Make a Crystal Ball

Need to decorate your space for a Halloween party? Crystal balls are the perfect ornament for such an event, but unfortunately, authentic ones are quite expensive, delicate, and difficult to find. With a glass globe and a few extra accessories, however, a perfect prop crystal ball can be made very easily.

Steps

Making a Crystal Ball from Gelatin

  1. Purchase a glass globe or a spherical lighting fixture. You can find these at your local craft or hardware store.
    • Glass or plastic fishbowls can be used as well. You might consider plastic as a cheaper and safer alternative, especially if there are small children around.
  2. Peruse globe shaped canning jars. These tend to be smaller than the glass globes used for arts and crafts. Jars typically have spill proof lids, which is perfect if you are a mobile fortune teller.
  3. Prepare the glass globe by washing it thoroughly. Be sure that no water spots or stains remain on the inside of the globe. Once the crystal ball is finished you will not be able to remove any stains that you may have missed.
  4. Prepare a packet of simple, clear jello. Mix the solution according to the instructions, but do not place it in the refrigerator.
  5. Pour the clear jello mixture into the glass globe. Be sure to fill the globe all the way to the top. If you see any air bubbles trapped in the globe, shake or tap on the glass to release them.
  6. Take a paintbrush and dip it into a light color. Once you have a bit of paint on your brush, move the brush through the gelatin solution.[1]
  7. Stir the solution slowly. As you stir, the paint from the tip of the brush will settle in the gelatin and begin to cloud.
  8. Use other colors. Clean your bush and pick another color to create more streaks and clouds in the gelatin. The color of the crystal ball is entirely up to you.
  9. Refrigerate until the gelatin has fully hardened.[1] Once the gelatin solution has solidified you are ready to plate and display your crystal ball.
  10. Cover the opening of the globe in plastic wrap to seal. Using a piece of plastic wrap that overlaps the opening of the globe by at least one-inch on all sides, cover the opening. You should check carefully that all edges of the opening have been fully sealed.
  11. Tie a string or put a rubber band around the lip of the opening. This will hold the plastic wrap in place and prevent your crystal ball from leaking on display. You should check that the string or rubber band is taut, or else the plastic wrap might come loose and spring a leak.
  12. Display your crystal ball by flipping it over and placing it on a flat glass plate. You should wait long enough until the gelatin is solidified.
  13. Wrap the decorative fabric around the base. This will add to the over-all aesthetic of the crystal ball, and more importantly, conceal the fact that it is simply a glass globe resting on a plate.[2]
    • Black and red are classic fortune teller colors, and satin or velvet can give your crystal ball an air of elegance.
    • If you are using the crystal ball as a Halloween prop, try matching the decorative fabric to your costume.

Making a Crystal Ball that Glows

  1. Purchase a glass globe or a spherical lighting fixture. You can find these at your local craft or hardware store.
    • Glass or plastic fishbowls can be used as well. You might consider plastic as a cheaper and safer alternative, especially if there are small children around.
  2. Peruse globe shaped canning jars. These tend to be smaller than the glass globes used for arts and crafts or lighting fixtures. Jars typically have spill proof lids, which is perfect if you are a mobile fortune teller.
  3. Run a bead of hot glue around the opening lip of the globe. Once you have done this, allow the glue to dry.[3] You will not be adhering anything to the hot glue, but will instead be using it as a seal. The dried glue will help hold the glass globe in place once it is seated on the cup.
  4. Fill the glass globe with Halloween spider web cotton. Stretch the cotton out as much as you can before stuffing it into globe.[3] Try to avoid dense clumps, or these will block the LED lights you will insert. The lights reflecting off of the cotton will create a mysterious glow.
    • Use dye to color your spider web cotton and give the effect of different colored smoke inside your crystal ball.
  5. Experiment with different types of filler. Clear vinyl and plastic might catch the light in a new and interesting way.[2]
    • Oven bags, tinsel, and streamers are also options.[4] Try using two or more materials at once for more dramatic effect.
  6. Buy LED tea lights. You can find these at many stores in the home and garden section. LED tea lights come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, models and colors. Some LED tea lights change color and can be controlled by a remote.
    • LED tea lights are usually inexpensive. A quick Internet search should help you find what kind of tea light will work best for your crystal ball.
  7. Find a suitable clear drinking glass to use as a mount. The diameter of the glass cup needs to be larger than the opening of your glass globe so the globe does not rest flat on the table.
    • A clear shallow bowl can be used in place of a cup.
  8. Apply a small amount of hot glue to the bottom of a LED tea light. This is the first of two lights that you will be attaching to a clear drinking glass. The clear drinking glass will create the glowing base for your crystal ball.[2]
  9. Drop the LED tea light into the drinking glass so that it sits flush on the bottom. Gently apply a bit of pressure so you’re sure the glue adheres and allow it a few minutes to dry. The LED tea light should now be glued to the bottom of the inside of the clear drinking glass.
  10. Do not apply glue to the ON/OFF switch. Most LED tea lights are activated by twisting the top into the bottom. Be careful to only apply hot glue to the very bottom of the tea light so that you can still twist it on and off.
    • If you are using a globe-shaped canning jar for your crystal ball, glue the LED tea light to the inside of the lid.
  11. Apply a small amount of hot glue to the bottom of another LED tea light. You will glue this to the outside of the bottom of your clear drinking glass.
    • You do not need to do this if you are using a canning jar. You will not be gluing any more lights to the lid.
  12. Flip the drinking glass over and mount the LED. Already having applied glue to the light itself, all you need to do is use a small amount of pressure to make sure the glue sticks. The tea-light on the inside should be hanging upside down, while the tea light on the outside will remain right side up.
  13. Turn on the LED tea lights. Before mounting the globe onto the base, make sure the LED lights are on and working properly. You will need to remove the globe each time you want to turn on or turn off the lights inside your crystal ball.
  14. Slide the crystal ball onto the glass. Insert the drinking glass and its attached LEDs into the opening of the glass globe until it comes to rest against the dried glue bead. The opening of the drinking glass will now be the base of your crystal ball, which should be glowing from the LED tea lights inside.
    • If your drinking glass is too small, it will slip all the way into your globe and spoil the effect of a raised, glowing crystal ball.
    • If you are using a canning jar simply screw the lid into place. The LED tea light will now be hanging on the inside of the jar, surrounded spiderweb cotton.
  15. Wrap the decorative fabric around the base. This will add to the over-all aesthetic of the crystal ball, and more importantly, conceal the fact that it is a globe resting on an overturned, clear drinking glass.[2]
    • Black and red are classic fortune teller colors, and satin or velvet can give your crystal ball an air of elegance.
    • If you are using the crystal ball as a Halloween prop, try matching the decorative fabric to your costume.

Tips

  • As an alternate for paint swirls, food coloring can be used.
  • A tall circular glass will allow the LED tea light to sit closer to the center of the globe once everything is assembled, but may make it more difficult to access the inner light.

Things You Will Need

  • Glass globe or lighting fixture
  • Non-flavored gelatin
  • Plastic wrap
  • String or rubber bands
  • Paint and paint brushes
  • Hot glue gun and glue
  • Glass or plastic bowl (for the base of the crystal ball)
  • LED tea lights (two)
  • Halloween spider-web cotton

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.howwhywhere.com/Make-a-Crystal-Ball/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARdXOILVs2s
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZGuOPhkujw
  4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ0CcH5tQq4

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