Old Light Bulb Crafts: 15 Christmas Ornaments Nobody Will Guess Came From the Junk Drawer

Old light bulb crafts turn the burned out bulbs rattling around in your junk drawer into Christmas ornaments and gifts that cost next to nothing. The trend is huge online right now, with short bulb makeover videos racking up millions of views, and it is easy to see why. A plain clear bulb already has the perfect round shape for a snowman belly, a penguin body or a tiny snow globe. Below you will find 15 ideas, from painted characters for the tree to a little herb planter and a gift box made for Grandma. One quick safety note before you start: use only old clear incandescent bulbs, never LED or CFL bulbs, and never take a bulb apart. Handle each one gently, work on a folded towel, and keep finished ornaments up high, away from small children and pets..

Old Light Bulb Crafts Start With a Snowman Ornament

The snowman is the perfect first project because the round end of a bulb already looks like a jolly snowman belly. This idea is also all over social media: creator PaintellectualPriyA shared a short called Old Bulb DIY Ideas, and it has racked up more than 8 million views in about four months. Two coats of white paint, a dot face and a tiny felt hat is all it takes. If you love the painted look, our hand painted ornaments have plenty more ideas to try next..

You will need: 1 old clear incandescent bulb, white acrylic paint, black and orange paint pens, black felt, a short piece of red knit fabric, ribbon, craft glue.

How to make it: 1. Wipe the bulb clean and paint it white, letting each coat dry well. 2. Dot on coal eyes, a smile and an orange carrot nose. 3. Roll black felt into a small hat that covers the metal cap and glue a ribbon loop on top. 4. Tie a short red scarf around the neck.

Pick the Right Bulbs for Old Light Bulb Crafts

Every project in this gallery starts the same way: with the right kind of bulb. Look for old clear or frosted incandescent bulbs, the rounded kind with a metal cap and a thin filament inside. These projects never use LED or CFL bulbs, because those contain electronics, and CFL bulbs hold a small amount of mercury. Ask family members to save burned out bulbs for you, and check yard sales for a bag of spares. Like other recycled holiday decor, this is a fun way to give something a second life.

You will need: Old clear incandescent bulbs, mild dish soap, a soft cloth, a folded towel, thin cotton gloves.

How to make it: 1. Sort your bulbs and set aside any with cracks or chips. 2. Wash each one gently in soapy water, keeping the metal cap dry. 3. Dry with a soft cloth and let them sit on a folded towel. 4. Wear thin gloves while you work for a better grip.

Penguin Bulb Ornament With a Felt Scarf

Turn the bulb upside down and suddenly you have a plump little penguin. The narrow end becomes the head and the wide end makes a round, waddling tummy. Paint the back black, leave a white oval for the front, and add a tiny orange beak cut from felt. A two color scarf makes it feel cozy and wintry. Kids love helping with this one, and it pairs well with these clever ornament tricks for a full tree of easy handmade pieces.

You will need: 1 old bulb, black and white acrylic paint, orange felt, red and green felt pieces, googly eyes, ribbon, craft glue.

How to make it: 1. Paint the bulb white and let it dry. 2. Paint a black back and wings, leaving a white tummy. 3. Glue on felt feet, a beak and googly eyes. 4. Tie a felt scarf and add a ribbon loop at the cap.

Tiny Succulent Bulb Terrarium

A clear bulb also makes a charming mini terrarium for a desk or windowsill. This one only works if an adult carefully removes the inner parts, so many crafters skip that step and buy ready made bulb shaped vases instead, which look the same and are safer. Add a layer of small pebbles, a pinch of soil and a baby succulent. Mist it lightly once a week. For more tiny gardens, see our Christmas terrarium ideas for gift friendly ideas.

You will need: A bulb shaped craft vase or a prepared bulb, small pebbles, cactus soil, a baby succulent, long tweezers, a spray bottle.

How to make it: 1. Pour a spoonful of pebbles into the bulb. 2. Add a little cactus soil with a paper funnel. 3. Set the succulent in place with long tweezers. 4. Mist lightly and keep it in bright, indirect light.

