Lightbulb recycling is a growing hobby, and is limited only by your own creavity. This lightbulb recycling project shows just how attractive that old, burned out bulb can be!
Recycled Lightbulb - Supplies for my Faux Birdhouse Bulb:
burned out lightbulb
flat primer spray paint for the base coat
acrylic paints in hunter green, white, dusty rose and blueberry
small sections of raffia
very thin pieces of grapevine
florist's wire
acrylic sealer spray
What You Do:
You switch on the light and "poof" the bulb is a goner! Don't throw that burned out bulb away, let it "brighten-up" your room in a completely new way!
We are told time and again, how wise it is to recycle. But aside from tossing a light bulb into the recycle bin how can you re-use an old bulb? Create a unique ornament. The possibilities are virtually endless with this project. Use them to create Christmas tree decorations, or create a faux birdhouse. Heck, you could even use a light bulb for a doll's head! (Obviously you wouldn't allow a child to play with that doll, but how cute a rag doll made from recycled odds and ends would look up on your shelf.)
Here's my own version of the recycled and reinvented bulb. I used a primer spray so that my craft paints would better adhere. After it dried I just painted on a design then sprayed on a sealer and added some "camouflage" to the metal part of the bulb. This is just one tiny example of the possibilities you could create with an ordinary light bulb. Paint it, decoupage it, sponge or texture it's entirely up to you. I would NOT recommend you do this to a bulb you plan to use in a light fixture. While there are high temperature paints on the market, I am not sure of the results one would achieve and ordinary craft paints should not be used on extreme heat. (At best it will bubble, worst yet it could catch on fire.)
Enjoy and have fun finding new uses for the ordinary lightbulb!
AWESOME IDEAS ON THIS SITE. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK OF THIS SITE,ALOT OF US DONT SAY HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE N LOVE THIS SITE. THANK YOU ALL WbeepDO THE WORK OF THIS AWESOME NUMBER 1 SITE!! KUDOS TO ALL INVOLVED IN THIS SITE!!
renee hainer – Milwaukee,Wisconsin
June 21, 2008 - 23:00
I have made oil lamps from burned out light blubs
priyanka – india
June 07, 2008 - 09:22
excelllent use of waste.good going.
Randi Dale – Alaska
May 18, 2008 - 03:36
I made some really cute snowmen ornaments last year for the Holiday Bazaar, one of my best sellers. I used enamel Folk Art paints since it's very difficult to spray paint anything outside in the winter in Alaska. I'm glad to see someone else using these great discard-ables (trash) for a great collectible. Kudos to you!
Darlene – Nevada
April 30, 2008 - 18:42
This is a real cute Idea love them all. Thank you for this site It helps to be able to see some other great ideas,It gets the mind flowing again for some of us it takes a while. thank you again Darlene
Since this article was first published, the list of recycled light bulbs on our site has grown extensively. They are a natural for Christmas decorating.
Each project includes photos and specific instructions to help you reproduce the craft successfully. Check out your favourites:
Angel Lightbulb Craft
Elf Lightbulb Craft
Frosty the Lightbulb
Santa Lightbulb
Victorian Doily Lightbulb
Cardinal Lightbulb