Restoration Hard(to swallow these prices)ware's Stone Garden Spheres are a great accent in
gardens, or on decks and patios, they add interest in a classic, serene style. I love outdoor accessories or yard art, but too much of a good thing can take your space from classic to
cluttered and cutesy in no time. These were quick, easy and inexpensive to make!
The beauty of this project is any form works,
leaving you free to be creative and chose anything that fits your style.
Notice my weak attempt at being creative on the left. :)
Restoration Hardware Stone Garden Sphere
18", 22" and 27" diameter
currently reduced to $140 - $315
constructed of resin, withstands freezing temps, no two are alike
Restoration Hardware
My DIY Concrete Garden Sphere
8", 10" diameter - smaller than RH
$10 for all 5 (three round, two quirky)
constructed of concrete, withstands freezing temps, no two are alike :)
Supplies:
Lighting globes, Habitat for Humanity Re-Store sells them for $2 each,
the day I went they were 20% off, any size or variety you like works.
Easy to find at thrift stores, as well.
Quikrete Concrete Mix - $4 for 80 lb. bag, I used half.
Two of the globes I chose had holes in the bottom, I covered them with duct tape, then
nestled my globes in a box with newspaper to help stabilize them while filling with
the mixed concrete. Mix should resemble peanut butter, I slowly added water, mixing
until it reached the desired consistency.
Use a stir stick and shake gently to be sure any air bubbles are eliminated.
Let dry 24 hours.
While wearing heavy gloves, one at a time, I placed the globes in a heavy duty garbage
bag in a box, and lightly tapped the outside with a hammer to break up and release the glass.
Be careful as the cut glass may pierce the plastic.
When the glass has broken free from the concrete remove the sphere.
Continue with the remaining spheres. I carefully disposed of the box and bag in
another heavy duty garbage bag.
Here are some ideas from our garden...I like them nestled in with the herbs
and perennials. I think I need a few more!
I was inspired by these clever bloggers, stop by and check out their spheres:
Ellen @ Creative Passage here, found some amazing shapes!
Design Gal & Her Handyman & Baby here
49 comments:
Pam, you are a genius! What a fun and creative project, I love your concrete spheres!
I'm wondering if you could make these in old basketballs or soccer balls? our dog has destroyed so many-we have plenty of "forms" if it would work. Cut a small hole in one end and fill with concrete, then just cut the ball in half when done. Wonder if you would need to spray inside it with "Pam" or something first? just thinking how to make them larger.
Great idea. I love a project that gets me thinking beyond the "this is how you do it" stage to "what else can I do with this?" .
Great job, Pam. I would never spend those prices, either. You made it look so easy.
Love them! Your outdoors are going to be fabulous this summer!
I'm so loving this! And this is one of those projects that I'm seriously considering doing myself now. I love when they age with time too.
They are awesome!
I love these Pam! I just checked out the other 2 blogs and theirs look awesome as well! I think I have the exact spot for these!
Those are so clever! I always see those globes at Habitat and wonder what to do with them, now I know. Love a little "art" in the garden!
What a clever idea, I love it!
The things I learn from you! So clever you are and I love how subtle they are mixed with plants and your stepping stones in your garden. We use concrete planters, these would be such a nice accent. Your step by step instructions and photos give me confidence.
We are heading south for a few days. Was bummed to hear of your lilacs and apple blossoms with the funky CO spring weather. Always next year!
Very clever, my friend!! So smart! These turned out great!
I love these! And, I also love your rename of RH. ;)
I love fun accents in the garden. These are really cool!
LOVE this, pam! wow- what a great money saver!!!!
Love this idea (and your clever name for RH!)
Pam! Seriously, these are amazing. I love them. I've been thinking about making myself some concrete planters this year, but I like these too! Now I have to decide.....
Clever.....very clever!
Amazing what one can do!
What a great idea! I am going to try this. Thanks for sharing.
