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Make It: Doodle Lightbulbs Pop Art

September 18, 2013  My Projects | Uncategorized

I’m turning plain lightbulbs into works of art! Sharpie crafts are all the rage and I used my Sharpie to doodle on lightbulbs.

#Doodle Lightbulbs #Sharpie Crafts Tutorial - such graphic pop art for any light! kellyelko.com

 

The garden state …

yes, I mean New Jersey.

NJ – home to the Statue of Liberty (no, it’s not in New York!), beautiful beaches (we say “going down the shore”), skiing, farmland, history …

take it from me – it’s amazing (once you get past the factories by Newark airport) and …

 

New Jersey (Menlo Park) is also the place where Thomas Edison invented the light bulb.

 

I had a real light bulb moment – literally – when deciding how to show off my state pride.

So here’s my tribute to Edison and NJ.

Make your own doodle lightbulbs - with this simple tutorial! kellyelko.com

How to Make Doodle Lightbulbs

Lightbulb Doodles - from boring to pop art! (click to see how cool they look in a light fixture) kellyelko.com

1) Choose your favorite lightbulbs – I like white bulbs

2) Channel your inner 4 year old and start doodling with a Sharpie marker (any color will do – I like black)

3) Doodle a section at a time so you don’t smudge your work (I rested the bulb on a small container until it was dry – a few minutes)

Doodle Lightbulbs - these look so cool in a light fixture! kellyelko.com

4) Go crazy – add a few large doodles and fill in with swirls, dots, dashes, x’s and o’s …

Tip: If your bulbs have writing on them (wattage) – just doodle right over it (I covered it with a big black circle – the center of a flower)!

5) Screw into your favorite light – or just display in a bowl for instant pop art

Lightbulb Doodles - see how to make these to add some pop art to your lights! kellyelko.com

Doodle Lightbulbs - instant pop art for display for any light fixture kellyelko.com

Sharpie Lightbulbs - instant pop art (click to see how cool they look in light fixtures)! kellyelko.com

They really light up my life.

No they don’t project images on the wall – but they do look cool lit up!

Doodle Lightbulb at Night - make your own for a cool look! kellyelko.com

P.S. If you’re ever driving through scenic New Jersey, stop by the world’s biggest lightbulb (13 feet) that towers atop a monument where Edison’s laboratory once stood.

World's Biggest Lightbulb to honor Thomas Edison - 13 feet tall on a monument in NJ

Jerseylicious!

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Comments

  1. Mimi

    September 18, 2013 at 7:17 am

    So cute! And a great project that everyone can do!

    Reply
  2. [email protected]

    September 18, 2013 at 7:27 am

    Love it, Kelly!

    Reply
  3. Karah @ thespacebetweenblog

    September 18, 2013 at 8:03 am

    Such a cute idea, Kelly!!

    Reply
  4. Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads

    September 18, 2013 at 8:06 am

    I must say, Kelly, that you are a great doodler! Such cute designs on those bulbs!

    Reply
  5. Soiledrotten

    September 18, 2013 at 8:10 am

    Love it! Woohooo Jersey : )
    xo
    Alison

    Reply
  6. Pam

    September 18, 2013 at 8:32 am

    Love this!! Where is the second light fixture from? The round simple white flushmount?

    Reply
  7. Laura Strack

    September 18, 2013 at 8:45 am

    Very cute, Kelly! Every teenager would love to do this for the lamp in their room!! So fun.

    Reply
  8. Bliss

    September 18, 2013 at 8:51 am

    While you are doodl’n in Jersey, I can’t help but notice the light fixture itself….

    Reply
  9. Shannon @ Fox Hollow Cottage

    September 18, 2013 at 8:52 am

    So fun Kelly! What do they look like lite up? I was curious if they made shadows!?

    Reply
  10. Diana W.

    September 18, 2013 at 8:52 am

    So…. do you know Snookie? HA! Just kidding. My aunt lived in New Jersey for many years and always talked about how absolutely gorgeous it is! Can’t wait to visit, gotta see a 13′ lightbulb!!! Love your doodlebulb. How cute is that?

    Reply
  11. Khadija

    September 18, 2013 at 9:10 am

    I have a feeling my kids will never let me have another white bulb ever again. 🙂

    Reply
  12. karen

    September 18, 2013 at 9:26 am

    This is beyond a light bulb moment. I am sharing on my FB page later today. So cool. I am not letting my kids in on this or everything in our house will be doodled.

    Reply
  13. Debbie

    September 18, 2013 at 9:56 am

    What a fun party! I love the theme, state pride. This is going to be fun to follow.
    Your lightbulbs look so cute, and talk about super easy!
    Debbie 🙂

    Reply
  14. Cynthia

    September 18, 2013 at 10:01 am

    This is such a cool party and what a neat idea. From one Jersey girl to another, you did us proud, girl!!! Love the way this came out, however, if I tried this, with my luck the bulb would have broken. I am a bull in a china shop, LOL!! I love how this looks.

    Cynthia

    Reply
  15. Sandy

    September 18, 2013 at 10:24 am

    Kelly, wow! What a cool tribute to your home state! You never cease to amaze me with your brilliant light bulb moments!

    Reply
  16. Beth N

    September 18, 2013 at 12:01 pm

    This is a brilliant light bulb moment, what an excellent idea! I think someone who can not draw at all (like me) could come up with a design to enhance a bulb or two. Thinking the bulbs in the ceiling fans will likely get some sort of treatment to spiff them up. Dots, diamonds, perhaps some swirls, I will be pondering those questions in the coming days? Thanks again for a fantastic, easy and original idea!

