Monday, September 12, 2011

Jack-O-Lantern Light Bulb Ornament Tutorial

Hey everyone, gathering Halloween craft ideas yet? I have a 28" feather tree that gets decorated for the holidays/seasons. Here's a cute homemade Jack-O-Lantern ornament that's a good scale for smaller trees. You don't even have to dig out the Christmas lights for bulbs, the stores are usually selling Christmas things in October so you can pick them up fairly easily!

You'll need:
If you have green raffia, even better!

Holding the light bulb (whichever way is more comfortable) draw the face on with the Sharpie.
Let the ink dry, only takes a couple minutes.

Tie the raffia around the cap of the bulb. Make a long and short end, the short end should be 6-8".

Keeping the knot on the side of the face (think ear) pull the short end straight up.
Wrap the raffia around the cap a couple times, moving up and covering the short end as you do.

Keep the last wrap loose and tuck the end in the loop, like a slip knot.
Pull it tight, making sure it's on the other side of the face.

Pull both ends of the raffia straight up, if they've split apart and look sloppy give each string a twist.

Work with it until the pumpkin hangs straight and you are happy, then tie a knot in the raffia.
Notes: 
  • These pictures were with the smaller bulb, it's much easier to work with the bigger C9 bulbs.
  • Raffia is slippery, it's a good idea to run some glue up the back securing the raffia to itself and the cap when done.
  • You can sub yarn or thin ribbon for the raffia.
  • You can always just simply wrap the raffia around the cap and tie it off. I stuck a Christmas ornament hook through the raffia in the bigger bulb, you can see that it leans... If you come up with an easier way to hang them kindly share in the comments in case it might help others:@)
  • Jane of Blondie's Journal suggested making a garland out of them, love that idea!
  • If you have any Halloween rub-offs with faces that might be another option.
  • If you have a brown Sharpie, it might be fun to make some vertical "ridges" in the pumpkin.
  • Repurposing older, beaten up bulbs would look pretty neat too.
  • These are obviously glass, while this is a silly fun project, it does require close supervision if kids are involved. 
  • I suggest putting down some newspaper or something as a buffer over the table so that if one drops, it won't break. Or better yet, do this project sitting on the floor on a rug with kids.