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Craft Tutorials | Recycled Crafts | Light Bulb Crafts | Light Bulb Snowman Ornament
Light Bulb Crafts

Light Bulb Snowman Ornament

Author by Amanda Davis on October 25, 2016 Updated on December 6, 2020

5 from 8 votes
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I’ve already posted my light bulb angel and my light bulb penguin, so here’s my light bulb snowman ornament to add to the group. I made this guy in 2000, 16 years and going strong! If you wrap them carefully, ornaments made from light bulbs will last a very long time. Keep in mind the age of this ornament when looking at this close up photo. He’s an old man now.

Turn an old burnt out light bulb into an adorable light bulb snowman ornament to hang on your tree year after year after year! Great homemade gift idea!

 

The photo on the left (see below) was taken right after I made it and the photo on the right was taken in 2009 when I hung it on my tree. The photo at the top was taken today (2016) but I’ll take a better one this year when I put my tree up.

The photo on the left was taken right after I made it and the photo on the right was taken in 2009 when I hung it on my tree. I'll take another one this year when I put my tree up.

Light Bulb Snowman

You can make a light bulb snowman too using my tutorial. I find crafting relaxing, so little bits and pieces make me happy. If that makes you happy too, try this light bulb snowman for yourself or to give as a gift.

Psst – if you prefer to buy these, I don’t sell my projects but there are some cute ones here!

Supplies you will need:

  • burnt out light bulb
  • rubbing alcohol
  • white acrylic paint
  • gold cord or ribbon
  • child’s sock
  • scrap material
  • two buttons
  • 4 toothpicks
  • Fiberfil cotton batting
  • hot glue
  • scissors
  • black marker or Micron craft pen


To make your light bulb snowman:

HINT: PRINT THE INSTRUCTIONS AT THE END OF THIS POST

Wipe bulb down with rubbing alcohol, this will help the paint adhere to the bulb. Let dry. Paint entire light bulb with white acrylic paint and let dry. Apply a second coat. If finish appears streaked, you can use a large paint brush or a sponge to blot on a “stucco” look. It is not necessary to paint the socket. Allow bulb to dry completely.

While bulb is drying, cut off the ribbing from the child’s sock. Roll up a brim at one end and tie off the other end with gold ribbon or cord, tie in a bow. Leave about half an inch of sock above ribbon for the fluffy top, fringe ends. Add a bit of Fiberfil to the inside of the hat. Cut a tiny square of fabric and glue to the front brim of the hat.

From the remaining material on the sock, cut a rectangle, about 2 inches wide and 1 1/2 inches long. Place a small amount of Fiberfil in the center, roll up jelly roll style and glue together. Glue ends closed. Take one of the toothpicks and carefully cut/break in half. Insert pointed side of each toothpick into the muff on either side.

Once light bulb is dry, glue the muff to the belly of the bulb, below the neck and above the fattest part of the bulb. Glue the toothpicks to the bulb. Using another toothpick, cut into fourths. Using the sections that do not have pointed ends, glue to the toothpick arms that are already in place on the bulb. This will create the elbow to the shoulder. Glue to the elbow and to the bulb (see photo for guide).

Fit hat snugly over socket of light bulb and glue in place. To create the hanger, tie a long piece of ribbon into a loop. With the hanging ends, tie around the hat underneath the brim (roll it down out of your way). Loop tie should be positioned at the back of the hat. Tie ribbon tight and snip off extra ends. Roll brim back up to cover ribbon.

Fashion a scarf from scrap material and tie carefully around neck, glue in place. Fringe ends of scarf with scissors. Glue two buttons to belly area, tuck top button underneath muff halfway. With one of the remaining pointed toothpicks that you cut into fourths, glue on for nose. Carefully dot on eyes with black marker. Hang!

Turn an old burnt out light bulb into an adorable light bulb snowman ornament to hang on your tree year after year after year! Great homemade gift idea!

Special note: You may not use all the toothpicks that the instructions call for. They are easily split when broken or cut, so I allowed for that with extras.

Print Project
5 from 8 votes

Light Bulb Snowman Ornament

Author: Amanda Formaro

Supplies

  • burnt out light bulb
  • rubbing alcohol
  • white acrylic paint
  • gold cord or ribbon
  • child's sock
  • scrap material
  • two buttons
  • 4 to othpicks
  • Fiberfil cotton batting
  • hot glue
  • scissors
  • black marker or Micron craft pen

