Holiday Outdoor Decor: DIY Lighted Ball Craft

Image via: Christmas Lights Etc

Supplies

• Chicken wire
• Zip ties
• Measuring tape
• Twinkle lights
• Extension cord
• Gloves
• Wire cutter

Image via: Christmas Lights Etc

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Watch a video on how to make DIY lighted balls:

You can find the link to the video here.

Directions

1. Put on your gloves to avoid any injuries from the chicken wire.
2. Choose a flat, level and large enough surface to unfold the chicken wire. Using the measuring tape for guidance, roll out the chicken wire to the needed height. With the wire cutter, cut the chicken wire to the needed length. Keep in mind that for a sphere, you will need to cut a piece of chicken wire that is about twice as long as it is wide (so, for example, for 2 foot balls you will need 2 x 4 foot pieces of chicken wire).
3. Fold the chicken wire into a cylinder and secure the ends by twisting the wire together then cut away any excess.
4. To form a circle, you will have to close each end of the chicken wire cylinder shut, either by twisting the wire together or by using zip ties. Once you have secured the ends, just bent the chicken wire until you have a nice, round circle.
5. Now it’s time to add the twinkle lights. Make sure to leave the plug exposed with enough cable. Then, just thread the lights in and out of the chicken wire openings until the whole sphere is covered with lights. Depending on your Christmas Lighted Ball size, you might need to use more than one string of lights.
6. The lighted Christmas ball is ready to be placed on the porch or the yard, or to be hung from a tree. Just make sure you have enough extension cords to plug them into.
7. Repeat the process making different sizes of Christmas Lighted Balls and using various twinkle light colors to multiply the effect of the Holiday Outdoor Décor.

Image via: House Beautiful 

This Holiday Outdoor Decor is a great craft for this time of year and it can be used for years to come by just altering the arrangement of the lighted balls or even by using them inside the house for a change. Make sure to make a lot of them for an unbelievable outcome.

For more holiday decorating ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Thanksgiving DIY Decor: Bean and Seed Balls Craft

Image via: BHG

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Supplies

• Styrofoam balls (or old tennis balls or other similar items)
• Spray paint and old newspaper (optional)
• Sharpie pen (optional)
• Beans, seeds and/or berries (great choices: split peas, red kidney beans, navy beans, black beans, lentils, green berries, cranberries, corn kernels, whole pepper seeds etc.)
• Crafts glue (thick and white)

Image via: Pinterest

Directions

• (Optional) Cover your working surface with newspapers and spray paint the balls to make it easier to hide any blank spots. The color of the spray paint you’ll choose should match the color of the produce you want to use. Let them dry completely.
• You can use the sharpie pen to draw some guide lines on the ball.
• Place a little glue on a small area of your ball and glue the beans/seeds/berries onto the ball, trying to make a pattern or just keep them in horizontal or vertical rows. You can use a little more glue to put on each seed/bean if necessary. After the glue on that area has dried completely, move on to the next area, until the ball’s entire surface is covered. Repeat with the other balls until you have the number of seed and bean balls you want.
• Fill a bowl, vase or even cornucopia with the finished seed and been balls!

Image via: Bayberry Creek Crafter

This Thanksgiving DIY Decoration craft is really easy to make, taking a little of time to complete because of the seeds that need to be glued on the ball, but well worth it. And it’s inexpensive, too! Think about using small nuts as an alternative, mixing some glass beads into the patter and you even could spray paint the finished bean and seed ball to match it with your overall décor, keeping the interesting texture of the seeds and beans. And for extra sent, sprinkle some essential oil of your liking onto them!

Wouldn’t they make a wonderful and original centerpiece for your Thanksgiving Table?