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!
tiffany
Okay, aside from the fact that this is a super great idea. You're super funny. Reduce, reuse, recycle and all that crap. Love you!
Karen
Tiffany! Woah, woah, WOAH. Moving a little fast there don't you think? I mean, I'm fond of you, but love? That's a special word. Uch. Fine. You bullied me into it. I love you too. Now I feel dirty. ~ karen!
Marie Vlasic
Karen, I love you! This is friggin' brilliant, and I WILL be doing it, like, this week. Have you tried it with colored lights? You are a woman after my own heart, if we teamed up we could rule the world ;-) -Marie Vlasic
Karen
Well that's an extraordinary thought. In my world the national bird would be french fries. Glad you like the globes! ~ karen!
Elfrieda
Just came across your site -- great ideas. I started putting these orbs together some mints ago with old Christmas lights. I'd suggest stocking up on them when they are in the stores later on, as they are being replaced with the led variety.
Vicky
You don't need an outlet. Get battery operated lights with a timer. They last about a year without changing the batteries. QVC has the string lights. Bethlehem lights are on there all through the year, especially now through Christmas.
Janet Rahe
How cool is that? Love the ideas!
Karen
Thanks Janet - karen~
Linda
We did this but used a old gazing ball. Not good with that as it got to hot.. were in south Texas and it gets in the 100's! this with bottom open would be better! Thanks!
Karen
Linda - Believe it or not it gets the same temperature here! Not for long and not often, but it does. (Southern Ontario, Canada) If you get the glass orbs like mine with the mini lights it'll be fine. :) ~ karen!
Donna Willis
you could use glow in the dark spray paint ,and you can find the glass at rehab centers,a lot of interesting stuff there,and its all cheap.
Nancy
C'est le 3 juin ! Je suis a Gatineau au Québec !!
Karen
Bienvenue sur mon site, Nancy! ~ karen
Linda Hines
I found you via Confessions of Craft Witches link on Facebook. Love your ideas!
Karen
Thanks for letting me know Linda! Welcome to my site. ~ karen!
To
I found your fancy orbs on Facebook.....Crafty Witches page!
laurel
I saw this on Facebook on the Confessions of Craft Witches page.
Susan
I found you on facebook,cool idea!
Mary
Confessions of Crafty Witches posted the link in their Facebook stream and that's where I found it.
They post all kinds of things, including yard art, gardening tips, etc.
https://www.facebook.com/ConfessionsOfCraftyWitches?ref=stream&hc_location=stream
Sara
Saw your idea on facebook via "Confessions of Crafty Witches" page. Super cool idea - I'm definitely going to try this. Thanks for the idea! If you have your own FB page I'd love to know.
Karen
Thanks Sara - I do have a Facebook page. Just look at the very top right of my website and you'll see the "f" for Facebook. Just click it, then like the page. :) ~ karen!
Suzette
Hey, it's June 3, and "Confessions of Craft Witches" on Facebook posted your orbs. They're fantastic btw. So, anyway, there's your traffic.
Karen
Thanks Suzette! Thanks for letting me know. Usually Pinterest is the forerunner for this post, but not tonight. ~ karen!
Suzette
Oh, and I misspelled; it's Confessions of Crafty Witches, not Craft. Sorry about that.
Cindy Adams Ashworth
confessions of crafty witches... fb
Karen
THanks Cindy! ~ karen
Connie
This is a great idea, but don't leave them on for too long a time, those wires heat up, and melts into one great blob inside. I had done this with a glass bowl, open end up, and it got terribly hot and melted inside, and cracked the globe as well.
Karen
Hi Connie. I think you may have had some defective lights. There may have been a short. They shouldn't melt into a blob no matter what! Yikes. I've had my lights run all night all summer long and never had a problem. Again ... Yikes! - karen!
Karen Manasco
Don't I feel like a complete doodie head. This is such a simple, yet fantastic idea. Like forks and spoons! Wow, thank you so much for sharing this!
Karen
You're welcome Karen! I just set mine up for the summer today. :) ~ karen
Janet
That was such an awesome idea. I have lighting all over my yard.
Karen
Excellent! Glad you like it. ~ karen!
Shana Swindle
Absolutely Brilliant! Thanks so much for the idea and inspiration! I have a question though, what kind of extension cord do you use that can withstand the all the water the outdoor elements bring?
Karen
Hi Shana - All you need is an extension cord approved for outdoor use. Any hardware store will carry them. ~ karen!