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You are here: Home / Home + Garden / DIY Faux Gazing Ball for the Garden

June 5, 2016 by: Jennifer Priest

DIY Faux Gazing Ball for the Garden

To make this project a SUCCESS, there are a few things you absolutely MUST KNOW first.

I'm totally serious – there's a definite trick to making these DIY gazing balls!

Supplies:

  • Smoothfoam Ball
  • Acrylic craft paint
  • Hot Glue or Clear Construction Adhesive
  • Foam paintbrush
  • Flat bottom glass marbles

Smoothfoam-FAUX-Gazing-Ball-for-Garden-JPriest

Why THESE products?

Smoothfoam Balls – Smoothfoam has a flat, smooth surface that is easy to glue and paint. It is really important that you use this exact type of foam ball: SMOOTHFOAM. No, you cannot use styrofoam – styrofoam will melt, it's hard to paint, and it will look gross. Trust me.  Get the Smoothfoam. You can use a bowling ball (from the thrift shop or a garage sale to get the best deal) as well, but it is alot heavier. The Smoothfoam is lightweight but it will not blow away in the wind because it is heavy once all the glass stones are glued on.

Smoothfoam balls come in lots of sizes and the larger ones come as halves – you'll need to buy two halves to make one ball if you opt for balls larger than 6″ wide. Smoothfoam is NOT Styrofoam. Oasis foam will not work either. It must be SMOOTHFOAM. Styrofoam and Oasis will crumble, melt, and soak up a TON of paint – do not use either of those for this project. If you want to know more about how Smoothfoam is different from Styrofoam, READ THIS.

Acrylic Paint – acrylic paint dries fast, is affordable, and looks opaque with one coat using a foam paint brush. Choose paint in the same color as the marbles – matching exactly is not necessary. The Apple Barrel craft paint at Michael's stores will work fine (and it is cheap!).

Flat Bottom Marbles – Don't judge me when I say: flat back glass marbles! People have been gluing flat back glass marbles onto things and calling it art since the 1980s. Question is, what CAN'T flat back glass marbles do?! Why not make a gazing ball the same way? The flat side of these marbles makes them easy to glue to any surface. Any brand of flat back glass marble will do – I recommend buying these Flat Back Marbles on Amazon because the dollar store doesn't always have the colors in the quantity you want or need for this project. The craft stores charge too much for flat back glass marbles so avoid shopping for them there, even with a coupon. Round marbles will not work for this project.

Glue – I used hot glue on my balls and I bring them inside when it gets really hot or cold. If you live in an area with extreme temperature changes or plan to get these wet, use clear construction adhesive instead because hot glue won't hold up well over time. If you use hot glue, this project is TEMPORARY. If you want this project to last longer, you need to use construction adhesive.

Now that you have all the supplies, you are ready to go make your garden SHINE!

Here are some more ideas for using these faux gazing balls:

  • in large potted plants or in flower beds
  • piled in an old bird bath or fountain
  • decor for weddings along the aisle
  • centerpiece for parties
  • spooky orbs in your yard for Halloween
  • mosaic – add swirls or other designs by changing the colors of the marbles.

Where are you going to display your NEW gazing ball?

Looking for more fab backyard ideas on a budget? CLICK HERE


Click here to download 9 DIYs to make your backyard summer ready on the cheap!

Thank you so much for visiting. I can't wait for you to start entertaining in your backyard now!

PIN THIS:

DIY Faux Gazing Ball for the Garden - how to use dollar store glass marbles to make a gorgeous glass gazing ball for the the garden #SmartFunDIY #gazingBall #DIYGazingBall #FauxGazingBall #DollarstoreCrafts #DollarStore #GardenDecor #GardenGazingBall

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Comments

  1. Teresa Krause says

    August 2, 2015 at 6:39 am

    Found you on YouTube

    Reply
    • Jennifer Priest says

      August 2, 2015 at 3:40 pm

      Thanks for visiting!!

      Reply
      • Nadine says

        May 14, 2016 at 7:50 pm

        I 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

        Reply
        • Jennifer Priest says

          May 15, 2016 at 9:11 am

          Sorry 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.

          Reply
          • Nadine says

            May 26, 2016 at 5:38 pm

            I will try the other glue I hope it works they were so pritty

        • Darlene says

          January 8, 2018 at 4:30 am

          You must use a weather-proof (water proof) glue.

          Reply
  2. Nicole Mantooth says

    August 13, 2015 at 8:16 pm

    Love these! Way cute. I’ll have to make some once we get a place here in Arizona. ?

    Reply
  3. Shelly says

    January 9, 2016 at 9:38 pm

    I 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 ? :/

    Reply
    • Jennifer Priest says

      March 10, 2016 at 8:28 pm

      That’s why I used Smoothfoam – it’s so much better with hot glue than styrofoam 🙂

      Reply
  4. Cheryl Ross says

    February 14, 2016 at 4:13 pm

    Love 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.

    Reply
  5. candy says

    February 15, 2016 at 6:20 pm

    I just found my new buddy

    Reply
  6. creativejewishmom/sara says

    February 21, 2016 at 10:57 pm

    Looks great, and your planters too! Thanks for sharing on craft schooling Sunday!

