Orange ping pong balls plus fairy lights equal a fun Halloween Jack O’ Lantern decoration! An easy project anyone can do using a Cricut or other electronic cutting machine, or even just a Sharpie.
I’ve seen tutorials for ping pong ball lights before, but I decided to make a Jack O’ Lantern set for Halloween! I’m going to string the set of lights from our porch this year.
Our court goes all out for Halloween (seriously, last year they strung a ten-foot-tall Harry Potter dementor thirty feet above the street between two pines!). It’s never been one of those holidays that I’ve done much for, but this year I am starting early, making projects here and there so our house isn’t a dud on this fun street.
This was a really easy project—I put it together one evening after my boys went to bed. Which means I didn’t take pictures of the process because hashtag-mom-brain.
But trust me, this is a simple one. I used my Cricut to cut the vinyl jack o’ lantern faces, but you can use a permanent marker and draw them on. Whatever works for you!
Jack O’ Lantern Ping Pong Ball Lights Supplies
- String lights
- Orange ping pong balls
- Xacto Knife
- Sharpie OR…
- Black vinyl + cutting machine (like the Cricut Explore or Cricut Maker)
- Jack O Lantern Face SVG
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Jack O’ Lantern Ping Pong Ball Lights Instructions
Using the Xacto knife, cut a small “x” over the logo of a ping pong ball (be careful—obviously that knife is sharp!). If your ping pong balls don’t have a logo, cut your “x” anywhere but the seam. It’s just easier to avoid the extra strong plastic at the seam. Learned from experience on that one.
You can either draw/vinyl the jack o’lanterns faces before or after assembling the lights—I did it after, but I think it might be easier to do it before, especially if you’re drawing.
If you want to use your Cricut or other electronic cutting machine, you can download the files (in the supply list) and apply the vinyl directly to each ping pong ball. I changed up which eyes went with which mouth, to make them all different.
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Stick the first light on the string through the “x” that you made, making sure to push it in all the way.
Repeat, repeat, repeat until you’ve cut and placed all the ping pong balls. It’ll look something like this during the day:
And something like this at night!
So fun and spooky!
Comments & Reviews
Sarah. S says
Cool DIY project. I need to try these. Love the creativity, it really does look like a pumpkin.
Tina F. Vang says
Now that’s creativity. I’ll be doing it for sure in the Halloween. Thanks for this great article.
Hales says
This is a great idea, and provides a use for old ping pong balls. I will be using this idea on a tree in the garden.
Hales.
Sami says
What a cute idea that the kiddos will love! Now I’m trying to brainstorm other holidays that I can do something similar with ping pong balls.
Cori George says
So many good ideas, eh?
HENRY RYAN says
Great idea, I it try on my garden.
Ping Pong Man says
That’s a pretty sweet idea. Looks like Amazon carries the multicolor ones for other holidays too. I think my one son would really like these done into basketballs, though that would be more difficult than jack-o-laterns.
Peter says
I saw a great idea of using ping pong balls here.
I definitely will try it for my boys. I hope it will going to be easy, even you didn’t take pictures of the process
Francis says
Thanks, Cori for sharing this cutest idea. I will try for my little girls who will definitely love this innovation.
lisa says
This is a great idea, and provides a use for old ping pong balls. I will be using this idea on a tree in the garden.
peter says
thank you about article, and provides a use for old ping pong balls. I will be using this idea on a tree in the garden.
jay says
thank you your post . this is amazing idea. i will use it for my garden
Kamil Calloway says
Wow, what a really fun idea. I am definitely having my kids do this for the next Halloween!
Tiffany@shirts says
Great idea! It’s easy to make, so the kids can do it. I wish I could see it sooner , the next Halloween I’ll try .
Rook says
So cool, I will make ping pong ball light in my bed room, maybe adding eyes and mouth when Halloween time come. Nice post, thanks.
Kevin James says
Now that’s creativity. I’ll be doing it for sure in the Halloween. Thanks for this great article.
Tim says
These are so cool. I know it isn’t complex, but the post is still useful for people who don’t usually do DIY project.
Kevn James says
What a cute idea that the kiddos will love! Now I’m trying to brainstorm other holidays that I can do something similar with ping pong balls.
James says
Wow Cori the vinyl came up an absolute treat. I was wondering how you got the faces looking so sharp, I would definitely be struggling with a sharpie.
Jenny says
Awesome tutorial, very informative and creative. My kids love it. Planing to make these each year on Halloween.
Gavin Wade says
Hey,
This was just an awesome read. I must say I really enjoyed reading your article. I was planning to buy ping pong ball lights and just stumbled your article through Google.
Joseph says
That’s very creative, truly! I like the simplicity and how does it look. We’ve made something similar in the past, though we were using permanent markers (like Sharpies) and damaged balls from our local club. Another suggestion – you can mix orange ones with white ones and draw skulls on them.
Ronny says
That’s so cool! It doesn’t look too hard. I’ll try this out and tell you guys how it went.
Jeebon says
Awesome tutorial, very informative and creative. My kids love it.
Zamrie Boutique says
This is the creative ideas and simply to do it. My son really loves it. Thank so much for your sharing.
Kendra says
Love the creativity, make these each year on Halloween
Anu Thakur says
Many thanks for your valuable content. You are an inspiration with your hard work.
Keep up the awesome work and know that you’re appreciated!
Thanks
Anu Thakur
authentictip says
I read your article. I have benefited a lot from this article. This article is very informative.
Best laptop for Citrix says
This is a great tutorial, very creative and informative. I’m sure my kids will enjoy it.