You can use all types of things. I bought a large candle holder at a YS. I also have a store bought stand made for gazing balls. You can use a flower pot, a basket or any number of other things. It all depends on if you want it high up or low to the ground. I'm not terribly creative and maybe someone else can come up with some better ideas. You can also do a search here for BB to see what others have done. Some have stands, some are just on the ground.

Here's a pic of mine. I used an old lamp I had found and took off the electrical parts. This is actually a styrofoam ball with the half marbles on it. Folks here use GE Silicone II for windows and doors to glue the marbles on, it holds up best outdoors.

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I buy some beautiful stands at yard sales and thrift stores,it doesn't matter what it was made for,if it holds a BB,then it's a BB stand,lol. Mine generally were once candle stands. On that note....mine usually get knocked over by heavy rains or winds,or cats or possums or coons or dogs or grandkids,no matter how sturdy they are :)

thanks for the info everyone. I'm hitting some thrift stores tomorrow with my mother and I'm on the hunt for something to use as a bball holder. I'll be sure to post my finds...if I find anything that is..LOL

- Jacque

I have several of mine on pieces of rebar that has been driven into the ground. Invert the ball, and set the thumb hole, or one of the finger holes, over the rebar, and viola! Instant stand!

Also, I use wheels off an old riding lawnmower. They are just the right size.

Janie

Goodwill here usually has some large neat candleholders that would work great. And last year I got plant stands on sale at Walmart when summer was ending. Now just need to get the glue and marbles out, have two balls to try my hand at. Can't wait to see what you come up with, know it will be good.
Karen

Old iron and wrought iron candle holders and lamps are great holders for garden balls.

Great ideas! I looked at that thrift store locater link someone shared...found a bunch of stores near and around my parents...taking a trip down there today and asked mom if she wanted to hit the shops...I'm on the look out for these items and some chairs.

Thanks again everyone...love the great ideas!!

- Jacque

Well no luck :( still on the search for some sort of holder. In the meantime..I got some clear and blue glass to use on the bowling ball. Maybe this weekend I'll start the ball.

For my first ones, I used a birdbath bottom. The top was broken by the squirrels.
I had another top and bottom and was using them as a birdbath and I just looked out and the base and birdbath portion are broken to bits. Darned squirrels!!
candle bases are good also.

Old lamp bases, candle holders, metal fruit baskets, plant stands, terra cotta pots one on top of the other with the bottom one inverted, old chandeliers turned upside down (when going to the TS or yardsaling, take items and turn upside down to get a different view), etc.

I'll post a link to some of my BBs so you can see some examples, but I must say that in the last couple of weeks I've acquired a stash of more innovative ones due to the best yard sale season ever!

Here is a link that might be useful: Tiffy's BBs and stand ideas.

I've been lurking here for weeks and this bowling ball holder problem forced me to join up so I could share my idea.

I was having trouble finding anything cheap...uh, inexpensive. Now I make holders out of two 6" azalea pots (they're squattier than regular pots). I glue them together bottom to bottom with liquid nails, then reinforce with a fat bolt and washers thru the drainage holes. Seal and spray paint and add a few appropriate colored flat marbles to accent the ball. Of course, right after I bought 8 pots to make 4 holders, I started finding big candle holders every time I went in a 2nd hand store. Fortunately, I have friends who are so taken by the whole idea, they bring old bowling balls to me. I started doing these last August and have made 6 and have 7 waiting for their transformation.

I love this group!

jan

Lots of great ideas! I went to Hobby Lobby and they had some of their metal decor stuff on sale. Bought a metal basket and my bowling ball fits nicely on it. I think I paid about 3 bucks. I like the rebar idea too! And large candle holders from the TS--another great idea!

See my lamp bases on my web site. I took the base of one, put it on top of another. I am not sure, but I think my lampbases were the first ones shown here, at the beginning of the BB thing. Back before all the changes, and when I still knew how to post pictures. So many things have changed now! For some reason, I no longer get the 'browse box' when I preview.....

Forgot to put my website, altho it is on 'my page'

Http://members.cox.net/nonacook

Last year at our townwide GS I got a silverplate chafing dish or maybe fondue pot holder, which was the perfect size, for 50 cents. A little Wrights silver polish made it gleam!

A milk can without a cover is also a great BB holder. The BB fits perfectly. And, it doesn't get top heavy and tip over. Good luck!

Wow...everyone has such great ideas...I love them!!!

Tiffy...your bballings are wonderful!!! They are so pretty!!

Well I was browsing around TJ Maxx this weekend and found some candlesticks that I think would work. Got 3 of them. They were 5 bucks. All heavy metal ones..and were over a foot tall.
Tomorrow I'm heading out to snag the bowling balls I saw at the thrift shop. Keep your fingers crossed they are still there..lol...like an idiot I didn't get them right away..LOL.

thanks everyone - Jacque