Tutorial - Sports Balls by Wen Zientek-Sico Learn how to make lightweight and realistic golf balls, tennis balls, basketballs, and golf balls from inexpensive materials for various craft projects.

Sports Balls

This useful technique is something that you will use over and over again to make hundreds of different crafts. We will routinely feature projects that use this technique and the balls for the finished project. Any size ball will work with this technique, just make sure to use the right size for the craft project you are planning on making.

Basic Technique

Pencil

Paper

Foam ball of any size

Small paint brush with small pointed handle

Large paint brush

Acrylic paint

Acrylic paint pens (optional)

Round cup or slices of cardboard tubing

Using the pencil and paper draw a rough sketch of how the ball should be patterned, or grab an actual ball and use that as a reference. Using the handle of the brush, lightly score the foam into the desired pattern. If the pattern looks right, go over all your lines again with the brush handle to make deeper lines. Using the larger brush, cover the ball with a coat of paint. Place in the cup or on the cardboard tubing to dry. Clean pudding cups or yogurt containers work well for larger balls, while cardboard tubes cut into 1/2-1 inch pieces works best for smaller balls. Once the paint is dry, add another coat of paint if needed. Let dry completely. Using the paint pens, or the small brush and acrylic paint, add any detail that is needed to the ball. Only paint the detail on one half of the ball at a time, because if it smudges it will ruin the design. Let dry and then use in your craft project.

Variations

• Golf ball - Using the small handled brush, poke shallow holes into the ball, evenly covering the surface. Paint with several coats of white paint, making sure to get into each hole for complete coverage.

  

• Basketball - Using the small handled brush, score the ball into the pattern of your favorite basketball. (We opted for easy and just split the ball into four wedges.) Paint the ball a deep reddish brown. Let dry completely. Using a black paint pen or a small brush and black paint, paint over the scored lines.

  

• Baseball - Using the brush handle, trace the looped pattern of a baseball onto the ball. Paint the ball with several coats of white paint. Using a red paint pen or red acrylic paint and the small brush, paint the baseball lines onto the ball over the scored lines. Go back and add the threads.

  

• Tennis Ball - Using the brush handle, trace the pattern of a tennis ball onto the ball. Paint the ball with several coats of pale yellow paint. Using a white paint pen or white acrylic paint and the small brush, paint the tennis ball lines onto the ball over the scored lines.

  Project Ideas

  Golf Frame and Mat

  Sports Ball Photo Holder

  Sports Mobile - Use the sports balls to make a mobile by stringing the balls to a baseball cap or wooden circle and hanging.

  Sports Topiaries - Use a selection of sports balls (either all the same type or different types) and using toothpicks, attach the balls to a large topiary form.

  Personalized Ornaments - Write the name of each individual on each ball. Makes great gifts/projects for a sports team or gift tags for your favorite fan.