MORE Garden gazing balls from bowling balls!

[skankamaggot]

I posted one of these a couple of weeks ago (http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=294038.10) and I finally finished the other two I was working on.  They are bowling balls covered with flat marbles.  The stands are simply pillar candle holders, the two taller ones are from the thrift store, and the smaller one is from a yard sale.  Total cost of materials (bowling balls, stands, glue, marbles)- under $20 to make all three of these.  I just love them!  They are pictures on my fireplace because I haven't decided where to put them in the yard yet.  The purple one I showed in a previous post, sorry for reposting it but it looks so pretty with the other two  The others are a red bowling ball with clear marbles, and a blue bowling ball with dark blue marbles. 

[Megzy818]

those are so pretty, i love them where they are on the fireplace even if its not where youre going to keep them

[skankamaggot]

Thanks, Megzy818!  I like them there, too.  I think that might become their "winter home" 

[groovygran]

Too nice for the garden lol so pretty great idea

[Jinjeet Phoenix]

They came out stunning and they look fantastic just where they are.  Those stands really add to the bowling balls.

[ilovesnails]

Those are really nice. I think that I might just have to find some bowling balls and make them as gifts for Christmas. I love how they look as a group.

[Eliea]

I am thrilled you posted more finished pictures! They look amazing! were they cheaper to make than to buy a finished item of simillar type?

[pinokeeo]

I am thrilled you posted more finished pictures! They look amazing! were they cheaper to make than to buy a finished item of simillar type?

My question, as well.  I would like to make one, but if it's cheaper, I might just buy one.

Your work looks good.

[skankamaggot]

It's hard to find something completely comparable, but this site http://www.gazingballoutlet.com/ seems to have all kinds of gazing balls pricing ranging from $23-400. depending on material..  and the stands are $40+ alone on there.  I'd say mine were definitely cheaper!  It cost under $20 to make all three combined, not each, and the build time was not much at all. 

[McJulie-O]

Just one more question:
How do you pick one of those up to move it around? Did you leave the fingerholes intact or do you just pick the thing up with both hands?

[skankamaggot]

I kindof do it both ways    I can take a picture of the bottom for you if you'd like, but pretty much I left a circle on the bottom marble-less so that it would sit on the stand evenly without wobbling (also, because it took exactly TWO bags of marbles to do each and what's the point of marbling the bottom if you can't see it?  So that is also where the holes are.  It isn't so heavy, so I just pick it up with both hands and rest it on the stand.

[Eliea]

Awesome! Thanks for the info! I'll have to keep my eyes open for some bowling balls now because this looks like a thing my MIL would LOVE and finding great homemade gifts for her is very difficult.

[pinokeeo]

Thanks.  I've got four bowling ball just waiting for something to happen to them.

[lisalady161]

Man oh man, I love your creativity Skanka!  You don't think outside the box, you see the box as a pony and then figure out how to make it work, wow!

 That is such a great re-use for old bowling balls...now I wish I hadn't let my sister throw hers away!  I'll have to start prowling the thrift shops for old ones to use!

Thanks for sharing your wonderful idea!

[Megzy818]

you're welcome, i would make one of these but have no yard to put it in and not much space in the house, maybe after we move into our next apartment with the balcony!

[susankg53]

You can use old softballs or those plastic baseball type balls too, they are just smaller but look good too.

[skankamaggot]

Softballs would probably work, (or basket balls, or soccer balls, or volley balls, or or or..) but I think I'd want to paint them first.  Orrrrr we could all loot a McDonalds ballpen 

[craftewoman]

Beautiful. I love that you repurposed the bowling balls and the stands. Very clever!

[GumInMyHair]

I love these. I will be looking for bowling balls this summer while at garage sales.
Thanks for mentioning how you left the bottom without marbles.

[pinokeeo]

If you use a ball with air in it, and the air leaks out, wouldn't that ruin it?  I could see using a baseball or softball, but I think a basketball or soccer ball wouldn't be practical.

