With a few supplies, a simple lightbulb can become a decoration for your home.
The shape of the standard incandescent lightbulb lends itself to a variety crafts. Rather than throw them away when they burn out, make ornaments to hang on your tree, birds to fly in your garden or scary witches for Halloween. Be careful when handling the glass and supervise children if they are involved in the crafts.
Christmas Ornaments
To create a snowman, paint the glass portion of the lightbulb white. Use the cut-off ribbed top of a child's sock to make a hat. Fold the bottom of the ribbing up to make a cuff and glue it to the bottom of the metal base of the bulb. Tie a thin ribbon around the yarn 1 inch from the top and then cut the top into fringe. Drape a piece of fabric around the snowman's "neck" for a scarf and glue two buttons below the scarf. Paint a face on under the hat and glue a loop of yarn to the back of the hat for hanging.
To make a Santa, wind a piece of red ribbon around the metal base and glue in place. Add a length of ribbon to be the hanger. Paint the glass portion of the bulb white. Paint a round face in the center and add facial features and a mustache.
Halloween Decor
Create a Halloween witch by painting the lightbulb green. Glue black feathers around the top of the glass and on the metal base. This is the witch's hair. Find a small witch's hat at a craft store and glue over the metal base of the bulb so the feathers stick out on each side. Paint a scary face on the front of the bulb.
Paint the glass portion orange to make a Halloween jack-o'-lantern. Paint the metal base green and add a bow made of raffia or black ribbon. Complete the jack-o'-lantern by painting a scary or funny face on the orange area.
Bulbs With Beaks
To make a darling penguin, paint the glass portion black with a circle of white in the center for the penguin's tummy. Glue googly eyes directly below the metal base. Fold a diamond-shaped piece of orange felt in half and glue on as a beak. Cut penguin feet out of orange felt and glue them to the bottom. Cut out a triangle shape of felt and glue one edge around the metal base. Glue the other two edges of the felt together and fold over for a floppy hat.
Create a duck by painting a lightbulb yellow. Cut orange felt for the beak and feet, as in the penguin example. Glue yellow feathers at each side for wings. Glue a tiny straw hat on the metal base and two googly eyes under the hat. Tie a piece of gingham fabric around the neck for the finishing touch.
Flying Bulbs
Create a bright bumblebee by painting the glass part of the lightbulb yellow. When dry, add three black stripes around the yellow portion. Paint the metal base black. Add two googly eyes right next to each other on the black base. Form wings from loops of silver chenille stems and glue them to the back of the bee.
Create a beautiful bird by decoupaging an entire lightbulb, including the base, with newspaper. Paint in a pastel color. Add feathers on the back for wings. Glue a tiny beak made of orange construction paper to the very end of the base. Paint eyes above the beak. Hang the bird bulb in your kitchen window or from trees in your yard.
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