Monday, April 1

Star Light Star Bright Light Garland

So as I mentioned in my Craft Envy post about pretty twinkle lights, I've been longing for the soft glow of string lights since I reluctantly put away my light-up palette Christmas tree (in February...) And I finally managed to check this project off my "idea" list! 

This was one of those projects that took a few tries... It was actually inspired by a stack of cardboard scraps. But this isn't made with cardboard. I scratched that method when it SUCKED. Now this DIY is really easy, and will be even easier if you can find string lights with a white cord. 

Stuff you'll need:
several sheets of white craft foam, exacto knife, cutting mat, globe string lights, white spray paint (optional)

  1. (Optional): I bought my lights just after Christmas (clearance, hayoo!) so the cord was dark green. I lightly sprayed the cord with white Krylon Plastic spray paint. Now, it was real cold out here in Michigan so I impatiently put like, one coat of paint on the lights. They're really just less green... ;) If you're painting your lights, remove the bulbs and place a small square of painters tape over each bulb opening. 
  2. Using your exacto knife, cut your craft foam into 4"x5" rectangles.
  3. Freehand cut your rectangles into stars. The knife seemed to cut easiest from the middle out to the edges. 
  4. Cut a small notch out of the center of each star. 
  5. Push each bulb through the notch and screw it back into the cord. And voila! 



I hung my lights with little cord clips from 3M; I'm a big fan of them. I love the warm glow the lights give the room. The white foam actually looks really pretty with the lights, and the whole thing is so cozy. I think they'd look great draped on a rustic wooden headboard, but I'd have to have a headboard at all to try that out. Maybe some day.

What do you think of my star light star bright garland? Something you'd try out perhaps? 

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter this past weekend! 

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29 comments:

  1. I'd love this around my bed's headboard. Such a cute idea!

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    1. Thanks Laura! Someday I hope to have a pretty headboard decorated with lights like this... Ambiance! ;) :) Haha!

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    2. If I get a chance to make those cute little lights I'll send you a picture of how they look around my headboard...for future reference :)

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    1. Thank you Emma!! It's one of my favorite, and easiest projects to date! :))

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  3. Monica this is very vey pretty!!

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  4. Hey! I was following you on instagram before your blog. Weird? Maybe. Though, I'm glad I came to your blog on this post. I've been trying to find lights for my dark bedroom and these are perfect! I look forward to reading more (I just started following you on instagram.) Happy Monday!

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    1. Hi Ashley! Haha, I'm glad you found me, regardless of how! :) So glad you like the post. If you make some for your room, I would love to see a picture! I'm basking in the glow of my pretty star lights RIGHT NOW. ;) Glad to have you reading along!

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  5. These lights are stellar! ;)

    I really love the effect of the stars. Also, spray painting the cord was a great idea.

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  6. Love the little heart pillows too! Did you make those?

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  7. Love these!! I've been trying to come up with something different to do for my kids a night light... This is perfect! Thank you!!

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    1. Oh, yayy! This would make such a fun night light for kids! I would have loved this when I was younger.. Of course, I love it now too.. ;) So happy you found me, Lori! If you make one, I'd love to see a photo!

      ♥♥♥

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  8. Hey Mon! I just started following your blog! Looks like some fun stuff!

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    1. Aww yay! Thanks Jackie. :) I'm happy to have you following along!
      xx :)

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  9. I just found this post on Craftgawker, and I absolutely love it! I'll be trying this soon for my dorm room. And I adore your blog, it has great content and design and everything else I salivate over on great blogs. I'm following you lots of places now (gee, out of context that sounds creepy).

    xx, Elizabeth
    www.emphaticallyelle.com

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  10. This is a fantastic DIY! I have some of these globe lights but I didn't like the green cord; never thought to spray paint them. Thanks for sharing!

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  11. To echo what everyone else is saying...these are very beautiful and I think exactly what I was looking for to add to my old hollywood themed bedroom. Thank you for creating such a neat diy!

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    1. Thanks Rachel!! I am still loving my stars myself. If you make some, send me a picture!! :)

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  12. I love this!! This could look fantastic in a reading nook, tucked sort of out of the way to make a little magical hiding place of sorts!

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    1. Thanks Laynie! :) Aww, some glowy star lights would definitely make a hidden nook feel magical!

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  13. Oh, I saw this at Erica's blog and I thought the DIY was about the heart pillows not the star lights. hahaha
    I love it! And it's so pretty! Hope next Christmas I can that kind of lights, so I can do the stars :)

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    1. Haha, thanks Carol! I have another post for the heart pillow linked in my sidebar. :) I linked to some similar lights on Amazon too, if you didn't want to wait until Christmas! ;)

      xx

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  14. Love this project! Love white lights so much that it was a must at our wedding :). Just came across your blog while researching the brightness of stars with my daughter for her homework. Looking forward to returning and looking around!

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    1. Aww, thanks so much, Kim! I am so happy you found me, and if you end up making some for your wedding, I'd LOVEEE to see photos!!

      xx Monica

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  15. I am so going to do this for our computer shop window. We already have the globe lights outlining the window and this will make it POP!

    Thank you!

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  16. Loved it so much I'm going to try it. The wall behind my recliner is just SO bare. Although, I'm making a slight modification and putting one girly butterfly on it. She'll be flying away with all the stars!

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  17. Loved it so much I'm going to try it. The wall behind my recliner is just SO bare. Although, I'm making a slight modification and putting one girly butterfly on it. She'll be flying away with all the stars!

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Thank you so much for your interest in my post! I'd love to hear your thoughts. :)