Patio season is in full swing. These outdoor covered soirees unite friends and family, inspire hearty conversation and promote an agenda of lip-smacking foods -- we're talking fun and festive to the extreme. If you throw your own backyard bash, make your decorations the "light" of the party. Twinkling bulbs add the perfect accent, and, thanks to the new book Decorating With Mini-Lights (Lark Books, $19.95), there are an abundance of bright ideas to choose from. The 112-page book offers quick and impressive projects for a variety of occasions.
I couldn't resist the one that gave new life to white table-tennis balls. The balls can be found in the sporting- goods department, and the minilights and other materials at local craft stores.
Ping Pong Rainbow Lights
SUPPLIES:
* Acrylic paints in desired colors
* Paper plate
* Cup of water
* Small paintbrush
* 15 table-tennis balls
* Paper towels
* Paint pen
* Craft knife with several sizes of blades
* 1 strand of 15 clear minilights
* Hot glue gun and glue sticks
DIRECTIONS: Add a drop of one of the colors of paint to the paper plate, and add a few drops of water. Mix with the paintbrush until paint becomes watery. Dab your finger in it and lightly pat it on the surface of one of the balls. Continue the process on the remaining balls. Repeat process with other colors. Rest the balls on the paper towels to prevent spreading the paint on your work surface. When the paint is completely dry on all the balls, add accents with a metallic or black paint pen.
There will be a logo on each of the balls. This is where you will poke a hole with the craft knife. Cut hole just large enough to fit over the light bulb. Add a small drop of hot glue to hold it in place.
VARIATION: Make your lights look elegant by using gold or silver metallic paints as a base coat. Food coloring can be used instead of paint as a coloring medium, see book for directions.

* For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: garden, lights, outdoor