How to Make a Glow Ball

Create your own glow ball.

Children love items that glow in the dark. Whether they are working on the sun, moon or planets for a science project, or just want to make some glowing objects for their bedroom, children can make their own glow-in-the-dark paint. Homemade glow paint only requires a few ingredients. Glow powder can be purchased at a craft store or from an online source. Use the homemade paint to make a glow-in-the-dark ball.

Things You'll Need

• Glow powder
• Paper bowl
• Clear paint medium
• Paintbrush
• Styrofoam ball

Instructions

1. Measure 3 ounces of glow powder in the color of your choice. Put it in a paper bowl that can be thrown away when you are finished.

2. Add 3 ounces of a clear paint medium to the paper bowl and mix the two ingredients together to form your glow-in-the-dark paint. You can use an automotive acrylic clear or a water-based clear medium. If you choose the water-based medium, however, you will need use water-proof glow powder.

3. Paint a Styrofoam ball with your homemade glow-in-the-dark paint. The size of the Styrofoam ball depends on the project.

4. Wait 24 hours for the paint to dry before applying a second coat, if desired. Wait another 24 hours before displaying the glow ball.

Tips & Warnings

• You can glue your glow ball to a round stand and display it on a mantel or coffee table. Turn the lights out and enjoy the glow.

• Before buying glow powder, read the packaging label and purchase a glow powder that has a Um of 10-30. This has to do with particle size. Anything less than 10 Um will not be very bright.

References

• The Glow Patch: How to Make Glow in the Dark Paint
• Pete's Luminous Creations: Glow in the Dark Powder-Photo Luminous Glow Powder