How I "Dood it": Cork Balls

I saw the original version of these two weeks ago while in the city with my BFF.

I cannot remember the window I saw them in, but store windows are a great source of inspiration to me.  I think it has to do with my first Macy's window experience.  My uncles had come from Alma, MI to visit T and I once me moved to IL.  It was my first trip into downtown Chicago.  My first Metra ride (I'm an expert now) and the first time I saw a Macy's Christmas window.

Heaven.

The second I saw these cork balls in the window of the store I knew I had to make them.

(I now kick myself for not taking a picture!!!)

Last Thursday I made a last minute decision to thrift after work and hit the cork jackpot.

Whoever decided to donate their wine cork collection to Charity I thank you!

We start with plain white foam balls.  Note, PAINT THEM FIRST or you WILL be sitting in your basement watching TV with the teeny-tiniest paintbrush painting tiny splotches of white showing between the corks.

Paint away.

Maybe draw a smilie face

Now it's all about tons of hot glue and patience

Sometimes you need to kind of trim them to fit into a smaller space.

I did the center line of each ball, then proceded to fill in the rest, then flipped it over and did the same on the back.

Here we have two completed balls, in two different sizes... it's all about how big your initial ball is.

I think these will eventually be suspended in my entryway... once I figure out how to hang them, these bad boys got heavy!

If you have a ton (seriously I used a way more than I anticipated, really glad I bought all three bags they had for sale at the thrift store) of corks hanging around this is a great project.