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.
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!
Carol Anne
Love this idea! I pinned it a while back. And today, was bumping around Pinterest again and found another project I was interested in. I went to the site and started looking around. I saw your project there, word for word. And no credit given. I had to find my original pin and let you know. http://interests11.blogspot.com/2012/03/glowing-outdoor-orbs.html
As I looked around this site, I saw tons of things I'd seen on Pinterest with no credits. Might want to look around and make sure none of your other projects are there!
I blogged for a while and this wouldn't have sat well with me, so I wanted to let you know.
Karen
Thanks Carol Anne! I so appreciate you taking the time to let me know. I just filed a copyright infringement notice against them. ~ karen!
mary timmers
What a great idea! And just in time for summer!
Karen
Thanks Mary. ~ karen!
Reg
Found your site this morning after watching a segment on a local tv program. Absolutely love this site. Easy to navigate for those of us that are tech challenged and a certain 'vintage'.
There are so many things I'm looking forward to reading and even trying to do if the mood strikes me.
The Glowing Outdoor Orbs will be first because it's so easy and I have to do something with that mountain of tangled Christmas lights eventually.
Karen
Glad you found my site Reg! I actually started out my television career at TV Hamilton Cable 14 many, MANY years ago with Mike Nabuurs who is now on 820 Cham. Please remember to vote for me! It would be fantastic to have a Canadian win this thing. ~ karen
Amy
Gosh, I love the fountain the best. You kind of explained in another comment how to make it. But I need details, because this NEEDS to go in my yard. Your yard is beautiful! I would never leave :)
Karen
Hi Amy - Thx! Do you mean my waterfall? It'd take a whole lot more time than I have to explain how I did that! If you search "backyard" in the search bar of my sidebar you can see the whole backyard and how I rebuilt it all, including putting in a contemporary pond with slate waterfall. :) Although I don't include instructions on the waterfall, but there are a few construction pictures of it. ~ karen!
mona
I love this idea....can't wait to try this in my yard....thanks for the inspiration.
Mona
Karen
You're very welcome Mona! ~ karen
Christen
I absolutely love this idea and just spotted some light covers at our local Re-Store so I can't wait to make them! I included this idea in a weekly round-up on my blog. Thanks for the inspiration: http://www.ourlifestyled.com/2012/02/favorite-friday-travel-and-home.html
Karen
Thanks Christen! Yup. It's a popular one that particular DIY. :) ~ karen
Michelle
Genius! I love to reduce, reuse & recycle, but not look like I do! This is just perfect. Thank you!
Laura Wallace
You crack me up, love the way you write!! Cool orbs too, looking into this project before summer gets here. Thanks for sharing!!
Karen
Thanks Laura. Welcome to my site! ~ karen
Cheri
I love this idea and look forward to reading more of your blog and seeing more fantastic projects! I love doing the "champagne taste on a beer budget" here! Or "decorating on a shoestring" as we say here in the south! It's fun to brag about how little you spend!
I have pinned a couple of your pictures too!
Thanks for sharing~
Cheri
The Curtain Lady
Karen
Thank you ma'am. Welcome to the site. Sometimes I swear. Don't be alarmed. ~ karen
Judy Hoover
This is the best idea ever!!!!I have tons of old Christmas lights. May even use a few that twinkle. Wouldn't that be cool? Thanks
Karen
You're very welcome Judy! ~ karen
kathy
I just wanted to tell you, you are a freaking genius!! That is just beautiful!
Karen
Thanks Kathy. I was just at a Goodwill store thinking to myself ... look at that lonely glass shade. I should tell someone what they can do with it! Then I decided I'd better not. ~ karen
audrey
do this
Edba
I'm so glad I found this on Pinterest! I have some of those glass orbs already from old light fixtures that were in my home.
Did you ever do a post showing what you did in winter? I'd like to see that too!
Karen
Hi Edba - Yup ... I've done a couple of other things with the orbs ... https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/outdoor-orbs-part-ii-how-to-make-a-birdfeeder-from-glass-shades/ for the summer and https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/outdoor-holiday-planters/ for the winter. Welcome to my site! ~ karen
Daricia @aCLTgarden
absolutely brilliant! (no pun intended!) lovely idea all around. glad to see it on pinterest!
Karen
Daricia - Thanks! I'm pretty happy to see it on Pinterest too. :) ~ karen
Jaime
I just have to say! This article was helpful and awesomely written! You made me laugh out loud! So funny!!!!
Karen
Thanks Jaime! Glad you found my site. ~ karen!
Nicole J @ Pampers & Pumps
What a simple and genius idea! Can't wait to do this to my yard!
Karen
Nicole J - Once you start making them you won't be able to stop. You'll put them everywhere. Your yard, your house, your neighbour's yard ... ~ karen!
Lorraine Dean
Karen,
I have been waiting to do this in my garden for ages, and it looks so great.
Love reading your post, and getting my daily dose of a good laugh and inspiration.
Keep up the good work.
Your biggest fan in Tasmania, Australia.
Ramona
What a great tip. But I've got to tell you, I love the commentary even more. Great writing style.
Karen
Thanks Ramona! ~ karen
jean
I can hardly wait to try this. The orbs are simply beautiful.
Karen
Jean - They're reallyyyy easy and the satisfaction from them is instant! Have fun. ~ karen
JWH
I am so doing this and I am going to use some old colored lights when we decorate this next week for Christmas..Watch out Goodwill here I come.
Karen
Hi JWH. Next week I'm going to show how I've used the same shades indoors. Good luck at the Goodwill! ~ karen!