One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is spending time with my family, making our own Christmas crafts. I’m pretty fortunate that most everyone in my family loves to get crafty because we make such fun things! Just this last weekend my family and I made a set of DIY giant outdoor Christmas lights for the large pine tree in our front yard. What was even better is that we used recycled two-liter bottles to create the lights. Follow the tutorial below to learn how to make some yourself!
Here’s What You’ll Need For Your Own DIY Giant Outdoor Christmas Lights
-10 empty two-liter bottles (with the labels removed)
-10 six-inch wide deli cups
– 10 clear Solo cups
-1 set of string lights (use LEDs…this will prevent the plastic from melting)
-Spray paint in your desired colors
-Black spray paint
-Pipe insulation
-Hot glue
-Floral wire
-Wire cutter
-Craft glue
Step One
Use a craft knife to cut the top off of your two-liter bottle directly below the cap. Next, cut off the bottom of the two-liter bottle. Repeat until all of the bottles have had the caps and bottoms removed. When done, cut about an inch off the top of your Solo cups, and cut the bottom off, as well. Repeat until all of the Solo cups have been cut.
Step Two
Cut a hole in the bottom of the deli cup just large enough to fit the bulb of your LED light inside. Repeat until all of the deli cups have been cut.
Step Three
Now, spray paint the outside of your two-liter soda bottles. Pick colors like yellow, green, red, blue, or a special pattern that you think might be fitting for the holiday season. Next, spray paint the inside of your deli cups black. Let dry, and then paint the outsides dark green. You should also spray paint the insulation (use the same green that you did for the outsides of the deli cups).
Step Four
Next, remove every third light on the string of your LED lights. You have to make room for the giant bulbs after all! Now, begin threading the bulbs into the tops of the deli cups. Remove the bulb, and string what’s left through the plastic cup. Once in place, screw the light back in. Attach the cups together with a bit of hot glue.
Step Five
It’s time to fit the bottles into place over the deli cup, gluing everything together so that it stays in place. Repeat the process above until all of the lights are in place where they should be.
Step Six
Cover the chord of the lights with pipe insulation, bending it so it looks like two giant chords woven together for the LED lights. Now, all you have to do is hang them somewhere fitting and there you have it, your own DIY giant outdoor Christmas lights.
If you’re feeling especially crafty, complement these DIY lights with some giant outdoor Christmas ornaments.
Then add some giant lollipops made from pool noodles.
Bam! Your yard will be the envy of the neighborhood.