Old Light Bulb Crafts for the Tree: A Red Nosed Reindeer

This reindeer may be the cutest of all the old light bulb crafts, and it is also one of the fastest. Paint the bulb a warm brown, twist two pipe cleaners around the metal cap for antlers, and add big googly eyes. A shiny red pom pom nose turns it into everyone’s favorite reindeer. Make a set of eight and hang them in a row along the tree. Pair them with our handmade Christmas ornaments for a fun mix of styles.

You will need: 1 old bulb, brown acrylic paint, 2 brown pipe cleaners, googly eyes, a red pom pom, ribbon, craft glue.

How to make it: 1. Paint the bulb brown and let it dry. 2. Twist the pipe cleaners around the metal cap and bend them into antlers. 3. Glue on the eyes and the red nose. 4. Tie a ribbon loop to the antlers for hanging.

Sideways Herb Planter for the Windowsill

Lay a prepared bulb on its side and it becomes a quirky little planter for fresh herbs. A sprig of mint or basil looks lovely spilling out of the opening, and it makes a sweet gift for a friend who likes to cook. Set the bulb on a small ring of jute cord or a wooden stand so it cannot roll. This idea works with a store bought bulb vase too. Find more clever reuse ideas in our plastic bottle upcycles gallery.

You will need: A prepared bulb or bulb shaped vase, potting soil, a mint or basil cutting, a jute cord ring or small wooden stand.

How to make it: 1. Lay the bulb on its side on the jute ring. 2. Spoon in soil with a paper funnel. 3. Tuck in a rooted herb cutting. 4. Water with a few drops and keep it on a sunny sill.

Santa Face Bulb With a Fluffy Beard

Santa gets a jolly makeover on this bulb. Paint the upper half a soft peach, add rosy cheeks and two happy eyes, then glue on a fluffy beard made from cotton batting. A red felt hat with a white trim hides the metal cap perfectly. Every Santa will look a little different, which is half the fun. Display one in a bowl of pine sprigs or hang him up high, then browse our Santa sleigh decor for more holiday cheer.

You will need: 1 old bulb, peach, pink and black acrylic paint, cotton batting, red and white felt, ribbon, craft glue.

How to make it: 1. Paint the face area peach and let it dry. 2. Add pink cheeks and dot eyes. 3. Glue a cotton batting beard around the lower half. 4. Wrap red felt into a cone hat over the cap and trim it with white felt.

Frosty Tinsel Nest Centerpiece

Not every bulb needs paint. A few plain clear bulbs nestled into a bed of shiny blue or silver tinsel make a frosty centerpiece that sparkles all season. Use a shallow tray or a low wooden box, fill it with tinsel, and tuck in three or five bulbs at different angles. Add a few pine sprigs for color. It takes only a few moments to set up, and our tinsel Christmas decor has even more ways to use that shiny trim.

You will need: 3 to 5 clear old bulbs, blue or silver tinsel garland, a shallow tray or low box, a few pine sprigs.

How to make it: 1. Fill the tray with loose loops of tinsel. 2. Nestle the bulbs in at different angles. 3. Tuck pine sprigs around the edges. 4. Set it on the table away from the edge.

Gingerbread Man Bulb With Puffy Paint Icing

This gingerbread man looks good enough to eat, but please do not try. Paint the bulb a warm cookie brown, then pipe on white puffy paint squiggles that look just like royal icing. Two red dots make candy dots and a sweet smile finishes the face. The puffy paint dries raised, so it really does look like a frosted cookie. Hang a few next to the ideas in our gingerbread Christmas decor for a bakery themed tree.

You will need: 1 old bulb, brown acrylic paint, white puffy paint, red paint pen, black paint pen, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Paint the bulb brown with two coats. 2. Pipe white puffy paint zigzags at the top and bottom. 3. Add eyes, a smile and red candy dots. 4. Let it dry flat for a full day, then add a ribbon loop.

Rustic Bulb Garland on Jute Rope

Tie a few clear bulbs along a length of jute rope and you have a rustic garland with a cool industrial look. Wrap a short piece of cord tightly around each metal cap, add a dot of glue, and knot it to the main rope every eight inches or so. It looks great across a mantel or a bookshelf. Keep it unplugged and simply decorative. For more swag ideas, check out our DIY Christmas garland roundup.

