Make Giant Christmas Light Balls for Your Yard
Put an artistic spin on front yard Christmas lighting with illuminated spheres made from chicken wire.
Sparkling Display
You've seen holiday light balls in botanical gardens and other seasonal displays, but they're actually simple to make with just a few supplies.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Tools + Materials
For each sphere, you'll need: chicken wire; wire snips; zip ties; measuring tape; twinkle lights (in desired color); extension cord.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Cut Chicken Wire
On a flat, level surface, unfurl chicken wire to the desired height using measuring tape as a guide. Then, use wire snips to cut the chicken wire to the desired length.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Fold Wire
In order to shape the chicken wire into spheres, the wire has to be folded into a cylinder to create roundness. Then, trim away the excess using wire snips. Once the excess is cut, the cylinder will appear more square.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Round Edges
Form a circle by closing each end of the cylindrically-shaped chicken wire shut with zip ties.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Shape the Sphere
After the zip ties are secure, adjust any bent chicken wire until the sphere is perfectly round.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Add Twinkle Lights
Thread twinkle lights in and out of the openings of the chicken wire until the entire sphere is covered.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Add Extension Cords
Once all spheres are covered, place them in the yard accordingly, then plug them into the extension cords.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Create Groupings
For a more contemporary look, consider grouping the spheres in odd numbers around the front yard.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn