“I needed something beautiful to put in the garden one time to give some ambient light for an evening party I was having. I didn’t want a normal hurricane lantern, but I wanted something colorful that was like jewelry for the lawn. I decided to cover some glass fishbowls with glass marbles and let the light shine through. I’m sure you have some glass floral marbles hanging around — you know, the ones they put in the bottom of vases to give them weight. I know this project looks intimidating, but I promise you, it’s not. Maybe it’s a little messy, but that’s about it. I say go for it!”Mark Montano, excerpted from “The Big-Ass Book of Crafts” (Gallery Books)
MATERIALS
280 flat glass chips
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Glass fishbowls, 8 inches tall
Smooth grout
Plastic container in which to mix the grout
Rubber gloves
Several sponges
PROCEDURE
1. Glue your glass chips all over the fishbowl in a pattern that you like. (I had four different colors and just alternated all the way down the side of the bowl).
2. Mix up a batch of your grout to the consistency of toothpaste. (Try one cup first and if you need more you can always mix up some more.)
3. Put on your rubber gloves and scoop out some grout and start filling it in between the chips making sure to smooth it out while you’re working. Also make sure to get it in between every glass marble.
4. Start to smooth out the grout with a very slightly damp sponge once every gap is filled with the grout,.
5. Rinse out the sponge and repeat the process until it’s pretty smooth.
You can always add more grout once it’s dry if you missed a spot, so don’t worry about it! Also, don’t worry if there is a film of grout over your marbles. That will wipe off easily when it’s dry.
6. Wipe off the glass chips with a damp sponge once the grout is dry, which should take about 8 hours.
7. Mix up more grout if you find that you need to add some.
8. Let dry; wipe off once again and you’re ready to fill with candles and take them outside.
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