I use a mosaic tile tool called a nipper and snip the plate up...and with these beauties, I'll be probably using my Taurus 3 ring saw as it will let me use the little butterflies in the center of the plate too....then I use my rock tumbler and fill it 3/4full of dishes, add water to just over the plate pcs, then a drop of dish soap, then tumble it for about 20-30min...dry pcs and they are spoothed on the edges...better for when I grout,,,as the dishes can be wicked sharp!!! Too many cuts from this so now I tumble....I haven't done a ball in a while so forget how many dishes I use...it really depends on certain factors too, if the whole plate is usable, or just certain pcs, like the border....sometimes they have a lip(underside of the plate) that deters the use of some of the pattern...as it is just too uneven...but what I do is add 1/2marbles and other plates that match the plates I want to use, so I get a real assortment...sometimes I gotta save plates for a while to get enough to do a project...I've even bought one plate cuz I liked it and then spent months looking for stuff to add to the colors so I could use it!!! I will suggest to anyone, that it is a good idea to bring your bowling ball in for the winter as they can freeze and crack...no matter how well you seal them...I have learned this the hard way!!! PLEASE consider this, it is a shame to do all that hard work and have it ruined!!! PLUS another biggy warning is to use only porceline dishes, NOT ceramic, as they chip when wet and freezing...plus they can fade(the pattern) under harsh summer sun!!! Okay...now that I have poo poo'd some enthusiasm....sorry!!! But being a MOM...I have a knack for it!!!lol! Enjoy and don't let the shards get in you eyes, kids!!!

Daisy - yep, it's a real one - about 14 lbs before glass, grout, etc. It's on my sister's front porch (southern exposure), under the overhang part of the porch. That should give it some protection. This will be it's first winter outdoors and I have cautioned her to cover it or, preferably, bring it in if there's prolonged freezing temps or ice/snow expected. Fortunately, she's in West TX, so that doesn't happen too often. With regard to the weight, I made it in 2 sections so it would be easy to transport 300+ miles and did the final assembly on site...v-e-r-r-y carefully placed it in position to be sure the silicone didn't slip.

Daisey, heres a link to a group I belong to on Flickr. Most people do paint the substrate, not the glass. I am known for making things difficult. I paint stripes of color on the glass (paito door glass in this case) then break it and pick it up and put into contianers. I did paint the yellow on this bb and put clear over it. Seems to look ok. Still haven't grouted. I am waiting till the silicone is good and dry then checking it while cleaning for loose pieces. Here is a link that might be useful: Crash glass mosaics

Materials Needed: Old Bowling Ball 650 Half Marbles or glass gems(approx. 6bgs of 12oz marbles) 1 Tube Silicone Glue (GE Silicone II, clear, outdoor) Cereal Bowl (or something to hold the work in progress) Wood Putty (optional) Outdoor Spray Paint (optional) Assembly Steps: Using the Silicone glue work in sections to glue the half marbles in place. The glue will hold almostimmediately so place the marbles carefully. It is best to do the top half of the BB and then let it dry overnight (in cereal bowl) before turning the BB over and glueing the bottom portion. When doing the bottom portion you can either leave the finger holes open or see below for filling instructions. Place in the Garden and enjoy the shimmering beauty you just created!! Optional Steps: If your BB is black and you prefer another color, simply use an outdoor spray paint to achieve the color of your choice. Spray the BB well and let dry throughly before you glue on any marbles. If you wish to cover the finger holes in the BB, use wood putty to fill them and let it completely dry before adhering the marbles to that area.