DIY Use-What-You-Have Sparkling Garden Orb

DIY Use-What-You-Have Sparkling Garden Orb

Repurposed Garden Art Idea What is that giant ball of light in the garden? It’s my free version of a lighted grapevine ball.

I also have instructions for making decorative garden balls here: DIY Decorative Garden Ball Tutorial.

You’ve probably seen various orbs made from grapevines, chicken wire, or metal wire covered in outdoor holiday lights. After seeing the high price tags, I decided to make one using stuff I already own.

I always suggest “shopping” at home first, especially if you have any sturdy garden items in winter storage. If they can withstand the cold season, they’re fair game for winter garden art. Here I used metal wall planters.

DIY Use-What-You-Have Sparkling Garden Orb made from metal flower planters

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1. Gather Your Supplies

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Supplies for creating a DIY sparkling garden orb

• (4) Metal wall planters (the “half circle” type—see the photo below).
  Each one is 1/4 of a sphere. Attach four together and —tada! —you’ve got a nice, big metal sphere.
• Outdoor holiday lights. You’ll need 1-2 sets for each half of the sphere. The more the merrier. I used (2) 12-foot strings of lights.
• Plastic cable ties and/or wire (to attach the planters together and secure lights to the planters)
• Outdoor electrical extension cord (make sure it’s winter-safe and long enough to reach from the power source to the orb).
• Thick twine (or wire) for hanging and securing the orb
• Wire snippers

I used cable ties to attach them together but you could also use small pieces of wire or some black duct tape.

Cable ties joining garden containers together for a DIY sparkling garden orb

I attached my lights following the shape of the container, going up and down, working my way around.

When both sets of containers have lights attached, join them together to form a sphere.

Here it is as the sun is starting to go down.

DIY sparkling garden orb

Just as I was taking the last photo the moon came up over the rooftops. Now I have two beautiful orbs of light.

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛

DIY Use-What-You-Have Sparkling Garden Orb made from metal flower planters

Original article and pictures take empressofdirt.net site