Egg Carton Crafts – String Lights

I had a lot of fun searching for an idea for an upcycle project. I came up with some options but this egg carton crafts project was my favorite. I wanted a total transformation so I repurposed egg cartons into string lights.

Planter and Egg Carton Lights

I am so excited about this egg carton. craft because it’s likely you will already have what you need for this craft project. Also, there are thirteen other upcycled projects listed at the bottom of this post. Be sure to scroll down to see these amazing craft ideas.

There are so many uses for these lights. I am going to use them on our back porch but they will also look great inside our home.

Hanging Egg Carton Lights on the Fireplace

I was inspired by these beautiful faux hydrangeas and selected my color palette based on the colors in these flowers. 

Hanging Egg Carrton Lights

We have gone through a lot of eggs these past few weeks and I have been saving these recycled egg cartons.  I thought my project would even be better if I upcycled a recycled product.

What You Need to Make My Egg Carton Craft

Paper Pulp (not styrofoam) egg cartons

Acrylic paint, assorted colors (I used yellow, burgundy, light brown, and pink.)

Three to four strings of fairy lights

Egg Cartons for Crafts

How to Make Egg Carton String Lights

Cut the cartons in between the peaked parts of the egg carton.

cutting the egg cartons

Cut straight through the center, in a straight line, of the bottom of each egg cup.  Cut through the center again, cutting in the other direction.

egg cartons

Here is how your egg cartons should look.

Egg Carton Lights Craft

Mix your paint colors as desired. I highly suggest you pick four compatible colors (which should include yellow) and use only these colors (plus white) to mix your color palette. If you do this, the colors will be harmonized.

Paint Mixing 1

Here you can see the three to four colors I mixed to match the hydrangea flower.

Mixing and Matching Paint

Next, I painted both sides of the egg cups. I alternated the colors when I painted the insides.

painting egg cartons  

Let the egg cups dry for a few hours. (I put them outside in the sun to speed up the process.)

Painting Egg Cartons

Next, I took four fairy string lights and wound them together to create a brighter light source. 

Fairy Lights

Place the “lights” through the top hole of the eggs. (You may need to twist the lights to prevent them from coming back through the end of the cup.)

Adding Lights to Egg Cartons

This is how the string lights look before lighting.

Egg Cartons Upcycled

I just love how they turned out! Since fairy lights are battery operated you can put them anywhere. 

Egg Carton Lights

Pin the image below to your Craft or decor boards on Pinterest (just click the Pin button in the top left corner). You can also follow along with me on Pinterest!

How to Repurpose Egg Cartons

Here are all of the project ideas for upcycling submitted by some of my favorite bloggers! Just click on the links for more.

14 Repurpose Project Ideas

Egg Carton Crafts String Lights – My 100 Year Old Home // DIY Furniture Restoration – Grace In My Space // Butterfly Kaleidoscope Art – The Handmade Home // Moss Covered Tin Can Vases – The Happy Housie 

Easy Tin Can Project – Happy Happy Nester // 3 Ways To Repurpose Your Candle Jars – Modern Glam // Gold Leafed Wine Bottles – Cassie Bustamante

Faux Cement Planter DIY – Craftberry Bush // DIY Wooden Ball Mirror – Zevy Joy // DIY Tabletop Tiki Torch – My Sweet Savannah // Canvas Banner Hoop Wreath – Lolly Jane 

DIY Wood Slice Serving Board – Taryn Whiteaker Designs // DIY Farmhouse Wood Framed Mirror – She Gave It A Go // Faux Mother of Pearl Inlay Tray – A Blue Nest

Pin the image below to your Craft or fall decor boards on Pinterest (just click the Pin button in the top left corner). You can also follow along with me on Pinterest!

upcycle ideas blog post

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27 Comments

  1. A really cute idea and craft. Could you use mini lights? I realize the cord is not pretty like the wire on the fairy lights.

    Also, I like the new format for your website/blog. I’m sure it took many hours of organizing. Thank you.

    1. Yes I think mini lights would work just fine! Glad to hear you are loving the new website, hard work does pay off!

  2. thank you Leslie for helping me find the link!!!! I love this idea and cannot wait to try!!! You always have such great ideas. Cant wait to see your diy tomato cages!!

  3. This is so pretty! Thank you very much for sharing the detailed instructions and pictures. I can’t wait to try making these. I love your site💗. You are a true inspiration 💖☀️🌸

  4. This is amazing! Simply gorgeous and very “do-able!” Thank you for clear directions and photos!

  5. How unique and creative!! I love this idea. This looks like a very fun project to do. Think I will be trying this in my future

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