Want string lights that feel personal rather than pulled from a seasonal display? Chelsea Mohrman turned old aluminum Jell-O molds into outdoor lighting with more texture, shadow and character than standard patio strands.
Instead of stacking the molds in kitchen drawers or thrift-store bins, she drilled holes in each tin and fitted them to a strand of lights. Once plugged in, the old baking molds begin to function like miniature metal lamp shades.
The result looks closer to vintage porch lighting than holiday decor.
Jello molds already looked like lamp shades
Due to which this project became operational.
Curved aluminum forms already look like pendant lighting once upside down. Some of the molds looked like flower shades while others looked closer to industrial pendants.
Once attached to the strand, the tins stopped looking like baking utensils.
The aged metal finish also gives the light more depth than a plain open bulb.
Drilling the molds changed their entire purpose
The conversion came from a drilled opening placed in the center of each mold.
Using a step drill bit, she made the hole wide enough to slide the plastic socket in and hold the mold in place. No glue or extra hardware changes the shape of the tin.
Once mounted on the strand, each mold becomes its own little light fixture.
Different mold shapes also changed how the light spread down.
The metal softened the light
That became the biggest difference after the strand was launched.
Without the mold, the bulbs looked open and flat. Once covered with aluminum, the light takes on reflections, shadows and shapes.
The curved interior bounces warm light off the metal surface, making the strand feel softer than standard outdoor lights.
Even during the day, molds served as decor due to their sculptural forms.
Each mold created a different look
That variation kept the strand feeling repetitive.
Some molds were deep and rounded while others had sharp ridges or flower-like edges. Mixing different shapes gave the strand a collected look rather than a factory-made pattern.
No section looked exactly alike once the lights were hanging.
The painted cord helped the mold stand out
The strand itself starts out as a standard white string light.
After being painted, the cord blended into the background rather than drawing attention to the wall or porch railing. That shift helped metal molds become the focus rather than wiring.
A soft cord color also works better with a vintage aluminum finish.
The project works outside the porch
Once assembled, the idea ceased to feel limited to outdoor lighting.
Similar molds can hang on shelves, camper interiors, reading corners, patios or kitchen windows. Old tart pans, mini bundt molds and other vintage baking pieces can also make different versions of the same idea.
The project works because it turns forgotten kitchenware into light that feels collected rather than mass-produced.
