Press PLAY to watch the video here:
So many people have made these gazing balls with great success! But a few have told me that their gazing ball fell apart after they made it. That's because they used the WRONG SUPPLIES.
It is super frustrating to look for supplies and get the wrong thing.
It's even more frustrating to spend all this time making something to have it fall apart. That's why using the RIGHT SUPPLIES is crucial!
When people tell me they made these gazing balls and they fell apart, 99% of the time, they used the wrong supplies. I don't want you to waste your time and money! I want you to have a gorgeous, unique gazing ball for your garden. It is super super important to start with the RIGHT supplies to make this project AMAZING! Depending on where you use the gazing ball, you will choose different supplies.
If you plan to display the gazing ball INSIDE the house or as temporary garden or party decor, you can use the hot glue method I share in the video.
If you plan to leave the gazing balls outside for any longer than one day or you want to use them in extreme temperatures (colder than 65ºF and warmer than 75ºF), then you HAVE to use different supplies. If you use hot glue on an exclusively outdoor project, it WILL fall apart.
CLICK the NEXT button to see the FULL SUPPLY LIST and an explanation about why each item is important.
Teresa Krause says
August 2, 2015 at 6:39 amFound you on YouTube
Jennifer Priest says
August 2, 2015 at 3:40 pmThanks for visiting!!
Nadine says
May 14, 2016 at 7:50 pmI made these and all the stones fell of the first time it rained not sure what I did wrong they looked great but I wasted a lot of time for nothing back to the drawing board for me
Jennifer Priest says
May 15, 2016 at 9:11 amSorry that happened – I suggest construction adhesive if you live in a wet weather area. I live in a desert – it rarely rains here. Also you have to use SMOOTHFOAM because if you use styrofoam, it will fall apart right away.
Nadine says
May 26, 2016 at 5:38 pmI will try the other glue I hope it works they were so pritty
Darlene says
January 8, 2018 at 4:30 amYou must use a weather-proof (water proof) glue.
Nicole Mantooth says
August 13, 2015 at 8:16 pmLove these! Way cute. I’ll have to make some once we get a place here in Arizona. ?
Shelly says
January 9, 2016 at 9:38 pmI made a project back in the day with styrofoam balls and a high temp glue gun…it ate right through (aka melted) the styrofoam immediately…won’t that happen here ? :/
Jennifer Priest says
March 10, 2016 at 8:28 pmThat’s why I used Smoothfoam – it’s so much better with hot glue than styrofoam 🙂
Cheryl Ross says
February 14, 2016 at 4:13 pmLove this idea! Work at Jo-Ann’s and know what I am buying tomorrow after work. Want to do the green pebbles and putting on the thinking cap for the color paint. Don’t want a glitter but something to really add to it.
candy says
February 15, 2016 at 6:20 pmI just found my new buddy
creativejewishmom/sara says
February 21, 2016 at 10:57 pmLooks great, and your planters too! Thanks for sharing on craft schooling Sunday!
Ntina says
February 21, 2016 at 11:45 pmWhat a great idea! They came out really beautiful. I found you at Share it link party!
Jennifer Priest says
February 22, 2016 at 12:57 amThank you so much!
Whendi says
March 7, 2016 at 6:13 amMade these yesterday and love them. However, I wonder how they will hold up in the summer weather? Does water have a negative effect?
Jennifer Priest says
March 7, 2016 at 8:14 amYay so excited that you made them! Some of the beads might fall off with extreme temp changes -Just glue them back on 🙂 You can also use a construction adhesive to hold them on.
Dale says
August 8, 2017 at 9:11 pmYou can also put 3 coats of modge podgeover them so they stay on
Jennifer Priest says
August 9, 2017 at 6:06 pmYeah I don’t really think that would work … but interesting idea!
Carrie says
April 29, 2016 at 6:54 pmI may try making this with some old bowling balls we have lying around….no need to paint them just add some sparkly flat marbles.
Pam says
May 5, 2016 at 11:03 pmI found the answer to which type of paint to use. Now another question, why couldn’t you paint the smoothfoam
ball one color and use flat marbles of another. It might be gaudy or could be interesting. Any opinions?
Jennifer Priest says
May 5, 2016 at 11:09 pmYou totally could do that!
Pam says
May 5, 2016 at 11:12 pmThank you for the prompt reply.
carla leach says
May 6, 2016 at 3:39 pmJust made my first one. Painted the ball sky blue and used clear flat marbles. Beautiful. I’m wondering. How could I fill in the open spaces with seed beads, bugle beads etc.? What kind of glue should I use? hOPE YOU RESPOND soon. Can’t wait to put in my hosta garden. Oh, I found a lot of cool stands at Good Will. Similar to fondue pot stands.