Instructions

  • Wipe bulb down with rubbing alcohol, this will help the paint adhere to the bulb. Let dry. Paint entire light bulb with white acrylic paint and let dry. Apply a second coat. If finish appears streaked, you can use a large paint brush or a sponge to blot on a "stucco" look. It is not necessary to paint the socket. Allow bulb to dry completely.
  • While bulb is drying, cut off the ribbing from the child's sock. Roll up a brim at one end and tie off the other end with gold ribbon or cord, tie in a bow. Leave about half an inch of sock above ribbon for the fluffy top, fringe ends. Add a bit of Fiberfil to the inside of the hat. Cut a tiny square of fabric and glue to the front brim of the hat.
  • From the remaining material on the sock, cut a rectangle, about 2 inches wide and 1 1/2 inches long. Place a small amount of Fiberfil in the center, roll up jelly roll style and glue together. Glue ends closed. Take one of the toothpicks and carefully cut/break in half. Insert pointed side of each toothpick into the muff on either side.
  • Once light bulb is dry, glue the muff to the belly of the bulb, below the neck and above the fattest part of the bulb. Glue the toothpicks to the bulb. Using another toothpick, cut into fourths. Using the sections that do not have pointed ends, glue to the toothpick arms that are already in place on the bulb. This will create the elbow to the shoulder. Glue to the elbow and to the bulb (see photo for guide).
  • Fit hat snugly over socket of light bulb and glue in place. To create the hanger, tie a long piece of ribbon into a loop. With the hanging ends, tie around the hat underneath the brim (roll it down out of your way). Loop tie should be positioned at the back of the hat. Tie ribbon tight and snip off extra ends. Roll brim back up to cover ribbon.
  • Fashion a scarf from scrap material and tie carefully around neck, glue in place. Fringe ends of scarf with scissors. Glue two buttons to belly area, tuck top button underneath muff halfway. With one of the remaining pointed toothpicks that you cut into fourths, glue on for nose. Carefully dot on eyes with black marker. Hang!

Originally published on this blog December 7, 2009

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Amanda Davis
Amanda Davis is the crafty, entrepreneurial mother of four children. She loves to bake, cook, make kid's crafts and create decorative items for her home. She is a crafting expert and guru in the kitchen and has appeared online and in print publications many times over the years.
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Filed Under: Christmas Crafts, Crafts for Seniors, DIY Gift ideas, Light Bulb Crafts, Recycled Crafts for Adults, Winter Crafts Tagged With: adult, adult craft ideas, adult crafts, adults, crafts, crafts for adults, holidays, light bulb, light bulb ornament, Ornament Crafts, ornaments, recycle, recycle crafts, recycled, recycled crafts, snowmen

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Comments

  1. Lea says

    October 11, 2020 at 5:28 pm

    Hi Amanda, how adorable this snowman ornament is. Thank you. I have a thing for snowmen. I’ve pinned this.

    Reply
  2. Faye Harris-Blackwell says

    October 31, 2017 at 10:32 am

    Love this idea of making a light bulb into a snowman, going to do some for Christmas!

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      November 1, 2017 at 9:56 am

      I hope they turn out great for you Faye! :)

      Reply
  3. Glenda Biersbach says

    March 29, 2014 at 3:18 pm

    Want to make light bulb people for a Spring Boutique. Thought a lady with spring hat, Uncle Sam using styrofoam cups. How many ounces? I got 4 oz (but too wide) and 6 oz. Thanks

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      April 6, 2014 at 7:20 am

      Hi Glenda. Are you saying you want to use the cup as is on a light bulb? or you want to shrink it like I do in my Spring Bonnet tutorial?

      Reply
  4. Pat Kinzie says

    December 22, 2013 at 5:04 pm

    I went on pintrest a saw everything…WoW… I sent it to my cousin who is a 3rd grade teacher. I’m sure she will find things to make with her class. Great ideas. Love the Turkey lightbulb and what you did with the acorns. Oh, and the bread tags, too cute.

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      December 26, 2013 at 7:31 am

      Thank you Pat! I’m so glad you like everything and it’s helpful! :)

      Reply
  5. Pat Kinzie says

    December 22, 2013 at 4:44 pm

    I just found you on Creative Income, I love Snowmen too! I would like to see the Angel & Penguin. I’m sure they are just as cute. Thanks for the pattern info. Have a wonderful Holiday Season.

    Reply
  6. wilma hurley says

    December 1, 2013 at 12:52 am

    can use a pipe cleaner for arms ?

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      December 3, 2013 at 8:47 am

      Of course!

      Reply
  7. Sharon says

    November 27, 2013 at 8:00 pm

    This is the cutest light bulb ornament that I’ve ever seen!

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      November 28, 2013 at 7:52 am

      Thank you so much Sharon! :)

      Reply
    • Marlena Smith says

      November 17, 2018 at 5:57 pm

      Hi there, I have one question that i have yet to have someone solve with regards to using light bulbs in a craft project. What makes this project safe?
      Thanks,
      Marlena

      Reply
      • Amanda Formaro says

        December 3, 2018 at 5:39 pm

        I’m not sure if I understand what you mean? Do you mean because the light bulb could break? If so, a round glass ornament could break too, so I don’t think it’s any different in that aspect :)

        Reply
  8. Barb Platt says

    October 31, 2013 at 7:34 am

    Did I miss the instructions on how to do the nose on the snowman lightbulb?

