A Penny for your Thoughts

     I have several spots in my yard that need improvement, so this was not only necessary, it was a driving compulsion until it was finished.  These chairs from Lowe's sit beneath lilac bushes - bushes that hadn't been trimmed in 8+ years!  I trimmed them at least three times across three years before I could see the concrete beneath them.  I should mention - I simply love to prune. After clearing out debris, a job I didn't enjoy, then came the fun part.  I'd had the white stool for sometime... but wanted more there.  Several Pinterest posts showed others who had made a bowling ball into a yard decoration.  After finding the ball at a yard sale, I knew what my next project would be.  A penny ball!  I think my new in-laws thought I was nuts.
      Who knew there were so many different types of GLUE??
      Good thing Lowe's is less than a mile away!  After several trips trying different glues: rubber cement, a hot glue gun, Super Glue, and Gorilla Glue of two types, I happened upon Liquid Nails, Clear Seal.  5.5 ounces.  It says it's an "all purpose sealant."  
      I spread out some newspaper on my table, turned on the tv, and began.  I had decided I wouldn't shine up the pennies in advance, and that was a personal choice.  I used less than $5.00 worth of pennies and less than 1/4 of the tube.  I'd place 5-10 on the bowling ball at a time.  The pennies wouldn't immediately adhere, so I'd have to hold them in place a couple of minutes until they were ready.  It wasn't a fast process but I didn't mind.  Once a row was secure, you could use that as an anchor for your next row.  Forget about making perfect rows line up - they didn't.  If you're OCD, this is NOT the project for you!
     As a stand, I used a small clay pot.  It was an experiment - we get some pretty good wind storms, and it's held up nicely.  Perhaps the weight of the ball helps keep it secured.  
     So here it has been sitting - for 12 months.  It'll be one of those rare things that gets better with age.  As for me, I have two more balls ready to finish.  Perhaps I'll try a little twist on it next time by adding one band of nickels through a center row.
     If you're ever able to get a hold of a bowling ball, I highly recommend you try this project.  Let me know how it goes!  I'd love to hear about it.