Illuminated Witches' Broomsticks

Show guests the way to your haunted house this Halloween with these colorful and easy-to-create outdoor decorations.

Filed under: Holiday Decorating, Halloween, Crafts, How To, Decorating, Holiday

Materials and Tools:

8-10 brooms with straw bristles
orange spray paint
purple spray paint
brown spray paint (made specifically for plastic)
box cutter or craft knife
outdoor lights in orange, white or purple
hand drill with auger attachment or wooden stake and mallet
drop cords (rated for exterior use)

Steps:

1. To make modern brooms look older and handmade, cut the string that binds the bristles together. Remove all traces of string and fan the bristles out. If the broom has a plastic, rather than a wooden handle, paint it with brown spray paint. Also, if the broom has a plastic hook at the end of the handle meant for hanging, remove it.

2. Add a touch of color to the broom bristles by lightly spraying them with purple or orange spray paint, use one color per broom.

3. Wrap outdoor lights around broomstick. Begin wrapping with the female end nearest the bristles. While wrapping, keep in mind that the plug end needs to be located at the base of the broomstick, allowing the lights to be plugged into an extension cord. If desired, match the color of lights to the color of paint on the broom bristles; for instance, match purple-painted brooms with purple lights.

4. Using either a hand drill with an auger attachment or a wooden stake and mallet, create several 8-inch-deep holes to hold broomsticks. Make sure to evenly space holes, placing them no farther apart than drop cords can reach. Finally, insert broomsticks into holes with bristles facing up and plug in lights.