The easiest, cheapest landscape lighting hack ever. Set a few of these glowing outdoor orbs in your backyard and they'll have more impact than installing an outdoor kitchen and an infinity pool. Not really. But still - they're really nice and quick to make.
Get ready for it ... this one's a doozy. Doozie? Doosey. It's a humdinger. THIS is one of the posts that put me on the map when I started my blog over 10 years ago. Between this post and How to Make a Personal Fire Pit I was the reigning Queen of Pinterest for the summer of 2010. Or maybe it was 2011. Either way I wore a sash and started picking out Corgi names.
All of this from old light shades and string lights.
It looks high end with a side of huge impact, It costs next to nothing, And even if being "handy" to you means replacing your regular lightbulbs with eco-friendly ones ... you'll be able to do this in 3 minutes flat.
That's right. Some old glass shades, some old (outdoor) Christmas lights and BAM. You're a backyard badass baroness. (There can only be one Queen)
In my attempt to make my backyard a teensy bit more contemporary than my 180 year old house I ran into a few problems. Contemporary outdoor lighting is EXPENSIVE. That's what led me to creating my own.
If I'm gonna shell out a whole whack of cash for something in my backyard it's gonna be on a tenderloin for the BBQ. Or a better BBQ. Or a talking parrot who refers to me as Princess Leia. It isn't gonna be for lighting if I can help it.
So while perusing the local second hand store I came across some truly unfortunate stains on the carpet AND the ubiquitous opaque glass shades. You've probably thrown a few out in your lifetime. Stop doing that. Stop it right now.
And here's the best part! You know those stupid, anger inducing mini lights you have shoved in your basement? The ones where only half of the string lights up? Yeah, um ... this is a perfect use for them. PERFECT!
Just stick the glass shades anywhere you want and stuff them full of mini lights. Attach an extension cord if you need to and hide it under your garden dirt or mulch. I have my lights on a timer so they come on every night at dusk.
Would you like to save this stuff?
We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.
When I first made these 10 years or so ago solar lighting was pathetic. 3 legged dog in the rain pathetic. Now they're a lot better and they'd be a good way to light these up as well as long as you have a place you can place the solar panel that gets a lot of sun. In the case of my backyard that isn't a good option.
These are the solar powered lights I'd use if you have enough sun.
I pulled the HUGE orbs you see in the second photo near the top of this post out of someone's garbage.
They look beautifull. And it wasn't a fluke that I found these in a second hand store. Every time I've gone into a second hand store I've noticed these shades there. Goodwill, Salvation Army, random Bible Stores ... they're always in there.
Flea markets have them as well! They're usually around $1 - $3 each.
If you don't have a second hand store near you, you can order these shades on Amazon. But the price fluctuates wildly. Sometimes you can get them for $4.99 each for a 6" shade and sometimes they're over $20. And it would be stupid to spend $10 - $15 when you can spend $1 - $3. Right?
Plus reduce, reuse, recycle and all that stuff. If a second hand store doesn't have them now they will, just keep checking back.
Trust me. Queen Princess Leia wouldn't lie to you.
p.s. Look here to learn how to turn these same glass shades into a birdfeeder and Look here to learn how I used them in the winter!
Holly
I can't wait to see what you do with them in the winter, but for now I'm going to try this for the summer. So glad I found your site through Marys Meanderings.
Toni
Hi, Karen! I just found your website from Kimba at A Soft Place to Land. I love this project! I am totally non-handy around the house. (I could be if I really wanted to, but I hate reading directions, trying to get precise measurements, etc. I make my husband do it! I can change light bulbs and kill roaches, ants, and spiders though!) I have been looking for a lighting solution to line the walkway to our front door and this would work perfectly. Off to Goodwill this week to look for the glass shades. Thanks for sharing!
kate
Really an awesome idea! I would like to do this in my garden area that is nowhere close to an outlet...I'm going to see if I buy really cheap solar garden lights to provided the light source...not sure if it would be strong enough to be pretty through a globe though...we'll see. Thanks for showing it, so nice!
Karen
Kate - You're right, the solar garden lights are usually pretty dim. Hopefully you can find some that are strong. I think the ones that run of a separate panel as opposed to having the solar panel on the top of them are stronger. Plus that way the solar panel won't be shaded. (if you get solar lights that have the solar source on top of the light, it'll be covered up and not getting enough sun if you put them in the glass shades. Good luck! ~ Karen!
mary
What a fantastic idea! Would you mind me sharing this idea on my blog with a link back to you?
Karen
Sure Mary! And thank you for asking! Just make sure to not post my whole post! When you do that, nobody comes back to my site to visit. (I did a post on how to properly re-post stuff a week or so ago) Glad you liked the orbs!
Kristine
Oh my goodness thank you so much for sharing. I am going to do this in my backyard! Thank you!!!!
JenniferH
I was wondering... have you tried doing these with multi-colored lighting, or other color strings (like orange around halloween?) I might have to try this in my yard!
Karen
Jennifer - That'd be a good idea for the holidays. My backyard is kind of "fancy" so I prefer the white for my yard, but colours would work for other, more casual backyards. I'm curious about what the multicoloured lights would look light. Hmm. ~ karen
Dee
Try amber lights, if you can find them.
S
Okay, I gotta ask... do you think the lighting keeps the slugs away from your hostas?
