How to Make Halloween String Lights on the Cheap
The secret to making them on the cheap? Toilet paper rolls. If you or your kids can use scissors and decoupage glue, you can make a set of these festive Halloween string lights.
Let kids illuminate the Halloween party by making festive covers for standard string lights. The covers are crafted from paper towel or toilet paper rolls that are covered in Halloween tissue paper with decoupage medium and topped with pom-poms. Have the kids craft the covers and then you attach them to the string lights.
Jen Perkins
Tools and Materials:
- string lights
- paper towel or toilet paper rolls
- scissors
- ruler
- hole punch
- pencil
- decoupage medium
- craft paint
- paintbrush
- Halloween tissue paper or paper napkins
- hot glue gun
- pom-poms
- washi tape
1. Cut Cardboard Rolls
Cut paper towel tubes into approximately 1” sections. How many you will need depends on how many bulbs there are on your string lights.
2. Mark and Cut Tissue Paper
Trace circles onto the tissue paper that are slightly larger than the ends of the paper towel rolls. Make one circle for each end of the roll. Cut out the circles.
3. Punch a Hole in the Rolls
Using a hole punch, make a hole in the center of each roll. If you do not have a hole punch, you could always just poke a hole with a pencil.
4. Attach Paper to Rolls
Use a decoupage medium to adhere the tissue paper to both ends of the cardboard tube sections. Allow to dry completely.
5. Paint or Add More Decoration
Apply craft paint to the rolls where they’re not covered with the tissue paper or wrap and adhere more tissue paper to the roll to cover any bare spots.
6. Attach Rolls to Lights
Insert the bulbs into the holes of the tubes. Use a small amount of hot glue where the plastic part of the string lights attaches to the cardboard to hold it in place.
7. Add More Decoration
Embellish with washi tape and pom-poms then hang your lights and plug them in. Make these custom lights for any holiday or occasion.
Jen Perkins
