Copper Dipped Light Bulb (Contributor Post)

Hi There!  Its Bree from bumblebreeblog again.  For the last couple weeks over at bumblebreeblog I have been sharing some Anthropologie Hacks.  I find swoon worthy items that my sad little budget can’t afford and find ways to DIY them myself for a much better price.  Today, I want to share with you my

Copper Dipped Light Bulb

If you have visited bumblebreeblog, then you know that I am totally obsessed with copper.  I have created a copper and wood bowl, a copper bead bracelet, and a copper pipe pencil holder.  When I saw a gold dipped light bulb at Anthropologie, I knew I could create my own copper dipped light bulb.  It was surprisingly easy and added a great flair to my decor.

So what do you think?  Looks fairly good, huh?

I started off by buying some clear, energy efficient, low watt, light bulb.

How to create a Copper Dipped Light Bulb

1. Get a piece of foil and put it around the bottom of the light bulb.
2. Take small pieces of washi tape and create a strait edge around the light bulb
3. Spray with copper spray paint (I used Krylon Premium Copper brilliance)
4. Let dry

When making this project I had a lot of issues getting the tape to have a nice clean straight edge, so my tip to you is:

When putting tape around the light bulb, use smaller pieces that overlap so that you can get a nice clean edge.

Ok, here is the warning part of this post.  Spray paint is extremely flammable.  Please make sure that you project is completely dry before you use it.  I have had no issues with my bulb, but try not to use it for more then a couple hours at the time.  If you smell anything, or if the bulb changes at all, unplug it immediately.  You can also use metallic glass paint if you feel more comfortable with that.  Even when not lit, the copper dipped light bulb creates a great conversation piece.

I put 2 coats of paint on my bulb to create a nice smooth look to the paint.  Be very careful with with your wet bulb.  Those darn things are slippery.  Mine fell over and chipped the paint a little.  I fixed it with another coat but it was still annoying.

I totally love how this project turned out.  The naked copper dipped light bulb looks great hanging in my guestroom.  The copper paint reflects the light upward (rather then through) and creates a beautiful copper glow.

Thanks for taking a look at my project.  You can see the other Anthropologie hacks over at bumblebreeblog, including the DIY Hanging Light to go with my copper dipped light bulb and my Dual Greeting Welcome Mat.  See you next month on the 4th Monday of the month!