How to Make a Garden Gazing Ball

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: February 25, 2023 References

Garden gazing balls are a great accent to any garden or lawn. Gazing balls are large spheres that go in your garden as decorations and have been popular for centuries. Buying one at the store can be incredibly expensive depending on its quality. Luckily, there are cheap and easy do-it-yourself methods of creating your very own gazing ball. By following the right techniques and getting the right materials, you'll be able to make a gazing ball that compliments your home or apartment.^{[1]
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Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Creating a Basic Gazing Ball

1
Decide how you want to cover your gazing ball. You can cover your gazing ball with a variety of things including pennies, glass marbles, gems, or crushed tinted glass. Decide on what would go best with your landscaping and garden, and choose a material that compliments it. Make sure to consider the material's colors when creating your gazing ball.
- If you're going for a lighter, colorful garden, turquoise glass gems make the perfect material.
- Lighter weight materials like coins or gems may be easier to attach to your gazing ball.
- If you're going for a more rustic look, try finding flat stones in your garden.
2
Obtain a bowling ball or round light cover. Go to a department or thrift store to try to find a globe light cover. Some light covers will come with a fixture that can double as a gazing ball stand. If you can't find a round light cover, you can find an old bowling ball at a thrift shop, garage sale, or a bowling alley.

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3
Clean your gazing ball. Use soapy warm water to clean your round light cover or bowling ball. Use a rag or sponge and then thoroughly rinse and dry it off. You can also use rubbing alcohol or water and vinegar to wash your bowling ball.
4
Apply two coats of white paint primer. Spray paint primer will improve the spray paint's cohesion and will help bring out the vibrant colors in your spraypaint.^{[2]
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Research source} Apply two light coats of primer instead of one thick coat. Once you're done spraying your primer, allow it to dry.
- Drying should take around an hour.
- Two light coats of primer will prevent your paint from dripping later on.
5
Apply two coats of a spray paint of your choice. When considering what color to paint your gazing ball, determine the color and type of materials that you are using to cover it. Use a color that will blend in with the materials that you will attach to your ball. Do not use colors that clash or that stand out. Once you're done painting your ball, allow it to dry before moving onto the next step.
- For example, dark blue and purple stones look best when your orb is painted black.
- Brown may be a good color for a gazing ball that uses stones from the garden.
6
Glue your materials to the surface of the ball. Because you're gluing heavy stones to a smooth object, regular glue is not suitable for this step. Use a strong adhesive like epoxy or super glue and attach your covering materials to your ball.^{[3]
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Research source} Apply the glue to the flat side of the material you're using and press the material against the ball.
- Work from one point on the ball and make a full ring around the ball if you want to keep your lines symmetrical.
- When going for a rustic or artistic look, you can lay your stones asymmetrically.
7
Place your gazing ball in the garden or on a stand. Allow the glue to dry thoroughly before putting it outside. Try to find a place in your garden that will accent the plants and flowers around it. If you used a lighter material like a round lamp cover and want to place it on a stand, you should attach it to your base using an adhesive, so that it doesn't fall and break.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Creating a Reflective Gazing Ball

1
Find a bowling ball. Look for a bowling ball at a thrift shop, Goodwill, or bowling alley. If you're looking to save money, you may be able to find a ball for as low as $5. Look for bowling balls that have the holes closer together so that they are easier to hide.^{[4]
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2
Wash and dry your bowling ball. Use soapy warm water, glass cleaner, or rubbing alcohol to clean the surface of your ball. If you don't wash your ball, dust and debris will get caught under the paint and ruin its smooth finish. Dry your ball with a rag or cloth once you get all of the dust off of it.
3
Cover your ball in paint primer. Prime your bowling ball in paint primer to help the spray paint to adhere to the ball. A latex primer may be the best type of primer you can get for a bowling ball because it will prevent cracking and peeling of your paint.^{[5]
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Research source} If you're keeping your garden gazing ball outside, do not skip the step.
4
Spray one side of the bowling ball with chrome metallic spray paint. Go to a craft store or look online for chrome-colored metallic spray paint. Before you begin spraying, make sure to lay down a tarp, shower curtain, or large trash bag so that spray paint doesn't get on the floor.
- Spray paint your ball outside.
- Wear protective face gear so that you do not inhale spray paint.
5
Allow the paint to dry for 24 hours before placing it outside. Putting your gazing ball outside in the elements too early can damage it or cause the paint to prematurely peel. Test the surface of the gazing ball with your hand to see if it transfers paint onto your hand. If the surface feels moist, wait until it feels totally dry.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Creating a Miniature Gazing Ball

1
Insert a chopstick into a styrofoam ball and insert glue into the hole. You can purchase styrofoam balls at most arts and crafts shops, online, or at the dollar store. Take the pointed end of a chopstick and push it through the bottom of your styrofoam ball. Insert the chopstick half way into the ball, and make sure not to push it all the way through.^{[6]
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Research source} Pull out your chopstick and fill the hole that it made with an adhesive like glue or silicone.
- The adhesive will ensure that your stick stays securely inside the ball.
- Get different sized styrofoam balls to add contrast to your garden.
2
Insert your chopstick into the hole you made. Insert your chopstick into the hole that you just filled with glue. Allow the glue to set so that they hold your chopsticks firmly in place. Once the glue has dried, you can use the chopsticks to hold your small gazing balls in the dirt.
3
Glue flat marbles onto your styrofoam ball. Dab strong glue onto the marbles before sticking them onto your ball. Using a hot glue gun may also be effective at holding the marbles onto your ball.
- You can use plastic gemstones as an alternative to marbles.
- You can also use grout and cover the surface of your ball before placing your marbles onto it.
4
Allow your miniature gazing balls to dry for 24 hours. Allow your gazing balls to dry for a full 24 hours before you place them in your garden. Insert the end of the chopstick into the ground to plant them. Plant your gazing balls around flowers that complement their style and color. Exposure to the elements should change the white of the styrofoam to different colors.^{[7]
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Community Q&A

Question

Can I paint the Styrofoam ball?

Community Answer

Spray paint will melt the Styrofoam, but acrylic paint will not. You may need multiple coats as it's a very porous surface. Water-based acrylic might be destroyed outside, so keep that in mind.