My daughter has to make a globe for a 6th grade middle school project. She is thinking of painting one on either a playground ball or a beach ball. I'm pretty clueless in this area. Do you have any advice? Would acrylic paint be the right paint for either surface? Would one or the other be easier? She thinks the texture of the playground ball would be difficult, but I'm concerned about how slippery the beach ball would be. I'm afraid of the paint flaking off of either one!
What about making a paper mache globe using a balloon and newspaper? You know, like making a home made Pinata? Paper mache is very easy to paint on once dried. Regular old craft paint (Tempura or poster paints) should work fine. You can find recipes for the mache paste online.
If I were her I would paper mache over the ball. Then you can add some texture and the paint will soak in better and dry better. Acrylic will work great. Then she can spray paint clear glaze over it when she is done painting. If she uses lighter green, blue, brown (mixed with white) it will be light enough for her to be able to write over the paint (once dry) with a sharp tipped black felt pen. She can add details to make it look cool.
Could she use a blue ball (it would be the water) and then glue all the countries (cut from paper) on?
I would think the paint would flake. What about paper mache? Use one of those oversize balloons, or even a cheap beach ball and cover it in paper mache, then paint the paper mache. Newspaper and glue should absorb paint just fine. Good luck!
I like mom2to's answer and am going to try to remember that for when my little one's turn comes around!
You could get a polystyrene/foam ball from Joannes or Michaels and paint that....
I would put some paper mache(not sure how to spell it) over the top of one of them. Not sure the paint will stick to either surface. You might be able to find a foam ball.
