Illuminate!

THE BAT LIGHT
How would you feel to have the silent guardian, the Dark Knight watching over you? For this, all you would need to do is get a box of string lights, better known as morich baati locally. You can purchase them at local hardware shops or at shops specialising in electric fixtures. Next, get a big piece of cardboard, depending on the size you want your bat light to be. Google your favourite version of the symbol and roughly sketch it onto the cardboard using a pencil. Cut the template out and this is going to be the base of your prototype. Paint the cardboard with multiple coats of black spray paint. Bring out the string lights and using duct tape, secure it on the cardboard about an inch from the edge. Then, for the back support cut a tissue roll into half and symmetrically hot glue those on to the cardboard on each of the wings. Then, use aluminium wire to tie the supports together and hang on the wall – totally the room decor you deserve.

BOTTLED-UP SHINE
A bit of scavenging for the best looking glass bottles in town is required for this DIY. You can buy the regular glass bottles or for a few extra bucks get liquor bottles in shades of greens and browns. Next you're going to need a box of string lights and a pencil. Using the pencil, start guiding the LED lights one by one into the bottle. Once you've managed to stuff the bottle with enough lights, you can just leave it at that and switch the LED lights to witness the magical transformation of a quintessentially mundane glass bottle. You can kick this trick up another notch by wrapping the bottle in lacy fabric, sealing the ruffle at the top with a ribbon.

YARN LANTERNS
Wish you had some party lights at bay for last minute birthday surprises? Here you go. For this you'll need balloons, different colours of yarn, a box of LED string lights and loads of adhesive. For starters, (Warning: this step should be avoided by the faint of heart) you need to blow up a balloon to the size you want your party lights to be. Then, place the balloon securely atop a glass/bowl with the rim of a similar size. In a bowl, mix equal parts adhesive and water. Now the messy bit: drop your yarn in the glue mix bit by bit, making sure it's well coated and then using all your patience carefully wrap the yarn around the balloon. Make sure to leave gaps while wrapping. After drying the yarn overnight, pop the balloon. You'll be left with a spherical shell where one LED light from the string is to be fitted in. If you feel like the shell isn't hard enough, do not worry. Simply lather on another layer of adhesive mixed with a bit of water onto the shell. Make as many shells as you want and go crazy with different yarn colours. Plug the lights in, flip the switch and bathe in aura of your luminescent creation.

Labiba Mustabina is a biochemist in the making. A tree hugger, she also claims to be a closet artist. You can reach her at [email protected]