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      October 31, 2013 at 7:42 am

      Hi Barb! It’s in the last paragraph, just above the “special note”. Here’s the instruction for that :)

      With one of the remaining pointed toothpicks that you cut into fourths, glue on for nose.

      Reply
  9. joyvanna says

    December 18, 2012 at 9:10 pm

    if u wount a very smoth serfos nail polish works great for the paint

    Reply
  10. Adam ochoa says

    December 11, 2012 at 4:01 pm

    Tthanks helped me out for school

    Reply
  11. adam says

    December 11, 2012 at 4:00 pm

    This helped be out for School thanks :)

    Reply
  12. mary maharg says

    November 12, 2012 at 3:16 pm

    want to print this pattern, how?

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      November 12, 2012 at 3:20 pm

      There’s a link just above the list of supplies that says “printable version”. Click on that and you can print it from there :)

      Reply
  13. Shelby says

    July 8, 2012 at 6:57 pm

    I didn’t, and still don’t, have any acrylic paints. And since I don’t have any, I am using oil paints. I mixed white and cerulean blue and used that as my base color, adding patches of pure white for detail. I am still in the process of making them but once they are finished I’ll see if there’s a way to post them as a comment here!

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      July 16, 2012 at 3:28 pm

      Awesome Shelby! You can always post the pictures on my Facebook fan page! Would love to see them :)

      Reply
  14. kashfelix says

    December 17, 2011 at 4:30 am

    This is really a gud thing n marvellous job thans for giving me this idea.

    Reply
  15. Melissa Varney says

    December 10, 2011 at 6:59 pm

    I love this. I just finished my first one. Not sure how to sent you a picture.

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      December 12, 2011 at 9:47 pm

      You can upload it to my Facebook fan page or click the email icon on my blog to shoot me the picture via email! :)

      Reply
  16. Gina says

    November 2, 2011 at 12:41 am

    What size child’s sock is needed? Baby, toddler? I am going to make this with 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students.

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      November 3, 2011 at 9:07 pm

      Baby or toddler sized work best, yes :)

      Reply
  17. Janie says

    October 24, 2011 at 9:54 pm

    I am anxious to try this Snowman. However, when I printed out the directions I receiver 5 pages I did not want [the comments]. It was not only unwanted but a waste of my ink! Please let me know if I can print without the “comments”. Thank you

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      October 27, 2011 at 1:08 am

      Sorry about that Janie, that’s an older post and I haven’t added the printer friendly version yet. In a case like that, just highlight the area that you want and see if you print setting has a “print highlighted”,. If not, copy and paste it to a plain text editor and print from there :) I’m working on updating these and hope to get it done soon!

      Reply
  18. Lacy701 says

    October 18, 2011 at 10:35 pm

    I use oven bulbs as they are stronger you can even drop them & they usually won’t break,I don’t know if the fridge bulbs are as strong,I may be the heat from the oven tempers them and they get stronger.

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      October 20, 2011 at 7:44 pm

      What a great tip, didn’t know that, thanks!

      Reply
  19. mary says

    October 12, 2011 at 7:15 pm

    love snowmen. this one is great. I will definitely make them. thanks so much for your great ideas.

    Reply
  20. Karen Swank says

    October 9, 2011 at 12:41 am

    This project looks so adorable. I’m going to make a ton of them, in all different colors.

    Reply
  21. Kristen says

    December 27, 2009 at 7:48 pm

    This snowman is my favorite of your bulb ornaments!! So cute :)

    Reply
  22. jennwa says

    December 18, 2009 at 9:51 pm

    Cute cute cute !!!!!!

    Reply
  23. Amanda says

    December 13, 2009 at 8:39 pm

    Thank you for the nice compliment Beth! :)

    Reply
  24. Beth@The Stories of A to Z says

    December 13, 2009 at 7:03 pm

    I have seen lots of lightbulb ornaments but this guy is seriously the cutest!

    Reply
  25. Amanda says

    December 10, 2009 at 2:22 pm

    Thanks Cathy! I'm a big snowman fan myself :)

    Reply
  26. Cathy (breadexperience) says

    December 10, 2009 at 2:10 pm

    Oh! This is too cute! I love snowmen. I need to make this.

    Reply
  27. Amanda says

    December 10, 2009 at 1:29 pm

    Thank you ladies!

    Reply
  28. Janice says

    December 9, 2009 at 4:31 pm

    I see you have two blogs one for cooking and one for crafting – me too! So glad I found your blogs they are great.

    Reply
  29. Cheryl G. says

    December 8, 2009 at 4:28 pm

    That is very CUTE!

    Reply
  30. Barbara Bakes says

    December 7, 2009 at 3:09 pm

    I love this idea! So cute!

    Reply
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