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WATERCOLOR OUTDOOR GLOBE LIGHTS

May 12, 2015 by madincrafts 13 Comments

Watercolor Globe Light Tutorial

If you have ever had to try to find your campsite again after a middle of the night campground bathroom run, you know the importance of unique string lights.  I decorated a string of regular globe lights to make a new set of outdoor lighting for my parents’ camper, but you could just as easily hang these lights above your patio or in your dorm room as well.  Check out how easy it is to make your own watercolor outdoor globe lights.

camper lights

This set of camper lights was one of my earliest DIY projects.  Thirteen years ago, I sat with a package of translucent blue party cups, a screwdriver, and white Christmas lights to make a set of lights for my parents’ new-to-them pop-up camper.  Miraculously, the lights were the perfect length for the camper’s canopy, even though we did no measuring at all.  

Perhaps more miraculous is the fact that these lights have stayed fully functional for the past thirteen years.  Every fall, my parents pack them away in a milk crate inside the camper until next camping season.  Then they pull them out, plug them back in, and every light in the strand blinks back to life.  
 lights

This year my folks are in the market for a new camper, so I thought it was finally time to make them a new set of camper lights.  I used the same technique to color these globe lights that I used to make my stained glass Easter eggs.  The process involves alcohol ink and canned air, but it is incredibly simple and satisfying to do.  It took me maybe half an hour to decorate this strand of 25 lights, and that was including the time it took me to stop and take photos.

DIY rainbow globe lights

Some outdoor lights look kind of ugly in the daylight hours.  The lights look beautiful unlit too, especially if they are hanging outside on a sunny day.  The sun shines through the translucent ink, making them look like stained glass even though they are plastic.

Colored Globe Lights at Dusk

The real payoff is when you turn the lights on at night.  The lights themselves are gorgeous, but they cast multi-colored light around them too.  So pretty!

Globe Lights at Night

To see how I made these colorful lights, watch the video below. Click HERE to subscribe to my YouTube channel for video tutorials like this one, and other exclusive content that I only share on YouTube!

I have put together a list of affiliate links for all the products I used in this tutorial.  If you choose to purchase after clicking through, I will receive a small commission.  Thanks!

  • clear globe string lights
  • alcohol ink
  • canned air

You might like these other alcohol ink projects:

STAINED GLASS EASTER EGGS

STAINED GLASS EASTER EGG

STAINED GLASS MASON JARS

STAINED GLASS MASON JAR

Filed Under: Crafts, Home Decor Videos, Outdoor, Video Tutorials Tagged With: affiliate, alcohol ink, home decor, lighting, string lights, tutorial, video tutorial, watercolor

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Comments

  1. swapna says

    May 13, 2015 at 2:51 pm

    These look gorgeous!

    Reply
  2. Kim Taylor says

    May 15, 2015 at 3:18 pm

    Your lights were just featured on Craftgawker. My question is: If the lights get wet, do the alcohol inks run? Thanks!

    Reply
    • madincrafts says

      May 15, 2015 at 4:07 pm

      Since the inks are alcohol-based, they are waterproof. Perfectly fine for use outdoors!

      Reply

Trackbacks

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    […] For those who thought that watercolors belong inside, assume once more. Whether or not you’ve already acquired a set otherwise you’re planning on shopping for one, spiffing up a string of outside bulb lights with some watercolors is a genius concept. Not solely will they appear ornamental in the course of the day, they’ll emit a stunning colourful glow at night time. (by way of Mad in Crafts) […]

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  7. 20 Darling Ways to DIY with Watercolors - Home Decorating DIY says:
    March 28, 2017 at 9:55 am

    […] In the event you thought that watercolors belong inside, assume once more. Whether or not you’ve already acquired a set otherwise you’re planning on shopping for one, spiffing up a string of outside bulb lights with some watercolors is a genius concept. Not solely will they appear ornamental through the day, they’ll emit a stunning colourful glow at night time. (by way of Mad in Crafts) […]

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