Upcycled Projects, Yard and Garden

Soda Can Mosaic DIY Gazing Ball

by Cindy @ Upcycle Design Lab

For several years, I have wanted to make a gazing ball for our yard. And I am happy to say that I have finally made that happen.

The process is quite simple but it does take a little time.

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Material and Supplies

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Step 1 – Base and Stand

I found my glass globe and stand at the thrift store for just a few dollars, but you may have something suitable already on hand, so check around your house for a globe shape and something to use as a stand.

Step 2 – Collect & Prepare Cans

For my design, I wanted lots of colors, so I used a variety of different soda and beer cans, but a more monochromatic pattern could be pretty as well if you only have access to a few beverage varieties.

The cans need to be broken down and flattened into aluminum sheets.

If you need assistance with breaking down aluminum cans or flattening them into metal sheets, there are additional video resources at the bottom of this post.

Step 3 – Making Tiles

Here is the secret ingredient to this project. I found this precut mounting tape at Dollar Tree, and it is perfect for making little soda can tiles

If you make a lot of crafts from aluminum cans like I do you can even use some of the scrap pieces to make your tiles.

To make the tiles, just remove a piece of mounting tape and apply it to the back of the aluminum.

Then, use a pair of scissors to trim around the mounting tape.

Repeat this process to achieve the desired number of tiles.

Step 4 – Layout Design

This step is optional, and it did take a little time, but it helped me visualize not only the finished pattern but also estimate how many tiles I would need.

Step 5 – Apply Tiles

I started on the straight edge and aligned my tiles with the edge. Then, I placed the tiles around the globe in rows, working my way toward the top.

The aluminum tiles will conform to the shape as needed, and they are easy to trim and reshape as well.

To finish the top, I cut my tiles into tapered pieces and used a small circle of aluminum to finish the center.

Step 6 – Finishing Edges

To cover the raw edges of the metal, I used some silver dimensional paint.

This paint has a pointed tip to draw with and is thicker than regular paint so it will fill in the small gaps between the pieces as well as cover the edges of the metal.

Step 7 – Sealing and Assembly

Since this will be outside, I wanted to make sure I covered any gaps in the tiles not only with the dimensional paint but also with a sealer. I started with a coat of gloss Mod Podge because it is a fairly thick product, and I wanted to fill any gaps that I might have missed with the dimensional paint.

Then, I added a coat of Dura Clear Gloss Varnish because this product is suitable for outdoor projects.

Once the sealer was dry, I used some clear E6000 glue to attach the pieces together.

Thanks for checking out my project.

Happy Upcycling,

Cindy

Additional Resources