Unique Glass Globe Scarecrow Craft for Fall Centerpiece

Do you like unique crafts? Do you love to thrift and find treasures to re-purpose? Perhaps you’re just looking to try something different for a change? Then you’ll love making this adorable glass globe scarecrow! Inside, is a Fall story only YOU can write. It’s the perfect accent piece for the harvest table!

About this craft

If you’re new to this type of craft, this tutorial has a TON of tips and those “extra little details” to help inspire and guide you along the way. Knowing what to expect and how to go about it, your glass globe scarecrow will be more satisfying to make and you’ll be rewarded with a one-of-a-kind artwork.

Just to be perfectly honest, this is probably not the quickest or easiest Fall craft. But that’s what makes it so uniquely special. You’re creating something whimsical from scratch not everyone else is doing, and that requires a bit of thought and some time to gather the right materials. However, it’s all worth it when you hear the compliments, and you can be proud to say “I made this myself!”

Materials for the Scarecrow Globe

The 3 PARTS: 1) BASE/platform 2) MIDDLE (glass globe) 3) TOP (head piece)

MATERIALS

Note: these are BASIC FRAMEWORK materials. There are a number of other possibilities but it will still work out beautifully if making substitutions as needed.

• 1 glass floral globe vase –Use the smaller ones 5″-6″ diameter are ideal size for table centerpiece (unless you’d like to make a larger scarecrow). Vases are available at craft stores. OR check thrift stores and save $$.
• 1 scarecrow head piece Look around at thrift stores or try on-line shops like Etsy. option: Use a second smaller glass globe for the head. Paint a face on it or use face stickers. Glue straw or fake straw on the top and add a hat.
• E-6000 glue or Silicone glue available at craft stores OR the paint department of a hardware store.
• A platform “base” with flat surface suggestions: large diameter candle pillar, saucer-size plate in a Fall color
• Small Figurines/miniatures to create a Fall diorama scene inside the dome Check thrift stores, craft stores or on-line shops like Etsy or E-Bay. Suggestions: pumpkin, squash, farmer, tractor, owl, pine cone, nuts, squirrels, artificial Fall leaves, rake, scarecrow etc.
• Helpful but not necessary: Small level and Isopropyl/rubbing alcohol (for cleaning glass)

Whimsical ideas for a scarecrow

No doubt about it! Craft projects like this are guaranteed to stretch your imagination.

All the items pictured here came from my local thrift stores. Though not all from the same store or even on the same day! (though sometimes you get lucky). Just like the regular stores, thrift stores also have seasonal items on their shelves for Fall and Thanksgiving. Here are some things I picked up for my glass globe scarecrow.

THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX!

First off, I highly recommend spending some time looking around at the thrift stores for your materials. You’ll have to think ‘outside the box’ when using a certain thing for an entirely different purpose. But that’s what makes this scarecrow centerpiece so fun and whimsical!

Here are a few examples:

Other places to find materials

You’ll spend considerably LESS if you are patient and look for things at the thrift store. The cost of the materials for my scarecrow pictured here came to about $15 dollars. But I already had glue at home.

However, if you just don’t have the time, or don’t have thrift stores or craft stores in your area, you can always shop on-line.

One of the best places to find an incredibly wide selection of craft materials is Etsy.com. When it comes to finding miniatures for your scarecrow diorama quickly, be sure to use very specific and descriptive key words in the search bar. Use several words together like: “Fall”, “miniatures”, “figurines”, “pumpkin”, “owl”, “ceramic”, “plastic” etc.

The good news is that you’ll only need 2 or 3 things, total. Plus, figurines are small and lightweight, so they shouldn’t cost very much and neither will postage!

TIP: Get your glass globe & base/platform first so you’ll know the measurements before ordering on-line. Your base/platform will probably only be about 5-6 inches! (unless you wish to make a larger art piece)

Directions for Globe Scarecrow

Hand wash all items in warm, soapy water. (especially if they came from the thrift store). Pay close attention to any candle products as it can be hard to spot wax. Wax or other substances like grease on the surface prevents glue from sticking.

AT A GLANCE

• step 1 Prepare the base
• step 2 Wash and dry glass globe
• step 3 Arrange the figurines on the base in a creative way
• step 4 Glue the glass globe onto the base
• step 5 Glue the scarecrow’s head to the top

STEP 1) The BASE/Platform

I used this pretty Fall colored candle pillar for my base/platform. A small plate would work, too.

STEP 2) MIDDLE / Glass Globe

Note: These vases are commonly found at thrift stores for quite a bit less than buying new.

Hand wash the glass globe/vase in warm soapy water. Dry with a 100% cotton towel, not with a paper towel. If you have it on hand, wipe the inside of the glass with Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. It removes residual grease and gives glass an extra clear sparkle.

STEP 3) Storytelling /Arranging the figurines

Storytelling is the most important part of this craft. It’s the ‘personality’ of your art piece and it’s the most fun! The way you arrange the figurines on your base will tell YOUR Fall story. The idea is to create something visually captivating. So, play around with your pieces a bit and try different arrangements until you’ve found one that appeals to you.

So that your scene under the glass looks more engaging, try tipping pieces on their side, or at an angle. What mood do the pieces convey? Is it comical? Serene? Happy? Mystical? What does it seem like to YOU?

TIP: take photos of your various arrangements. If you have to stop to attend to something else, a photo helps you remember your work. Then you can look back over the different set-ups to see which one you like best.

Scarecrows & Squirrels

In my glass globe world, I ended up with three adorable resin squirrels and a ceramic acorn found at the thrift store. The acorn was part of a salt and pepper shaker set and the squirrels are Fall themed table place name holders. I used piers to remove the wire that held the card.

The “engaging element” of my scarecrow diorama is the squirrels and the giant, over-sized acorn which provides some wonderful exaggeration. What squirrel wouldn’t be wide-eyed over this find!

The mood is “playful” as squirrels are known to be. Unfortunately, not all the elements would fit within the space. Placed side by side, there was only room for two squirrels and the acorn. Bummer!

Even with two squirrels, it was a tight fit and the acorn blocked the other squirrel. It wasn’t visually captivating.

This is the part of the craft project that burns brain cells. What to do with the 3rd squirrel? How do I work him into the piece? Aha! The scarecrow’s hat! Now that’s consistent with the playful nature of squirrels.

Back to the two critters on the base: Suddenly, in a flash of inspiration, it occurred to me that the 2nd squirrel could perch ON TOP of the acorn! The pose of the figurine itself plays into the story. As if this squirrel takes credit for finding the giant acorn and is claiming ownership. While the first squirrel seems content with the small acorn it has. (maybe there’s a moral here?)

As you can see, there’s a BIG story to be told, even with just 3 pieces.

Final steps to finishing the Scarecrow

STEP 4) Glue the globe to base/platform

Once you’ve glued your figurines in place, glue the glass globe over the top of the base. For this step, I like to use E-6000 glue because it dries clear and won’t show on your finished artwork. Allow it to dry completely before adding the head.

To ensure the glass globe is on perfectly straight, you may wish to use a small, plastic level rather than just eyeball it. Trust me, it can be deceiving. Sometimes I don’t notice it until I add the top piece and only then can I tell the balance is off a bit.

STEP 5) Add the Scarecrow head

Finally, add the head by gluing it on top of the glass globe. Then find a great way to display your adorable Fall craft in the home or use it as a table centerpiece where it will be admired by all.

Here’s another Glass Globe idea for Fall:

Other Fun Fall Crafts to Try

Thanks for visiting Make it a Garden. Because your feedback is so valuable, I invite you to leave a comment or question below.

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