    Reply
  17. Andrea

    September 18, 2013 at 12:06 pm

    I’m a Jersey Girl by proxy (having married a Jersey boy). I lived there for 6 months (ten years in the surrounding Philly area) and did possess a Jersey drivers license. It is also my most favorite place in the world to go to the shore. Ocean Beach anyone? We just returned from a weeks vacation in Jersey and I am missing it. (Nowhere else have I ever found the Jersey pizza that you can fold, and proper boardwalk fries.)

    I like the lightbulbs. That’s a creative idea. Do you have any issues when you turn them on? Like a smell from the Sharpie?

    Reply
  18. Amy @ Positively Splendid

    September 18, 2013 at 12:22 pm

    This is such a creative idea! I love it!

    Reply
  19. Audrey Zumwalt

    September 18, 2013 at 10:22 pm

    Really cute Kelly.
    Audrey Z.

    Reply
  20. Elena @ `a casarella

    September 18, 2013 at 10:23 pm

    Ahh! I *love* this!! I curated a collection of Sharpie projects on Looksi last month. I wish I could have included these. Off to pin them now.

    –Elena
    🙂

    Reply
  21. [email protected]

    September 19, 2013 at 2:20 am

    How cute are these – can we say A D O R A B L E!!!

    Reply
  22. Sue

    September 19, 2013 at 8:37 am

    I grew up in Edison, NJ and frequented the Menlo Park Mall =) This is an absolutely adorable craft and I’m going to try it.. Thanks!! Saw you over at IC and had to message you =)

    Reply
  23. Leslie Stewart @ House on the Way

    September 19, 2013 at 8:19 pm

    Love it! How absolutely cool!

    Reply
  24. Bradley Hebdon

    September 20, 2013 at 4:16 pm

    Super creative! If you ever feel like doing some guest blogging for us, we’d LOVE to have you on board 🙂

    Reply
  25. Alice

    September 20, 2013 at 4:32 pm

    As an Edison, NJ Girl just had to say Hi!

    Reply
  26. debbiedoos

    September 20, 2013 at 11:42 pm

    These are adorable, I just love them!

    Reply
  27. Claire @ A Little Claireification

    September 27, 2013 at 9:12 pm

    How fun are these?? So clever, Kelly! I love the “Show Your State Pride” party idea. Pinning and have a great weekend!

    Reply
  28. Cindy Eikenberg

    September 29, 2013 at 7:35 am

    Kelly, this is such a great idea and I just love it! Gotta get my Sharpies out! 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing and pinning! Have a happy Sunday and a wonderful week!

    Reply
  29. Inspire Me Heather

    October 2, 2013 at 10:44 am

    That is SO. DANG. COOL – thanks Kelly, PINNING!!!!

    Reply
  30. Sharon

    October 3, 2013 at 8:28 pm

    Super cute idea, Kelly!

    Reply
  31. Julie

    October 4, 2013 at 10:35 pm

    Rick and I are now arguing over weather or not he knew the Statue of Liberty was in NJ. I know he didn’t Kelly!! This is very clever…I need one over my doodled bench lol.

    Reply
  32. George

    October 7, 2013 at 6:40 pm

    Statue of Liberty is in New York Harbor. The address is New York City, New York.

    Reply
  33. Antonella

    October 10, 2013 at 7:55 am

    From one “jersey girl” to another – FABULOUS!!! Love your pinspirational project! I have pinned this and also blogged it for my Walkabout Wednesday series. Sharpie Inspirations post here
    Hugs, Antonella 🙂

    Reply
  34. Antonella

    October 10, 2013 at 7:57 am

    From one “jersey girl” to another – FABULOUS! Edison didn’t know what he was starting!
    Love your pinspirational project! I have pinned this and also blogged it for my Walkabout Wednesday series. Sharpie Inspirations post here
    Hugs, Antonella 🙂
    Sorry if this is a duplicate, didn’t mean for that to happen…

    Reply
  35. Deborah Knispel

    November 1, 2013 at 11:09 pm

    Where did you get the awesome light fixture – clear distorted shape? I’m also curious if the Sharpie ink gives off an odor when the bulb gets heated.

    Reply
  36. Sole

    November 20, 2013 at 10:12 pm

    Just tried this and nothing 🙁 is it on a certain wattage that it can be done on?

    Reply
  37. Tasha

    February 14, 2015 at 10:46 pm

    This is really cool! How do you keep the Sharpie from melting off, though?

    Reply
    • Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage

      February 14, 2015 at 10:51 pm

      It doesn’t melt Tasha! Mine has lasted for a very long time – in fact, I have the same bulb in my attic light right now!

      Reply
  38. Lindsay white

    May 18, 2015 at 3:15 pm

    I love the glass shades…where’d they come from? Thanks so much

    Reply
    • Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage

      May 18, 2015 at 3:20 pm

      I can’t remember where I got these light fixtures Lindsay. I bought them online years ago.

      Reply
  39. Tanya Hawes

    December 6, 2018 at 12:30 pm

    I am in the uk. I am a tetraplegic of 17yrs. So I had to learn to write ,draw ,everything again So i was glad to find you i will give this a go.
    Many Thanks
    MisT in the UK

    Reply
    • Kelly Elko

      December 8, 2018 at 11:52 am

      I’d love to see pics if you decide to doodle Tanya!

      Reply

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KELLY

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Join me as I decorate my 100 year old home, scour thrift stores, create pretty things, putter in my peony and hydrangea filled garden, and mix up a mean cocktail all with a touch of sarcasm and a side of bacon - Cheers!



More About Kelly

Love where you live by mixing high and low, new and old to create a home that shows off your personality. My mantra ... simple projects equals more time for cocktails!
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