Karen
Huh! That's a good question. My chickens recently demolished one of my hostas. And I mean demolished. I wonder i the lights would keep THEM away! I don't know the answer to your question, but I'll be sure to keep an eye out this summer! I don't have a HUGE problem with slugs to begin with but I always have a few holes. ~ karen
Bambi
In regard to a problem with SLUGS.....I had this problem in the past and learned that if you use a little beer in bottle caps or other small vessels (metal glass jar lids) placed near or under whatever plants that they disappear.
Slugs love strawberries and other plants and evidently it is the smell or taste tht drives them away (any beer works).
So now you have a use for discarded bottle caps that you used to throw away....and they are easy to find and re-use.
Karen
Hi Bambi. Thanks! I've actually tried the beer and you're right it does work. The problem I've had with it is whenever it rains you have to go out and empty the drowned/drunk slugs. Maybe I"ll have to make little tents to go over the beer caps. Like tiny little beer gardens eerywhere, lol. ~ karen!
Sheila Earhart
Absolutely LOVE them!!!
Karen
Thanks Sheila! And thanks for visiting the site. ~ karen
Chera Logsdon
These are beautiful!!! Can't wait to go to my local thrift stores to look for some of them to make for myself....Thanks for sharing:))
Karen
Thanks Chera! I'll have even more ideas for these orbs in the summer so keep a lookout for them. :) ~ karen
Kristy Neeley
I forgot to mention i LOVE your writing style! You are a very talented writer. Thanks for the entertainment and crafty ideas at the same time!
Kristy of http://www.apronsandapples.blogspot.com
Karen
Thanks Kristy! I love writin' so I appreciate the compliment! ~ karen
Kristy Neeley
FABULOUS!! GREAT idea. I stocked up on those mini lights for $.37 each after Christmas at Walmart. I didn't know why.. NOW I DO! Thanks kristy from my crafty thrifty diy blog http://www.apronsandapples.blogspot.com
theaxx
this is ingenius!! i love it! ha!
thea.
xx
Spoonful zine.
Karen
Thanx theaxx! - Here they are again in a different setting outside, https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/outdoor-holiday-planters and if you watch the video in this post .. you can see how to use them in your house! https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/my-segment-with-steven-chrishow-to-decorate-for-cheap Their uses are never ending! ~ karen
Rosanne
Well I'm only a year late, so I'll try this fab idea this summer. I thought the moon was so bright last year, turns out, it was all the orbs alight because of you. I love this, especially the part where you say "reduce, reuse, recycle and all that crap". Bah!!
Robin Jensen
I'm so doing this! Also, You are hilarious!!
Karen
Thanks Robin! Check out this as well for the winter ... https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/outdoor-holiday-planters . The possibilities are endless really. ~ karen
Judy
How about using the battery operated mini lights??I've done those in wine bottleswith greenery around& on top!!
Karen
Judy - Give it a shot! You'd just have to make sure you got strong enough lights that would glow through the opaque glass and I'd probably do something to ensure the batteries were waterproofed if you kept them outside. Put the battery pack in tupperware or something. :) I like the plug in lights because I know they're meant for outdoor use and I can put them on a timer. ~ karen
Ali Winter
Shut the front door! These are SO fantastic! I saw a 2 pack at costco for considerably more than $3. Great Idea, I love thrift store shopping.
I found your blog through Pinterest, great way to get your stuff out there!
Karen
Ali - Thanks for the comment. Feel free to Pinterest any of my stuff. :) I have NO idea how to Pin things. I can barely, *barely* manage StumbleUpon. ~ karen!
Jenn
Did you do your winter photo shoot?
Karen
Jenn - Yes I did! Here it is .... https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/outdoor-holiday-planters ~ karen
Terry
Oh, fiddlesticks! I should have put this "cooking, baking and toenailcure on the place for kitchen, not the orbs! Sorry.
The orbs look beautiful and night and during the day they add that certain je ne sais quois that is so attractive and the whole effect, day and night, puts me in mind of the little gnomes and garden fairies that help us in making our gardens grow--and, dast I say here--glow? Ooh,may have stretched that one a bit. Nevertheless, they look just fine and are, at once, relaxing and inspiring. Thanks!
Terry
Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian neighbor. You look like I do when fully involved in the kitchen, pie-baking, roast beast basting, and so forth. Ain't it great?!
Now, on to that pesky ingrown toenail...cit a small "v" in the middle of the offending nail, The toenail will grow towards the center leaving you with a pain-free toe. It takes a little while but it always works. You may just have to do this every so often. OK, enough pre-table T'giving talk. Do you make stuffing? What kind? What veggies are you making. Oooh, this is so exciting because it makes me want to get into the good kitchen and start thinking, doing and turning out great food. Best of Luck and thanks for your sharing!
DzynByJules
OMG! I thought I was the MacGuyver of cheap/inventive decor, but I tip my tiara to you, AGAIN!!! I am TOTALLY inspired, AGAIN! Twice in one evening! I'm speeding over to the Goodwill tomorrow, Mach 2 with my hair on fire, to scoop up all the orbs I can get my hands on! Now I have an excuse to break into my bins of "I can't throw out these partially good tangles of lights, cause I know I'll find the PERFECT use for them someday" random Christmas stuff, now I know I didn't save them for nothing! My husband will be thrilled! YOU ARE THE BEST! I'm going to line the garden beds of my front walkway for Halloween with this over the top outstanding idea! SQUEALS!!!!!!!!! Thanks again Karen! Jules