Hello here is what I came up with

Here is a link that might be useful: Styrofoam

missmaggie, are you still on with us? Please show the pics of your foam balls on their stand and let Julie know if there are any special things to do. June

Thanks cs7580
I followed the link you gave me and found just what I was looking for! On one of the pages from the drop down menu I found spheres that will work for the outdoors.
Thanks a bunch
Julie

I tried to make one using half marbles and then grouted it and I didn't like the results. But using something besides the half marbles seems like a good idea to me(-; I never had good luck grouting the half marbles on anything.

I have a styrofoam ball that I put half marbles on. It has been out for a couple of years (through rain, ice, snow, etc) and it still looks great. I haven't mosaiced one yet, but I did mosaic softballs and baseballs. They are doing fine also.

{{gwi:139754}}

I painted the styrofoam ball first with craft paint. Spray paint would eat the styrofoam. I put the marbles on with Dap clear silicone. I have been working on some more. Finished two last night.

Cindee
I'm glad I'm not alone on the half marbles taking grout.I made a concrete birdbath and used half marbles.I had to use a thick bed of morter for them to stay in place.I should have colored the morter because the grout didn't take in some areas. I also made a concrete sphere by filling a 10 inch play ball. Unfortunately,when you let the air out of a 10 inch ball you get a 6 inch ball.And the completed project ended up with a flat bottom.LoL!
Thats why I'm going to try the styrofoam balls.

Cookiemon

That is beautiful! What did you use for the stand?
Thank you for the tip about spray paint on the styrofoam.I was going to take the easy way by spray painting it.
Your sphere is really beautiful.

Thanks
Julie

Hi Misspistachio, I must have missed seeing your name in the forum pages as I see you joined in May 06, sorry about that.

I used half marbles on a styrofoam ball and then grouted it with the premixed grout. I used Hard as Nails liquid glue to put them on the ball and it worked well, but have now learned from the forum here that the better stuff to use for outdoors projects is the GE Silicone II for windows and doors (outside use). I also didn't like the way the grout was looking, it was super messy to work with and it was looking sloppy on the half marbles. I ended up holding it under slowing running water from the faucet to smooth it out. I used a lamp base I had found for the stand for the ball. I heavily glued it on, being my first one and not knowing how it would end up. I put it on my porch in nice weather. Although others here say they leave their's out all year long, I take it in when we get inclement weather, especially over the NE winters, cause I'm afraid it will get ruined and I worked so hard on it.

Sal

{{gwi:139755}}

Thanks Craftylady
Your ball turned out so pretty.I love the idea of using lamp parts to display it.Now my mind is racing with thoughts of plundering thru the storage shed to find old lamps. That really is a beautiful piece.Thanks for the tip for GE silicone for the adhesive. Last year I used hard as nails to glue mosaic pieces to a plastic pot and had a tough time because it was a messy job. The grout didn't like the overflow of glue and wouldn't stick.
THere are so many great ideas here!!
Thanks again
Julie

If you mosaic a stryofoam ball, you must cover it with silver foil tape, then adhere your china, glass, etc. I have mosaic-covered balls that I did several years ago and they still are in good shape & have never lost any pieces, being in the hot FL summers and all types of weather.
Rosemary

Here is a link that might be useful: Flamingo Fanny Mosaics

Flamingal
I checked out the link to your website....
WoW! you have some fantastic things!!
Do you sell them? I'm very interested in the high heel shoes.My mother has a collection of all different nicnack shoes and your mosaic shoe would make a lovely gift. If not for sale could you tell me how you prepared the shoe for the mosaic?
So much talent!!
Thanks for the link
Julie