Sandra hahn says
July 19, 2016 at 5:15 amGe silicone 11 in clear.
Sandra hahn says
July 19, 2016 at 5:27 amThat’s what you use for outside and it’s cheaper to use glass light fixtures at yard sales and they can stay out all year round
Jennifer Priest says
July 19, 2016 at 10:32 pmThanks!
Betty adkins says
May 7, 2016 at 12:14 pmI did this one year using the construction adhesive on an old bowling ball a friend got from a thrift store for a few dollars! Good way to upcycle unwanted balls 🙂 I used different colored stones to make a flower pattern all over my ball. 🙂
Linda says
May 13, 2016 at 7:36 pmHow do you keep them from blowing away?
Jennifer Priest says
May 15, 2016 at 8:58 amHello, They are heavy with the glass marbles on them.
Sue says
May 22, 2016 at 5:06 pmI understand the difference between different Styrofoam – used to work for a florist. Then I saw the comment about bowling balls. Someone gave me some but they’ve gotten dull over the years – NOW I know how to make them look better. Great idea! For garden ball idea & bowling ball idea. Thank you
Pam says
June 1, 2016 at 7:02 pmThese are awesome! I have gazillion of those glass pebbles leftover from my daughter’s wedding. I can’t wait to try this.
Echo says
June 6, 2016 at 10:46 am(1) Would this Smoothfoam (never hear of it before) work with silicone as an adhesive instead of hot glue? Then it would be weather resistant.
Jennifer Priest says
June 7, 2016 at 8:34 amYes it would!
Shirley Schutt says
June 19, 2016 at 9:49 amWhat is construction adhesive? Is there a tube you could use as clear caulking?
Jennifer Priest says
June 20, 2016 at 5:41 pmGo to the hardware store and ask for clear construction adhesive. You could use clear caulk if it is for outdoor use.
Troy Price says
June 30, 2016 at 10:53 amWhere do you get smoothfoam
Jennifer Priest says
July 4, 2016 at 10:59 pmClick the link in the post – goes direct to Amazon. Also JOANN Crafts has it.
Lesa Thompson Livingston says
October 28, 2016 at 5:28 pmSuper cool! I found this post on Pinterest and my shade garden sure could use that pop of color. Thanks for the additional information about temperature extremes as I live in South Florida!
Carolann Blanco says
December 3, 2016 at 2:17 pmYou might try old bowling balls…. you can usually find them at thrift stores, bowling ally’s often sell for a buck….. paint it white and glu away. It is heavier but I have had on inmy garden in Colorado for 7 years!
Tina Kopitskie says
December 15, 2016 at 7:34 pmJennifer, can you use rubber balls or hard plastic balls that children play with for the glazing ball? Bowling balls are hard to come by and I want to make several for outside. I live in NJ so our summers can be hot and humid. I would take them in for the winter.
Jennifer Priest says
December 16, 2016 at 10:49 amYou could try but they might expand and shrink a little with temp changes and that’s bad for the glue – the gems will fall off. If you plan to use them on the ground, you could use a glass bowl turned upside down and only have “half a ball” sticking up…
Laura says
February 14, 2017 at 12:37 pmHello, approx. how many flat marbles would it take to cover a bowling ball?
Jennifer Priest says
February 14, 2017 at 8:53 pmOh, maybe 4-5 bags? depends on the size of the marbles…
John T Haney or JT says
September 7, 2017 at 9:18 pmI made this way b4 I saw anything here….problem is. glass beads are so smooth and a glue gun will not hold for very long,
Solution….over glue gun it and let it warp around the glass beads….or later super glue them back in place.
either way works…..
Jennifer Priest says
September 8, 2017 at 10:07 amI also found that clear construction adhesives works great too 🙂
carolyn says
April 15, 2018 at 2:56 pmHello Dear
Can the smoothfoam and stained glass mosaic ball be grouted? What type?
Jennifer Priest says
April 16, 2018 at 9:09 amHello, you probably could but for something more permanent, use a bowling ball or concrete ball as a base.
Emily says
June 28, 2018 at 11:18 amWhat a fun idea! I bet they look so pretty when the sun hits them, too. Thank you for sharing at Merry Monday!
Debrashoppeno5 says
July 15, 2018 at 8:47 amThese are so pretty. I can see how they can be used inside or out. The best part is you tell us what to use for each application.
April J Harris says
July 22, 2018 at 2:29 pmThey really are pretty! Thank you so much for sharing these pretty gazing balls with us at the Hearth and Soul Link Party. Have a lovely week!