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Last updated on March 24th, 2025 at 11:42 pm

white globe light bulb painted with an adorable snowman face

Here’s an easy project for the kids. The painting is all done with a toothpick and cotton swab. It’s a good idea to wipe your bulb with a little white vinegar to remove any oils that may be on the surface. Have the kids wash their hands before handling the lightbulb and make sure they know that the bulb is made of breakable glass.

Start with a White Globe Bulb

This Christmas recycling project is meant for use with a burned-out white globe light bulb. Because the bulb is already a shiny white, painting the background of the snowman’s face is unnecessary. All you need to do is add the adorable facial details with some easy daubs of paint.

In case you don’t know what I mean by a globe light bulb (Amazon) check out this link to Amazon and you’ll see lots of options. I’m not suggesting you buy one, but the page is useful if you’re wondering exactly what type of light bulb is used for this craft project.

Craft Supplies:

Small white globe light bulb (bulb area almost the same size as a standard bulb)
Glass or metal paints in blue, red, white and white
Black felt
Christmas ornamental scraps
6 inches of black ribbon
Cotton swab (Q-tip)
toothpick

More Winter Craft Projects by Susan Spatone: Mr and Mrs Snowman Mittens, Candlecup Snowman, Bisque Snowman, Thread Spool Snowman.

How to:

You will need a circle of black felt, that is between 2 1/2 and 3 inches across. This circle can be a little crooked, in fact it looks much sweeter with a little jagged hat. Cut a small circle in the centre of your felt circle, a little smaller than the socket of the lightbulb. The felt will stretch when you pull it over the light socket.

Paint the socket of the bulb with black paint, using a cotton swab. Allow this paint to dry completely. Using a cotton swab, dipped in blue paint, add one dot for each eye, another cotton swab dipped in black paint for the nose and then wet a clean cotton swab, dip the wet swab in red paint, then in white and mix together on the swab. Gently dab a few dots to create the cheeks.

Using a toothpick dipped in red paint, paint a mouth and another toothpick dipped in black paint to add a few scribbled lines above the eyes.

Glue your strip of black ribbon, to the sides of the socket (the ribbon ends will be hidden under the hat), gluing all the way up the socket and at the top of the socket (see photo), pinching the ribbon together at the top of the socket. You need this extra secure for your hanger to remain in place. Allow the glue to dry completely before you continue.

Add a little ring of tacky glue around the socket edge, where it meets the bulb and pull the hat over the socket, down to the bulb. Press the felt hat brim against the tacky glue and allow to dry.

Once the glue is dry, using tacky glue add a few embellishments to the front of the hat. This not only looks pretty, it disguises the socket of the lightbulb. Everything is secured to the bulb using tacky glue only and it works perfectly.