I hope this is simple and easy to do! After you know how to make these, you’ll never want to buy them again!

First, the supplies you’ll need are:
Clear or colored silicone in a caulking tube
Light strands or bulbs
Electrical tape
Thick/Heavy String [For hanging lights]
Small plastic cups
Plastic spoons [For mixing]
Toothpicks [For mixing also]
Mineral spirits
Scented oil [Optional]
Oil based model paint [Found at Wal-Mart in the hobby section]
Clothes pins [For hanging lights]
Are you ready to dip some lights?
First you need to find a good place to hang the lights. When you find your desired spot take the string and hang it end to end like a clothesline. Make sure your sting is tight or it could fall down! You’ll also need some clothes pins at your side so you can secure the lights. The most important thing you need to do is test your lights before dipping and after dipping to make sure they work. When you’re finished doing this, wrap the electrical tape underneath the bulbs so you don’t get any excess silicone where you don’t want it.

After hanging the lights you can now start your mixing. Get out your plastic cups, plastic spoons, scented oil, model paint and mineral spirits. First, squeeze your silicone into the small plastic cups to about the middle and then add a couple drops of mineral spirits and mix. After you’re finished with that go ahead and add in your color. Take your toothpick and dip it into the paint, put a few drops into the silicone. Depending on the shade and color you prefer, you may have to add a few drops here and there until you get your color. Mix up the silicone with your plastic spoon, remember: the color will be lighter after you add in scent; it will also be lighter when the lights are turned on. After you are finished mixing your color, add in about three drops of the scent you want to use. Mix it again using your spoon, it may look slimy, but just keep mixing, it will go back to normal after a few stirs. When you like what you see, you are ready to dip!

You can dip smooth lights or what I “grubby” lights. Make sure your lights are secured on the string with the clothes pins before you start, you don’t want them falling down and making a mess.
To make the smooth lights take the bulb and dip it at an angle into your cup of silicone. Make sure you dip it enough so that the silicone reaches the beginning of the electrical tape, if you get some on the tape it will not affect anything. Pull the light from the silicone slowly.
After you’re finished with that bulb move to the next bulb and repeat the process until finished with the whole strand.
Now let them sit and dry over night. After they are dry, remove the tape. Now you can display and enjoy!

The “grubby” method may be a little easier for beginners. First, take the end of your spoon and get enough silicone on the end to do a bulb. With one hand hold on the light bulb and take your silicone and start at the base of the bulb. You can glob, swirl or “paint” the silicone onto the bulb and move the silicone around until you are satisfied with where you want it. After you are finished with that bulb, repeat until the whole strand is finished. Let them dry overnight. Remove the tape when they’re dry and enjoy!

For the bigger bulbs, make sure you fill your cup full of the silicone and dip your bulb straight down, turn it a few times so you can get the silicone closer to the base. Pull it out and hang it upside down from the clothes pin.
For even grubbier looking lights, you can add instant coffee, crushed clove, cinnamon or any other things you can think of. This makes your lights give off an awesome glow.
Have fun! And I hope you enjoy making your lights!

Graciously contributed by Angie Kuether

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