    Reply
  7. Ntina says

    February 21, 2016 at 11:45 pm

    What a great idea! They came out really beautiful. I found you at Share it link party!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Priest says

      February 22, 2016 at 12:57 am

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  8. Whendi says

    March 7, 2016 at 6:13 am

    Made these yesterday and love them. However, I wonder how they will hold up in the summer weather? Does water have a negative effect?

    Reply
    • Jennifer Priest says

      March 7, 2016 at 8:14 am

      Yay 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.

      Reply
      • Dale says

        August 8, 2017 at 9:11 pm

        You can also put 3 coats of modge podgeover them so they stay on

        Reply
        • Jennifer Priest says

          August 9, 2017 at 6:06 pm

          Yeah I don’t really think that would work … but interesting idea!

          Reply
  9. Carrie says

    April 29, 2016 at 6:54 pm

    I may try making this with some old bowling balls we have lying around….no need to paint them just add some sparkly flat marbles.

    Reply
  10. Pam says

    May 5, 2016 at 11:03 pm

    I 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?

    Reply
    • Jennifer Priest says

      May 5, 2016 at 11:09 pm

      You totally could do that!

      Reply
      • Pam says

        May 5, 2016 at 11:12 pm

        Thank you for the prompt reply.

        Reply
  11. carla leach says

    May 6, 2016 at 3:39 pm

    Just 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.

    Reply
    • Sandra hahn says

      July 19, 2016 at 5:15 am

      Ge silicone 11 in clear.

      Reply
      • Sandra hahn says

        July 19, 2016 at 5:27 am

        That’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

        Reply
      • Jennifer Priest says

        July 19, 2016 at 10:32 pm

        Thanks!

        Reply
  12. Betty adkins says

    May 7, 2016 at 12:14 pm

    I 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. 🙂

    Reply
  13. Linda says

    May 13, 2016 at 7:36 pm

    How do you keep them from blowing away?

    Reply
    • Jennifer Priest says

      May 15, 2016 at 8:58 am

      Hello, They are heavy with the glass marbles on them.

      Reply
  14. Sue says

    May 22, 2016 at 5:06 pm

    I 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

    Reply
  15. Pam says

    June 1, 2016 at 7:02 pm

    These are awesome! I have gazillion of those glass pebbles leftover from my daughter’s wedding. I can’t wait to try this.

    Reply
  16. 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.

    Reply
    • Jennifer Priest says

      June 7, 2016 at 8:34 am

      Yes it would!

      Reply
  17. Shirley Schutt says

    June 19, 2016 at 9:49 am

    What is construction adhesive? Is there a tube you could use as clear caulking?

    Reply
    • Jennifer Priest says

      June 20, 2016 at 5:41 pm

      Go to the hardware store and ask for clear construction adhesive. You could use clear caulk if it is for outdoor use.

      Reply
  18. Troy Price says

    June 30, 2016 at 10:53 am

    Where do you get smoothfoam

    Reply
    • Jennifer Priest says

      July 4, 2016 at 10:59 pm

      Click the link in the post – goes direct to Amazon. Also JOANN Crafts has it.

      Reply
  19. Lesa Thompson Livingston says

    October 28, 2016 at 5:28 pm

    Super 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!

    Reply
  20. Carolann Blanco says

    December 3, 2016 at 2:17 pm

    You 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!

    Reply
  21. Tina Kopitskie says

    December 15, 2016 at 7:34 pm

    Jennifer, 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.

    Reply
    • Jennifer Priest says

      December 16, 2016 at 10:49 am

      You 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…

      Reply
  22. Laura says

    February 14, 2017 at 12:37 pm

    Hello, approx. how many flat marbles would it take to cover a bowling ball?

    Reply
    • Jennifer Priest says

      February 14, 2017 at 8:53 pm

      Oh, maybe 4-5 bags? depends on the size of the marbles…

      Reply
  23. John T Haney or JT says

    September 7, 2017 at 9:18 pm

    I 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…..

    Reply
    • Jennifer Priest says

      September 8, 2017 at 10:07 am

      I also found that clear construction adhesives works great too 🙂

      Reply
  24. carolyn says

    April 15, 2018 at 2:56 pm

    Hello Dear

    Can the smoothfoam and stained glass mosaic ball be grouted? What type?

    Reply
    • Jennifer Priest says

      April 16, 2018 at 9:09 am

      Hello, you probably could but for something more permanent, use a bowling ball or concrete ball as a base.

      Reply
  25. Emily says

    June 28, 2018 at 11:18 am

    What a fun idea! I bet they look so pretty when the sun hits them, too. Thank you for sharing at Merry Monday!

    Reply
  26. Debrashoppeno5 says

    July 15, 2018 at 8:47 am

    These 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.

    Reply
  27. April J Harris says

    July 22, 2018 at 2:29 pm

    They 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!

    Reply
  28. Marilyn Roth says

    April 20, 2021 at 11:19 am

    I’m excited to try this project. Might I suggest that Patio Paints or equivalent be used? They are water resistant, moreso than the acrylic paints. I live in the Pacific Northwest, so rain is a constant companion! I’ve used Patio Paints on my ceramics and it works perfectly.

    Reply

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Welcome to Smart Fun DIY where you'll find amazing craft projects, easy-to-make recipes with a Latin twist, clever DIY projects, and smart ways to get the most out of life. I'm so happy you're here and I can't wait to learn more about you! - Jennifer Priest If you're new here, click HERE to learn more.

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