When time rolled around this Fall to make the lights, I had changed my mind and came up with a super fun and fast way to use them as personalized ornaments. I used craft supplies I had on hand to aide my tight holiday budget and just love the results! Here is what I did.
1- Paint the wooden ornaments in various colors. The first one dried by the time I was done with the last one, so it was easy to apply two coats quickly to the "light" part of the ornament. I used Delta Ceramacoat Acrylic paints.
2- Paint the "metal" part of the ornament with a color similar to a real light bulb. To keep the wet paint from getting on anything, I used empty egg cartons to hold the ornaments while they dried.
3- I personalized a bunch with names of neighbors, friends and family to give them with their baked goods baskets and left the rest blank. For this, I just used Sharpies in different colors complimentary to the paint of the ornament.
4- Using ribbon, embroidery floss, beads or plain ornament hooks... insert in the pre-drilled holes of the ornaments so they can be hung on your tree or used as a "bow" on a gift.
That's it! We made 75 ornaments in a few hours time.
I'm thinking that when I make my new order to replace this order, that I'll do them differently for the boys' trees... so many creative possibilities!! You can stain them for a more natural look, sand some of the paint off of them for a country effect, lacquer them for a shiny look... what else?
Have fun crafting!!
Oh, also, Casey's has a zillion other wooden products... easter eggs, beads, fruit, boxes, blocks. It's an excellent crafting resource!