It’s time to start our Christmas and holiday craft projects. Yeah, I know I’m a little early but this next project will take you several weeks to make but don’t let that turn you off! These outdoor faux Christmas Lights were made by using foam footballs from the Dollar Tree store and a few other items! They resemble those vintage C9 lightbulbs from decades past.
How to use them once finished? Well, I’m going to give you a few ideas! You can hang them from trees, pine garlands, fences, banisters across the front porch or back deck, lampposts, etc. You can use them indoors or outdoors! I’m currently working on 12 of them in the following primary colors: red, yellow, blue, green, orange, and purple.
Materials list below is per faux light that you want to make. To save money buy the foam footballs at Dollar Tree along with the acrylic paints and paint brushes. Then pick up a bottle of Gorilla Glue and a large container of Modge Podge, glossy finish. Let’s go!
Outdoor Faux Christmas Lights Decoration
Foam Football
Plastic Cap from Prescription Medication Bottle
Gorilla Glue
Scissors
Acrylic Paint in desired colors
Paint Brush
Foam Brush
Modge Podge Outdoor Waterproof Sealer
Florist Wire
Awl (or something to poke 2 holes in the plastic bottle cap)
Paint the entire foam football with 2-3 coats of acrylic paint in your desired color allowing for 30-45 minutes of drying time between coats. You could use spray paint if you want to speed up the process but it will cost you more to make the project.
While the football is drying poke 2 holes into the top of the plastic prescription bottle cap. Paint the cap with 2 coats of acrylic paint. You want to use either a gold metallic color or a silver metallic color. Let dry.
Once the foam football and plastic cap are completely dry you want to coat them with 2 coats of Modge Podge in a glossy finish using a foam brush. Be generous with each coat as you want this to seal the paint so that they can be used outside. Let thoroughly dry.
Measure 8″ of thick florist wire. Poke it through the 2 holes you made in the plastic cap to form a hanging loop. Twist the two ends together underneath the cap to secure it. Use a generous amount of Gorilla Glue to attach the cap to the top of the foam football. (to get the football to stand up straight during the drying process I placed it in a metal empty coffee can). Let dry until the glue has set.
They’re very easy to make…just a little time consuming so get the kids and grandchildren involved! Once I get all of mine made…they’ll be hung up on a large tree in our front yard that we decorate for the Christmas holiday. After the season is over…bring them inside and let them dry out for a few days before you pack them away for next year. You can make as many as you want and in any color that may need.
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This is another wonderful craft. I would never have thought to repurpose a foam football in this manner.
This is a good way to brighten up the outside yard during this time of year.
These are such a neat idea for outdoor holiday decor. Love the colors you used. I would have to put these outside as my cat would have a ball playing with these.
You are so very creative. You can see so many possibilities in things I don’t.