Pam, I love you!! You have NO idea how happy this makes me!! YOu see I've been looking at those concrete garden spheres trying to rationalize the purchase (wasn't going to happen... because baby needs new jeans... yeah for losing weight & getting fit!!!) And here you came to my rescue!! Now to make the hour trip down to H for H... or check out yard sales!!! This is just so incredibly wonderful!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Smarty Pants! I love those! What a cheap, easy way to add some serious style and interest to the garden!
Their prices are outrageous sometime...very smart!
Once again, you're brilliant. I'm afraid my son and his friends would use them for shot put or bocce balls, but it's worth the risk!
So clever! I definitely want to try this out!I bet growing moss on them would look great too!
Man you are industrious- I love the end products!
These are fab little guys! They really look great everywhere, I love the rough dull texture. The perfect compliment to lush greenery.
I am so impressed I can't stand it. I love those cement balls! I wonder if a big plastic ball would work, or would it not hold it's shape. Great job Pam, love love it!
xo Nancy
Powellbrowerhome.com
These have been on my to-do list forever! I'm glad to see they turned out so beautifully for you :)
BRAVO!!! I think they look better than the RH ones!
You are so clever. I love your re-make! I am totally going to try this! Thanks for the inspiration!
Super cute! Thanks for sharing.
These are amazing...great job and love how you placed them throughout your garden!
Awesome idea! Love these - I gotta do this one. And I loved how you added the (to swallow the prices) ;) You are so right!
PAM!!!!! omg you are such a talent! seriously. i wanna do this now. and ps -- i so wish you were closer. we could do these project weekends with wine!
Could you make them out of balloons?
thanks for linking back to me! great blog! :)
These are totally cool!
To the lady wanting to use old balls for molds, spray your mold with cooking spray, because something things stick and you cannot get the mold off.
I love your garden!
What a fabulous idea. Thanks for the tutorial. I just happen to have a globe light in the basement.
This is great, I'm going to try it using Hypertupha and see if it works . Not as heavy but enough to keep them in place. I'm phyically handicapped so I would need to tweek the mix a little so it won;t be so heavy. Thanks for the idea.
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Very well done with the post!
I had a good time while going through the same.
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These are excellent. Not only am I pinning them, I'm going to make some.
Bliss
found you over at beckie's knockoff decor. this is perfect timing. I'll be replacing a step soon, and I've been looking for things to do with any leftover concrete after pouring the step.
love your projects!
gail
Found your project at Knock-off Decor.com What a great response you generated, and well worthy of it too. Those are the coolest things. I'd love to add some to my garden, now the issue of hunting down some globes to put some concrete in. I don't drive, so it's not easy to get around to places where I'm apt to find such things at a low price. I'm wondering if you sanded or smoothed down the "foot" that was left over from not putting the concrete into a "perfect" sphere? I'm thinking maybe some kind of hard rubber toy ball that I could cut a hole into, slowly spoon the concrete mixture inside, tapping it down to get decrease air-bubbles, and then putting the "lid" back on and letting it cure a good long time? But how would I get the rubber ball off the concrete. Hmmm - some kind of greaser-upper maybe, inside the ball before I put the concrete in? A potato peeler - giant size? I need to think abou this some more. Thanks so MUCH for the inspiration, I love what you did and I want some for myself!
Im going to try some old balls. I hate to turn one thing into trash to make something pretty. Messes with my green, keep out of the landfill mindset. Ya know?
For a more rustic (and usually totally free!) approach, you can get large, nearly round boulders/rocks and place them in your gardens. Too many and it looks like you forgot to clear the landscape. Just enough and it looks sculptural :-)
this is so clever it hurts. Thanks for sharing!
http://shaktidove.blogspot.com/
great idea and tutorial!
I'd love to make these!
I had your page up and my husband started browsing your blog and really loved your tutorial. Just wanted to share that with you!!!
Love this! On my list! laura {not a trophy wife}
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