This upcycled light bulb scarecrow is the perfect fall decoration. It’s easy to make and can be made in a variety of different colors. All you need are a few supplies and some light bulbs.
How to Upcycled a Light bulb into a Scarecrow
It’s that time of year again when leaves start falling and the crisp air invades your nose with a subtle hint of pumpkin spice. I love to decorate my house for fall by filling it full of pumpkins on every porch step as well as around all windowsills in order to keep things festive. If you are looking for a cute and cheap on a budget home decor idea then this upcycled light bulb scarecrow is for you!
I just love a good upcycled project, and this little guy is so much fun to do on your own or even with your grandkids too. So let’s get started on your upcycled light bulb scarecrow. I am sure you will FALL in LOVE with him.
SUPPLIES NEEDED TO UPCYCLE A LIGHT BULB:
- Regular light bulb
- High gloss Mod Podge
- Deco Art paint: Coat of White, Black, Burnt Orange
- Dixie Bell Slick StickDIXIE BELLE
- 2 Posca pens (black and orange)
- Wooden Mixed Half Beads
- Wooden base – the shape of choice
- Fall Fabric
- Raffia
- Paintbrush
- Alcohol and paper towel
- E6000
- Hot Glue
- Museum Wax
- Egg carton
- Puppy Pads
STEPS:
1 – Grab your light bulb and squirt a bit of alcohol on it to wipe it clean with a paper towel
2 – With a paintbrush and your Slick Stick, paint on the first layer. This will serve as a primer, so if you don’t have it, don’t worry. You can add multiple layers of white paint instead. Tip* Use an upside-down egg carton to rest your light bulb as it dries.
3 – Set aside to dry.
4 – Grab your wooden base – pumpkin or leaf from dollar tree, scrap wood, etc. Remove any stickers or price tags.
5 – With your burnt orange color, paint all over your wooden base. Wear gloves if you don’t want to get too dirty.
6 – Dry with a heat gun but not for too long, since the bulb is glass.
7 – Paint the back of the wooden base as well. Dry again.
8 – Grab your white paint and paint your light bulb. The primer will help your white stick and pop.
9 – Dry again. Replace back in an egg carton to dry. Set aside.
10 – Grab your tiny wooden half beads and hot glue. Glue 4 on the back of your painted wooden base in the corners to give it little legs. Dry with a heat gun.
11 – Paint another layer of white paint on your dry light bulb. Tip* With primer, you should have about 2-3 layers of white paint on your bulb. 4-5 without a primer.
12 – Place back in your egg carton to dry.
13 – Once dry, grab a handful of rafia. With a good chunk in your hand, place some hot glue on the silver section of your bulb, and begin layering sections of rafia to serve as the scarecrow’s hair. Repeat to cover all sections that can be seen. Push the hair down and position it to your liking. Add to be sure the top is covered completely.
14 – Remember to be extra careful because the light bulb is very fragile.
15 – Give your rafia a trim to make your scarecrow hair not so wild and crazy.
16 – Add some specks of black paint with an old toothbrush. Wearing gloves and having your puppy pad to keep your workspace clean, dip your toothbrush in a bit of paint. Flick it all over your white bulb giving it character. Move your bulb to cover it completely with your specks.
17 – Grab your Posca Pens and draw on your scarecrow face. Chocolate chip shapes for eyes, a large triangle for the nose. Outline your nose with your black pen to help it pop. Tip* Look on Pinterest or Google for a clipart scarecrow face to trace on or be a guide if you are not comfortable doing freehand.
18 – If you would rather have a darker nose, use the burnt orange paint for your nose instead to tie into your base. With a small paintbrush, paint on some cheeks with a circular motion. Add a shadowed look by placing the same paintbrush in some water. It will blend a bit and highlight some features to stand out. Have fun with it.
19 – Paint on a squiggly mouth, using the paintbrush to add any shadowing or highlighting techniques.
20- Seal your scarecrow with Mod Podge
21 – With your fall fabric, rip off a small tiny section to tie on as a bandana on top of the rafia. Tip* Use double-side fabric so you don’t have to hide any ugly parts.
21 – Hot glue your bandana in place all the way around. Tie a bow or fake a bow by folding fabric in half. Hot glue is your friend. Trim fabric if needed when done.
22 – Add a bit more rafia to look like bangs under your bandana. Trim to your liking. Tip* Add a hat if you happen to have any little accessories you would like.
23 – To place your light bulb on the base, grab a smidgen of Museum wax and place it on your light bulb. It will adhere to your base and stand up much easier than with E6000 or hot glue. But either of those are still a viable option.
Be sure to pin this Upcycled light bulb Scarecrow so you can make it later!
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