Make your own customized antenna balls. Fun Cheap Easy, a great gift when you're broke or when you're saving money for beer!

Step 1: GET THE ANTENNA BALL!!

Get the antenna ball....any antenna ball. I got mine from a radio station, they have promo stuff all the time. Some of the balls have a raised center line from where they were joined together being made, It took me a couple of times before I figured out that I could sand it off really easy to have a smooth surface all the way around.

Step 2: Prep the Ball

I used Acrylex gesso to prep my antenna balls, the same stuff I use to prep canvasses. I like to use this because then it gives me a nice surface to draw on and I can erase pencil lines when designing the picture.

It can take up to 3 or 4 coats to get nice even coverage, make sure to let them dry in between. I used a sponge paint brush (the kind you use to do corners of walls) really cheap dollar store ones.

Step 3: DRAW YOUR BALL!!

This is the fun part. I used a pencil to draw my antenna balls since I can easily erase it. Make sure you have a good eraser, it sucks when the eraser smudges more than anything!

Have fun with it, you can make it anything from an 8 ball to something hatching from inside it to a Rastafarian smokin' a fattie. Erryting gwan be eyrie!

Step 4: Paint!

this part is fun too. I've used Acrylic paints, Steadler Lumicolor Permanent markers (use medium tip not fine, fine will dig into the gesso and block the flow of ink, pain in the @ss to clean off constantly) and I've also used enamel model paint!

I combine my mediums lots too, easy to make fine lines & definition with felt pens!

I started by outlining my definition with the felts on this one, and coloring in the Iris. Thi spart is easier to do because you can hold the ball in your hands while doing it.

Step 5: PAINT SOME MORE!!!

Now that I have it all outlined I started to paint in the colour. Since paint needs drying time before it can be handles, I used a chopstick from Hodo's Chineese food down the block. You can use apencil or pen or whatever you can stick it on. It has to be on the chopstick or whatever TIGHTLY!! or it will just spin when you try to paint.

****Just a note.......when painting the bottom of the ball be careful the ball doesn't pop off and leave a nice little trail of paint on the carpet as it rolls away!! *****

Step 6: Finishing Touches!

After I finished painting my balls I sprayed them with a few coats of Krylon Triple-Thick Clear Glaze.

This gives them a nice shiny look and protects them from the weather (at least that's my theory...I don't knnow the long term durability of these since mine always get stolen within a week or two!)

Don't forget to sign them either.....you've just created a masterpiece!

Step 7: IN CONCLUSION......

That's it, that's how I make them. Be creative, use your imagination, and who knows what'll come out.

I used an old toothbrush head painted gold to make Marvin the Martians helmet thing, brush, dongle or whatever you call it. I'll probably use push pins for Frankenstein's neck bolts (in progress)

Have fun, hope you found this at least entertaining!