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DIY Garden Gazing Ball

July 13, 2018 by Shellie Wilson

We were given the opportunity to try out Surebonder hot glue guns and like all our DIY Craft reviews we give a hands-on practical and honest review. I have some bad history when it comes to hot glue and hot glue guns. I have an inability to use a hot glue gun without burning myself. So for this DIY project, I handed over my guns and ideas to Grandma Craftgossip. She decided to add (yet another) garden ornament to her yard.

Before I go into the tutorial how about I tell you what she thought of the glue gun? Firstly she DIDn’t burn herself. It isn’t hot to touch like the cheap guns from the dollar stores. So safety wise that is an important thing. The other issue with cheap glue guns and glue is that the glue pops off the project once cold. So to put it to its true test Grandma Craftgossip decided to glue non porous shiny surfaces together.  She loved it!, in fact, she loved the glue gun so much she hasn’t actually returned it back to the office yet.  The glue gun by Surebonder is promoted as an Industrial glue gun and I would have to 100% agree with that. This isn’t a simple sticky craft glue gun it is a tool. A full on adhesive tool that works in the office, in the shed, in the garden and of course in the craft room.  Don’t let the words industrial turn you away from using it for craft this is the only glue gun you’re going to need in the house.

How to make the Gazing Ball.

1 upcycled bowling ball (found in thrift store for $2)

Packet or box of tile grouting

Sponge

Surebonder Glue gun and glue

Glass flat backed marbles

A cinder block for the base (optional)

Start by taking your bowling ball and creating a base for it so that it doesn’t roll away.

then one by one start glueing on the marbles.

 

Once the Ball is covered allow to sit overnight and then using the instructions on your grout mix, grout the whole ball.

Clean off the grout with a damp sponge to reveal the Marbles.

 

Paint a cinder block and add a decorative block to the front (optional)

Use your Surebonder glue gun to attach the ball to the cinder block.

 

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Comments

  1. Ginny Walls says

    September 30, 2018 at 6:23 pm

    I did several bowling balls using the same glass bead as well as larger ones using E6000 glue and it works really great..I’ve had one in my for at least 5 years without losing anything..The beads have a tendency to slide with the glue, so before moving on you need to wait till it gets tacky..I love using black grout cause it makes all the colors in the beads pop..Happy crafting…

Have you read?

Make This Rustic Patriotic Flag Wreath for Your Front Door

There are plenty of shiny red, white, and blue decorations out there, but every now and then a patriotic project comes along that feels a little more heartfelt. This 4th of July Patriotic Flag Wreath from CraftBits is one of those projects.

Instead of being overly fussy or store-bought looking, this wreath has that lovely rustic Americana feel — a grapevine wreath base, a flag draped diagonally, and a large star layered over the top. It is simple, bold, and just handmade enough to feel special without turning into an all-weekend project.

You can find the full tutorial here: 4th Of July Patriotic Flag Wreath on CraftBits.

What I really like about this wreath is the story behind it. The original CraftBits tutorial explains that the project was made using a damaged flag brought home by a veteran, and his wife, Marsha, turned it into this beautiful wreath for her family to enjoy. That gives the project a little more meaning than a standard seasonal door decoration.

The supplies are very simple: a grapevine wreath, an American flag, a large metal star, and glue. The flag is folded lengthwise to create a sash, then secured diagonally across the wreath. The star is layered on the side to cover the gathered section and give the whole piece a finished focal point.

This would look beautiful on a covered front porch, garden gate, entryway wall, mantel, or even as part of a Memorial Day or Veterans Day display. It is not just for the 4th of July either — with the right styling, this is the kind of patriotic wreath you could bring out for several red, white, and blue occasions throughout the year.

If you’re planning more handmade patriotic decorating, you might also like our 10 DIY 4th of July wreaths to dress up your front door roundup, where this CraftBits wreath is already included as a classic front-door option. For a bigger porch refresh, pair it with our 15 DIY 4th of July porch decor ideas and add planters, lanterns, bunting, or painted rocks for a full summer entryway look.

One helpful note from the tutorial is that you can glue the flag in place, or stitch it to the back of the wreath if you want the option of removing it later. That is especially worth considering if you are using a sentimental flag, a vintage flag, or one with family meaning. Stitching gives you a bit more flexibility and avoids permanently attaching something you may want to preserve.

You could also soften the look with a few extra details. Add raffia for a farmhouse feel, tuck in cream or red faux roses, use denim ribbon, or add smaller stars around the grapevine base. I’d keep the extras fairly restrained though, because the flag and star are already doing the heavy lifting. This is one of those projects where too much “more” can tip it from rustic to crowded very quickly.

For supplies, Amazon is a handy option for grapevine wreath forms, metal star accents, glue, and mini flags. Etsy can also be useful if you want a handmade metal star, rustic Americana embellishments, or vintage-style patriotic trim, but I’d keep it simple so the wreath still feels meaningful rather than overly decorated.

This is a lovely beginner-friendly patriotic craft because there is no complicated measuring, no sewing machine required, and no special tools beyond basic craft supplies. It is also a good project for using a flag that may not be suitable to fly outdoors anymore but still holds meaning. As always, if you’re using an actual American flag with sentimental or ceremonial value, take care with how it is handled and displayed.

The finished wreath has that warm front-porch welcome feel — festive enough for the 4th of July, but classic enough to suit a farmhouse, cottage, or rustic summer decorating style.

 

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