How to Make Your Own Outdoor Holographic Yard Decorations

Create holographic gazing balls with paint.

Holographic images normally require dozens of very thin layers of metallic colors to create images with depth and eye-catching shine. While you can't replicate these techniques at home, you can still layer colors to create sparkling holographic garden art. The art may not look like commercial holograms, but it will certainly add life and brightness to your garden.

Things You'll Need

• Hollow, plastic keepsake ornament balls
• Rubbing alcohol
• Cotton balls
• Metallic, pearlescent and sparkly acrylic paint
• Sponge brushes

Instructions

1. Gently pry your ornament balls apart. These balls come in many sizes in craft stores, especially around the holidays. Plan ahead and get them at a discount after the holidays for use in your spring garden landscaping.

2. Rub the inside if each keepsake ball with a cotton ball covered in rubbing alcohol. This removes dirt and grime that may prevent your paint from sticking.

3. Lay the ball halves side by side like bowls. Dip a sponge brush into your lightest paint color and drizzle it all over the insides of the balls. Don't cover the entire surface; just create a few interesting patterns.

4. Drizzle paint in ever-darker colors until the sphere halves are coated. To truly get a holographic look, use pearl paint followed by metallic and glitter. Use different shades of the same hue so the ball looks like it has depth and texture.

5. Let the balls dry in the sun with the painted sides facing up. If you dry them bowl-side down, the paint will slide off with condensation.

Tips & Warnings

• Hang your balls from fishing line in the trees or attach them to stakes with wire. Paint the stakes to match the balls. Paint plastic shapes with the same color technique. Glue a second shape over the first with fishing line between them. Cover the edges of the shapes with foil or silver paint. Hang them from trees as suncatchers. Vary the sizes of your balls and suncatchers to add a little more interest to your garden.

References

• Family Fun: High Stake Gazing Balls
• Pink and Green Mama: Homemade Gazing Balls for Your Garden