Make Jeweled Ball Bowl Fillers for Sophisticated or Shabby Chic Decor

Homemade bowl fillers do not always need to be primitive or rustic in nature. More sophisticated bowl fillers can be made using a variety of jewelry, buttons, rhinestones, charms or other shiny baubles. Craft several jeweled balls or make just one to place on a shelf or among other decor items in a small vignette. As bowl fillers, they are displayed in decorative bowls or baskets, and an uneven number of three or five is a perfect amount for fillers of this size.

Use foam balls, old tennis balls, baseballs or plastic ball ornaments as the base of a jeweled ball. If making just one ball for display, I like tennis ball or softball sized balls. They produce a nice sized shape that can stand alone as home decor. They are also a wonderful way of transforming an unused item into an inexpensive decor project. Foam balls work nicely, as you do not need to cut off the posts that protrude from the backs of buttons or jewelry.

This project is definitely a no-brainer. There isn't a lot of thought that has to go into the placement of each pretty embellishment. Pour out a variety of buttons and baubles on a table, pop in a movie and enjoy a relaxing evening of crafting. By the end of the movie you will have completed one, if not more, jeweled ball bowl fillers. Make several for yourself or as craft show items.

Step 1
Cut a square piece of aluminum foil that is big enough to cover your chosen ball. Paint the dull side of the aluminum foil using craft glue and a sponge brush. Set the ball in the center of the foil and wrap the foil around the ball. The shiny side of the foil will be on the outside.

Step 2
Use wire cutters to snip off the back posts of buttons, the brackets from pins and any other protruding appendages from the embellishments you will be using. If using a foam ball, this step may not be necessary.

Step 3
Randomly hot glue your embellishments all over the surface of the ball. Continue until the ball is completely covered and you no longer have blister-free fingers. The metallic shine of the aluminum foil that peeks through the buttons, jewelry and miscellaneous items will provide a pleasing background to the finished piece.

Step 4
Clean up the web of glue threads that materialized while producing this project. Use a hair dryer to melt the hot glue threads into the jewels and trinkets on the ball. Do not blow the heat in one area too long or the hot glue will begin to loosen and your shiny things will fall off.