How to Make a Snowman Light Bulb

With a little creativity, a standard light bulb can be transformed into a festive snowman.

Light bulbs can be repurposed into festive and decorative ornaments by adding a little paint and creativity. A standard incandescent light bulb, turned upside down, becomes a suitable base for a jolly snowman due to its narrow neck and plump bottom. A snowman light bulb can be hung on a Christmas tree as an ornament and can also be given as a budget-friendly, handmade gift to a special friend or family member.

Things You'll Need

• Standard incandescent light bulb
• Rubbing alcohol
• Cotton ball
• Glass and tile medium
• Large flat brush
• Medium flat brush
• Small sponge
• White acrylic paint
• Small round brush
• Black acrylic paint
• Liner brush
• Orange acrylic paint
• Light brown Acrylic paint
• Black paper
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun
• Matte spray sealer
• Ice pick
• Craft wire
• Wire cutters

Instructions

1. Wash the glass of the light bulb with warm soapy water and a wash cloth and dry it thoroughly. Apply some rubbing alcohol to a cotton ball and wipe the glass. Allow the bulb to air dry.

2. Apply one coat of glass and tile medium with a large flat brush. Tile and glass medium can be found at hobby shops and craft stores. Allow this to dry thoroughly, according to manufacturer's specifications.

3. Base-coat the entire glass area of the bulb with light blue, acrylic paint. Use a medium flat brush to add two coats of paint to the glass. Allow the paint to dry between coats. If some of the paint gets onto the metal end of the light bulb, this is okay as it will be painted over later.

4. Apply one coat of white, acrylic paint over the entire glass area of the bulb with a small sponge. Gently press the sponge onto the bulb to create a fluffy snow look. The blue will show through underneath slightly, giving the snowman a two-tone effect.

5. Paint the eyes, mouth and buttons with a small round brush and black acrylic paint. Paint two small circles for the eyes and a row of circles for the mouth and buttons. Use a liner brush and orange acrylic paint to add a carrot nose to the snowman's face. Add a scarf with a small, round brush in the color of your choice. Paint the arms in light brown acrylic paint with a liner brush. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly.

6. Paint highlights on the eyes, mouth and buttons with white acrylic paint and a liner brush. Place all the highlights on the right side of the objects with a thin, rounded line of paint.

7. Cut a ring of black paper to fit around the base of the light bulb. This will sit where the glass and metal piece of the light bulb meet, and act as the rim to the snowman's hat. Use a hot glue gun to adhere the ring in place around the neck of the bulb, above the snowman's face. Spray the paper rim with matte spray sealer to firm it. Allow the sealer to dry completely.

8. Paint the metal section of the bulb and the top side of the paper rim in black, acrylic paint. This creates the illusion that the snowman is wearing a top hat. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly.

9. Spray the entire snowman light bulb with matte spray sealer. Allow the sealer to dry.

10. Pierce a hole through the metal section of the bulb with an ice pick or other sharp implement. Cut a small section of craft wire and thread it through the hole. Bend the wire with wire cutters into a loop, twisting the wire onto itself to close it to act as a hanger for your snowman light bulb.

Tips & Warnings

• Paint stripes and patterns on the scarf of the snowman for a decorative touch.

• Always wear safety gloves when using sharp implements and wire cutters.

References

• Country Woman Magazine: New Life for a Lightbulb