Vintage Light Bulb Wreath How To

Vintage Light Bulb Wreath How To

I’ve been buying old light bulbs for several years because…I like the colors and shape of them. They are so much prettier than the LED bulbs we use today. But when you have about 500 of them it’s time to do something with them. 

I had seen wreaths made out of the bulbs on Pinterest but had not tried to make one. So it was time. There really was not a DIY instruction anywhere so I studied the photos and went at it. I was pretty pleased with the results so I made another. By the time I got to the second one I think I have a fairly good way to make them. Here’s the step by step instructions. 

First separate your bulbs by color and if needed (mine were filthy) clean with wipes. 

Take a wire wreath form and wrap with gold or silver garland.

The thicker the garland is the better. I purchased my form at the Dollar Store. The garland I collected at estate sales as well as my light bulbs.  I tie my garland and hot glue it to the metal wreath. Attach a heavy duty wire to the top of your wreath form and be sure to secure it firmly. The light bulb wreath is quite heavy by the time you are finished. 

Using a hot glue gun, start attaching the bulbs one by one to the outside of the wreath. I squirt hot glue on the garland and on the bulb. I lay this first row down with the point of bulb facing out. I keep the colors in order but a random color arrangement would be fine. 

Next put a second row of light bulbs for the middle row, laying them down on the previous row and going in between the bulbs on the first row. 

For the last row, insert the row of bulbs one at time and stand them up. I continue until I have the inner row complete. If you have some areas where a bulb seems to be too exposed, just cut small bits of the same garland you used to wrap the wreath and glue them in those spaces. 

I think three rows of these larger bulbs looks great.

 If you use smaller bulbs you may need to add more rows. If you make one be sure to share it with me on Facebook - Goodson Vintage Treasures or on Instagram at Goodson Vintage Treasures. Or just email it to goodsonvintagetreasures@gmail.com. 

Remember to buy what you love and maybe you will figure out what to do it later.