Google+ House Revivals: Make a Snowman Ornament from a Recycled Lightbulb

Monday, December 17, 2012

Make a Snowman Ornament from a Recycled Lightbulb

This is a fun craft idea I ran across several years ago.  I'm not sure where I first saw it, but it was just too cute not to give it a try ( and you know I love to recycle stuff)! edit:  Here is where I found the inspiration.


This snowman ornament is made from recycled light bulbs!

  • Start with a burned standard light bulb.  Clean the bulb well with a cotton ball and some rubbing alcohol.Next, prime the light bulb with gesso.  Do several coats of gesso, letting it dry between coats.  Use an old paint brush and really get messy, adding texture to look like packed snow.
  • Now add a topcoat of paint.  I used an off white to give my snowman some patina, but you can use a brighter white if you like.
  • The snowman hats are made from orphan socks.  Simply cut off the cuff of a sock, fringe the top, and tie the top just under the fringe using a narrow strip of the sock fabric. Use hot glue to secure the hat to the snowman's head -- hiding the screw threads.  The mufflers are simply made from a rectangle of the sock fabric that has the edges folded under and is rolled and hot glued into place.
  • Glue on some stick arms, and cut a scarf from a scrap of fabric.
  • Embellish with buttons if you'd like.
  • Give your little guys a face using a sharpie pen, and, if you'd like, brush on some powdered blush to give their cheeks a rosy glow.

Easy peasy, I promise!  This would be a fun project to do with the kids, instead of baking (is your family completely "over" sweet treats this holiday season?)  -- and it's calorie free!