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!
Gina Parker Wallace
Came to ur site via a FB friend's referral link. Truly, I rarely resemble puppy-like manners by following links to (usually BORING AS HELL) "DIY" sites , but in this case, I'm very glad I did! Not only did I find the simplicity of the info presented to be mega comically pleasing, but the variety of images and their arrangements in presentation, were spot on. All in all, THE REASON I've troubled myself to pen this in history is to compliment the writing style of this piece. It's my first visit here... but not my last. Ohhhh, the ORB STORY... written by a male or female? Just curious cuz it's friendly and whimsical. -- Thanks for reading. Gina, KC, MO
Karen
Gina - I am indeed a woman. If you click on the "about" section under the picture of me holding a fish you can read all about me. This entire site is written by me. I post every day about a variety of things. You are guaranteed at least one laugh and one bit of information you didn't know before in each post. Thanks for coming by. ~ karen!
Brenda
Wow wow wow is all i can say!! Absolutly genius!!
Ive been thinking about them, and realized i have several gazing balls, some cracked and not in the best condtion but still pretty because of the colors! Im going to try doing this with them. I wont put them so close u can see the wires only the pretty colors! Its worth a try!!!! I just love this idea. Thank u
Karen
Hi Brenda! Thank you for commenting! I must admit, I was pretty impressed with my own brilliance with this idea, LOL. It's been 4 or 5 years and they're still going strong! ~ karen
Stephanie
Wait how do the lights light up without it plugged in?
Karen
Hi Stephanie. The lights are plugged in. You run an extension cord to them and hide it under the dirt or mulch. ~ Karen!
Sylvie
Bonjour,
The light ball will light in Quebec this summer!
Merci,
Sylvie
Karen
Tres bien! ~ karen
Kimberly
Love Love! I found a large and small globe at the Habitat 4 Humanity ReStore, where I am known as the lady that loves hideous lamps. I have purchased a couple which I refurbished into garden art. In my globes I used solar lights for now. Also found a lovely old mushroom shaped lamp cover. I don't dare risk putting it where it may get beaned with a large pine cone.
Karen
LOL. Good thinkin'. Use the mushroom one inside! I have one of the globes on my mantle. ~ karen!
PAT
OMG! I HAVE SOME OF THESE IN THE CLOSET! I BOUGHT FOR HALLWAY LIGHT AND DON'T FIT! PERRRRFECT! THANKS! and by the way....LOVE your back area!
Karen
LOL! Well get those things out! Thanks Pat. ~ karen!
teri
I have GOT to getto the goodwill store or somewhere to get some of these orbz!!!!!!! Love ur website!!!!!
Karen
Thanks Teri! :) ~ karen
Christine
Hi! I forgot how I found myself here, but it seems it's yet again! I'd seen your neat tutorial on these orbs and was determined to figure it out for my own garden. I started picking the globes up at the resale places I frequent.
In the meanwhile, Wal-Mart had these great LED stake lights on sale for [wait for it] ninety nine cents! Sadly, I only bought 10 and they were gone. However.
I put them in the garden and put the orbs, both milky and clear, over them. Then I crossed my fingers. When I came home from work that night, there were these fairy lights in my gardens! All across the yard, tucked in different places.
They faded about 2:00 in the morning, but in the meanwhile, I was in heaven!
Thanks for the great idea!
Karen
Good job Christine! You must have got some good LED lights. Some of them are awful! Congrats. :) ~ karen!
Susannah
Woohoo! Can't wait to try this...thank you!
Hpf
Garden lights
Tarquin
Hey, I love this idea!! But I'm a little cautious about the safety. I know wires wrapped around each other can cause problems in terms of possible fires. How'd you go about dealing with that? I'd love to utilize this idea in my garden, but I don't want anything burning! Thanks Karen :)
Lynne
All I can say is.............YOU ROCK!!!:) Love...love...LOVE this! Seriously, can't wait to do this......now just to get my hubby to get some electic outlets outside on my 1917 home:)
Karen
Lynne - Thanks! We had one plug outside, but a few years ago I had an electrician come in and put in a few more plugs. Not enough of course, but a few more. ~ karen
karina
Wonderful :-) great idea thanks
Christina
Love this idea! I have an antique glass orb with nubs on it that I have been looking to use for something and now I have it!
Roxanne
I write a blog that has crafts made from recycled items. I would love to feature your lights, they are wonderful! I would give you credit and link back to your blog for directions and details. Let me know if that would be ok with you.
Thanks,
Roxanne
Karen
Sure, Roxanne. Thanks for asking! ~ karen
Roxanne
Thanks so much for letting me use your idea on my blog, you can find it at http://www.billsautoparts.net/blog
I love all of your ideas and you inspire me to be a better blogger. You are a wonderful writer and very fun to read so it's a lot to live up to!!!
Thanks again,
Roxanne
Rancher
OMG. I just bought five white and five colored light sets for 99 cents. each
Debbie
Have you had a problem with the orbs getting too hot with the lights inside them?
Carolyn Malphrus
Love your ideas!!
Karen
Thanks Carolyn! ~ karen
Christine
I can't believe it!
I have been buying these at a reuse center for a couple of months. I found some small, Westinghouse solar LED lights on tiny stakes. About a month ago I stuck them in my gardens and put my globes on them!
They glow so verily in the evening, eventually fading as the night gets late.
I'm going to have to look for some of those minilights for those closer to the house.
Thanks for the great idea!
Peggy
Karen, I wish I could go shopping with you so you could give me some good pointers! Or better still, I wish I lived next door to you....you are Awesome! I'm going to the thrift store today!!! Hopefully I'll find some globes...can't wait to try them. I already have outdoor outlets on my pergola. Thanks for all your ingenious ideas!! Keep em coming!
Karen
Peggy - You have an outlet right in your pergola? Fancy! And handy! ~ karen
Cindy
You can also find these globes at Habit for Humanity Restores. I love those stores. They have everything.
Karen
OOoooooo! I love them too! I should take a trip to one soon. ~ k!