]gold metallic acrylic paint[/easyazon_link] (FolkArt – Michaels Stores)
• drysmall sponge brush
• green sparkle pipe cleaners (Michaels Craft Store)
• fish felt stickers (I purchased my stickers from Michaels Craft Store)
• 8 pony beads (Michaels)
• 4×6 easel back stand (remove from 4×6 picture frame)
• 1 – 4 ft. string battery operated teeny LED (10) multi-color lights and batteries
• Duct tape

How to make A Porthole Fish Night Light

Clean and dry the empty salad container. Next, use a small bowl or round shape to trace a circle on top of the salad container lid.

Note: make sure to center the circle before tracing and cutting it out.  I used a black permanent marker for tracing the circle.

Using scissors carefully cut out the circle. My little boy suggested using one of the air holes on top of the salad lid as the point to start cutting the circle out.

Once you cut the circle out use the primer to spray paint the entire lid, inside and sides of the salad container, and the pony beads.

Note: Avoid using spray paint on the bottom of the container, I found out the hot glue will not stick properly to it.

Once the primer spray paint dries glue the pony beads around the circle on the lid. Use the metallic gold acrylic paint to paint the lid, pony beads, and the rim, and sides of the salad bowl.

Use the sponge brush and a napkin if needed to give the look of an old porthole. Next, place the lid upside down and trace it out on the vellum paper.

Cut the vellum paper to fit inside the lid, gluing it down tightly to avoid wrinkles. 

Note: I suggest buying more than one sheet of vellum paper to allow for mistakes. Also, I didn’t trace the lid out onto the vellum paper I just eyeballed it.

Flip the lid back over and stick the sea creatures on the top of the vellum paper, and cut and glue the pipe cleaners on to make seaweed.

Use your imagination and design your upcycled porthole fish aquarium the way you want.

Note: I turned the pony beads on its sides and glued them down to look like sand. 

Next, make sure the bottom and top align so you can snap them together when needed.

Set the top of the Porthole fish night light aside. Using a sharp knife carefully make a hole in the bottom of the container.

Please look at my picture below to know where exactly to make the hole.

Push the lights through to the inside of the container and tape the lights down using the duct tape.

Make sure to leave enough wire allowing the battery box to reach the back of the fish night light.

Note: I placed the lid over the lights turned on, before I taped them down to see how they looked. 

See my picture below before you start this step. Snap the salad bowl container together then turn it around where the back is facing you.

The next step looks unattractive, but it works. Pull the battery case to the side of the container.

Slightly lean the salad bowl and place the easel back at the bottom and mark where you need to glue it.

You will only glue the top of the easel to the back of the porthole. Make sure the front of the bowl is straight, then hot glue the easel on it.

Adjust the container quickly if needed before the glue dries. Allow the hot glue to dry completely then tape the battery case to the back of the easel.

You cannot see the back of the porthole fish night light once it’s turned around.

Note: I bought the lights on clearance after Christmas, but you could do a google search to find your battery operated lights.

 Turn the lights on and check out your new Porthole Fish Night Light you just made!

What do you think? How do you upcycle Chick-fil-A Salad containers?

Important information: This project is intended for adults to make. Please be careful when handling hot glue and sharp objects.