[Eliea]

ok hubby posed a question and I have to ask before I can start scoping out supplies. How sturdy are the stands? And where did you purchase them?
He's concerned that the weight of the ball would make the stands collapse over time.
I told him they were metal but he is still unsure...
This is my safety conscious hubby so I have to ask because now I'm curious!

[skankamaggot]

pinokeeo, I think you are right, I got a little carried away!

Eliea, the stands are pillar candle holders, and they seem very sturdy.  I got them at the thrift store / yard sales.  I have seen people use plant holders too, which would also be stury from holding the weight of dirt I think.  Mine haven't broken down yet, and I've been using them for 2 weeks during the process of making them, but I guess only time will tell! 

[Eliea]

pinokeeo, I think you are right, I got a little carried away!

Eliea, the stands are pillar candle holders, and they seem very sturdy.  I got them at the thrift store / yard sales.  I have seen people use plant holders too, which would also be stury from holding the weight of dirt I think.  Mine haven't broken down yet, and I've been using them for 2 weeks during the process of making them, but I guess only time will tell! 

Awesome! Good to know!

[Pinky Yarn]

These would look really neat with fried marbles too. Off to find bowling balls.  Thanks for the awesome inspiration!

[skankamaggot]

Pinky Yarn, what are fried marbles? 

[McJulie-O]

Pinky Yarn, what are fried marbles? 

Here are some threads which detail it further: (They are a lot of fun)
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=95654.0
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=130510.0;all
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=214376.0;all
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=202515.0

[madebymarni]

Those look pretty cool!  You have them displayed nice, too!

[Tristan14831]

i'm not sure how common an occurrence this is, but I just asked the lady behind the shoe rental counter at the bowling alley if they had any bowling balls that were cracked or unusable and she GAVE me one! It was awesome! I'm planning on making one of these gazing balls this weekend out of it! The ball itself has a crack in it, but I think as long as I put that on the bottom and bring it in in the winter, I should be ok.

[DancinInTheDark]

Those are awesome. 

[JenGoPop]

Beautiful!  Hmmm . . . I need one . . . wonder if I can get my mom to donate her old ball she hasn't used in 20 years . . . 

[autumnkisses]

I wish that I could get my hands on a bowling ball or two, they're hard to come by! Definatly can't find any for free, let alone any to buy cheap :S

[Tristan14831]

wish that I could get my hands on a bowling ball or two, they're hard to come by! Definatly can't find any for free, let alone any to buy cheap :S

You'd be surprised autumnkisses! I asked the local bowling alley if they had any old ones they couldn't use with the intention of paying like 5 bucks or something and I was given one for free! You never know until you ask!

[sweets4ever]

Congrats!!

You're a Craftster Best of 2009 Winner!

[MainSarahJane]

Wow those are beautiful.

[Lolailo]

I finished my gazing bowling ball today.  It took a lot of glass beads!  I cleaned up the supply at my local Dollar Tree  

I found the stand at the Goodwill.  It was part of a copper warming dish.  

I have two more bowling balls to do.  This will make a wonderful gift to gardening lovers.

[ava1000]

That is TOO cool! I love it. I am taking a class on glass blowing and the teacher is really into recycling glass and found materials. I wonder if we could use molten glass and attach it in small dots or long strips. Thanks for the inspiration. Keep up the great work!

[Lolailo]

I finished my second gazing ball.  This one will be a Xmas present for a dear friend.  I think it came out really good.  The glass beads used are the same kind for each ball, but the background color really affects how they look.

[Lolailo]

I finished one more gazing ball:



I really like the smaller glass beads.  The ball was blue, the beads were blue, and i think the combination works really well.  For the stand I used a candleholder that I found at the Goodwill store.

[ScrappySue]

I live this!
You are so clever!
S

[yardenxanthe]

Lolailo: I like the smaller glass beads too! Very cool!

[akopish]

I love the one on the highest holder!