How to Make DIY Eyeball Ping Pong Ball Lights for Halloween
To make DIY eyeball lights, cut a small X in each ping pong ball with a craft knife, hot glue a fake eyeball about 90 degrees from the X so it faces you when hung, then push one bulb of an LED light strand snugly into each X. The whole project needs just four supplies.
Eyeball lights turn an ordinary light strand into a row of staring eyes for a window, mantel or doorway. All you need is a pack of ping pong balls, some fake eyeballs, a craft knife and a battery or plug-in LED fairy light strand, with a hot glue gun holding it together. The method below follows the SAY YES tutorial, and you can find the other supplies on Amazon.
What do you need for DIY eyeball lights?
| Item | Why you need it |
|---|---|
| Ping pong balls | Each ball becomes a glowing eye socket |
| Fake eyeballs | Glued onto the ball; the tutorial uses one or more per ball |
| Craft knife | Cuts the small X the bulb pushes through |
| Hot glue gun | Attaches the eyeballs |
| LED light strand | The bulbs that light each ball; the tutorial bought a strand for $6.99 |
How do you make eyeball ping pong ball lights?
- Cut an X. Use the craft knife to cut a small X in each ping pong ball. The source calls the cut “pretty small” and gives no size, so start tiny and enlarge only if needed.
- Check the fit. The bulb should be snug. The tutorial says the LED “should have to struggle a second to pop in.”
- Glue on the eyeball. Hot glue one eyeball (or more) to each ball, about 90 degrees from the X so the eye faces you once the strand is hung.
- Add the lights. Push one LED into the X on each ball.
Where should you hang eyeball lights?
Drape the strand across a window frame, along a bookshelf or through the branches of a dark corner so the eyes seem to peer out of the shadows. They pair well with the layering ideas in our home haunt lighting guide, and the budget home haunt build guide shows where a project this cheap fits in a full setup. For placement planning, see how to plan your home haunt layout.
Safety note (ours): the source does not cover heat or glue set times. Use LED strands only, since an incandescent bulb inside a plastic ball can overheat. Cut away from your fingers with a sharp knife, let the glue cool before hanging, and keep the strand indoors or in a covered spot unless it is rated for outdoor use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different kind of light? The tutorial used an LED strand. We recommend LED because it stays cool inside plastic.
How many eyeballs go on each ball? The source says one eyeball “or more.” One gives a clean look and extra eyeballs give a creepier cluster.
How big should the X be? The source only says it should be small and snug. Test one ball first.
Which way should the eye face? About 90 degrees from the X, so the eye faces you when the strand hangs.
How much does it cost? The tutorial bought its LED strand for $6.99. Ping pong balls and eyeballs add a few dollars; prices vary.
Want more cheap lighting tricks? Light your home haunt with our full DIY guide.
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