How to Make Garden Art Balls
Tips for making decorative garden art balls using bowling balls or lamp globes topped with flat marbles.
Cost: $30
Ingredients
- 1 Globe bowling ball or thick glass lamp globe
- 200 bag Flat marbles quantity depends on size and design
- 1 can Spray paint
- 2 tubes Silicone sealant exterior, clear-drying
Equipment
Instructions
Prepare Ball
- Wash and dry ball (bowling ball or glass lamp globe).
- Spray paint in desired background color. Follow product instructions including recommended drying time.
- Lightly sand surface so adhesive will stick. Remove any dust.
Plan Your Design
- The amount of flat marbles needed will depend entirely on the size of ball and your design.
- Map out your design first to ensure you have enough of each color.
Attach Decorations
- Work outdoors or in a well-ventilated area: follow safety precautions on adhesive.
- Use a strong bowl with a rag/towel to hold your ball in place while working.
- Work in small sections from the bottom up using gravity to hold the pieces in place. NOTE: Once the adhesive sets fairly fast and you cannot apply anything onto it once it has set.
- Work in small sections applying adhesive at least 1/8-inch thick. You can either apply it to the ball or directly on the back of the flat marbles, piece by piece.
- If you are adding decorative fillers, apply them as you go.
- Gently press flat marble with adhesive onto ball and hold in place for a minute.If creating a design work from the middle out.If doing rings of marbles, work in layers going up, doing lowest ring first.
- Never leave bare adhesive on the ball: always apply marbles or completely remove while wet.
- Allow to dry per instructions on adhesive product.