You will need: 5 to 7 clear old bulbs, jute rope, thin jute cord, craft glue, scissors.

How to make it: 1. Wrap thin cord tightly around each metal cap and glue the end. 2. Knot each bulb to the main rope about eight inches apart. 3. Trim the ends neatly. 4. Hang it across a mantel with small hooks.

Snow Globe Old Light Bulb Crafts With a Tiny Tree

A prepared clear bulb makes a magical little snow globe ornament. Inside, a tiny bottle brush tree stands in a drift of faux snow, and a red velvet bow hides the metal cap. If you do not want to prepare a bulb, a clear fillable ornament in a bulb shape gives the same look in a snap. Give it a gentle shake and the snow drifts around the tree. Our fillable Christmas ornaments gallery has many more ideas for filling clear shapes.

You will need: 1 prepared clear bulb or bulb shaped fillable ornament, a mini bottle brush tree, faux snow, red velvet ribbon, craft glue, long tweezers.

How to make it: 1. Pour in a spoonful of faux snow. 2. Glue the base of the tiny tree and set it in place with tweezers. 3. Let the glue dry. 4. Tie a velvet bow around the cap and add a hanging loop.

Icy Dew Drop Finish

Want a bulb that looks like it was left out on a frosty morning? Dab tiny dots of clear dimensional glue all over a clean bulb and let them dry. They look just like melting ice drops and catch every bit of daylight. Leave some bulbs plain and dot others heavily for a fun mix. This finish is lovely on a white or silver tree. For another icy look, our frosted mason jars use a similar trick on jars.

You will need: Clear old bulbs, clear dimensional glue or clear gel medium, a toothpick, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Clean the bulb and let it dry. 2. Dot clear glue all over in different sizes. 3. Drag a few dots down with a toothpick so they look like drips. 4. Dry for a full day and add a ribbon loop.

Angel Old Light Bulb Crafts With Lace Wings

This sweet angel is one of the prettiest old light bulb crafts to give as a keepsake. Paint the bulb a soft white with a touch of gold, add a simple face, and glue a pair of lace wings to the back. A gold pipe cleaner bent into a ring makes the halo. Use lace from an old doily or a thrift store collar to keep the upcycled theme going. You will find more heavenly projects in our Christmas angel crafts gallery.

You will need: 1 old bulb, white and gold acrylic paint, a lace doily or lace trim, a gold pipe cleaner, paint pens, ribbon, craft glue.

How to make it: 1. Paint the bulb white and brush gold onto the lower half. 2. Draw a simple face with paint pens. 3. Fold lace into wings and glue them to the back. 4. Twist a gold pipe cleaner halo around the cap.

Winter Blue Bulb Branch Display

Hang a handful of clear bulbs from a branch of dried leaves painted icy blue for a modern winter display. Set the branch in a heavy vase or a pot filled with stones, then tie the bulbs on with thin silver cord at different heights. The clear shapes look like falling icicles. It is a calm, wintry piece you can leave up until spring. For more seasonal styling, browse our winter decor ideas too.

You will need: A leafy dried branch, light blue spray paint, a heavy vase or pot with stones, 5 clear old bulbs, thin silver cord.

How to make it: 1. Spray the branch light blue outdoors and let it dry. 2. Stand it in a heavy vase filled with stones. 3. Tie silver cord around each bulb cap. 4. Hang the bulbs at different heights.

Gift Box of Old Light Bulb Crafts for Grandma

Put your favorites together and you have a gift Grandma will treasure. Line a small kraft box with red tissue and nestle in six painted bulbs: a snowman, a penguin, a reindeer, a Santa, a gingerbread man and an angel. Add a handwritten tag with the year and the name of the grandchild who helped paint them. It is the sweetest way to share old light bulb crafts, and it costs almost nothing. For more ideas, see our DIY gifts for Grandma roundup.

You will need: 6 finished bulb ornaments, a small kraft box, red tissue paper, a kraft gift tag, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Line the box with crumpled tissue for padding. 2. Nestle each ornament in its own spot. 3. Write the year and the maker’s name on the tag. 4. Tie the box closed with a ribbon bow.