How to Paint a Globe (DIY Galaxy Star Map Tutorial)

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How to Paint a Globe (DIY Galaxy Star Map Tutorial)

Transform an old globe into a galaxy star map perfect for Halloween or just every day home decor.

Find a vintage globe at thrift stores, yard sales or out of the dusty attic and make it a statement piece for the coffee table.

With a few simple steps and a coat of paint, you'll have an awesome DIY globe just in time for spooky season.

Create a visually stunning star map on a globe with different colors of paint and a little bit of sparkly glow in the dark paint.

The perfect way to decorate the home in a cosmic way.

I'm just showing how to do a cool galaxy paint vibe with some major constellations, but you can expand and add all the zodiac sign constellations, symbols and whatever else you like!

Create a visually stunning star map on a globe with different colors of paint and a little bit of sparkly glow in the dark paint. The perfect way to decorate the home in a cosmic way. I'm just showing how to do a cool galaxy paint vibe with some major constellations, but you can expand and add all the zodiac sign constellations, symbols and whatever else you like!

Painting a Globe!

There are some out there that would cringe to see a perfectly good globe painted.

This globe had its own issues and was donated to a thrift store.

I bought it with the sole purpose of upcycling it and I love how it turned out.

The blue paint swirled with pinks and greens...and all that black paint.

It really is a cool home decor piece and again, perfect for a mystical Halloween or spooky decor.

Painting a Globe! There are some out there that would cringe to see a perfectly good globe painted. This globe had its own issues and was donated to a thrift store. I bought it with the sole purpose of upcycling it and I love how it turned out. The blue paint swirled with pinks and greens...and all that black paint. It really is a cool home decor piece and again, perfect for a mystical Halloween or spooky decor.

Supplies Needed for Upcycled Globe Painting:

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Thrifted Old Globe (or you can buy one new)
Acrylic Paint in a variety of colors
White Paint
Black Paint
Plaid Glow in the Dark Glitter Paint
Plaid Dragonfly Glaze Paint
Plaid Paint Pouncers
Paint Brushes (a smaller and a larger brush)

Optional:

Paint Pens or Paint Marker

Supplies Needed for Upcycled Globe Painting: affiliate links Thrifted Old Globe (or you can buy one new) Acrylic Paint in a variety of colors White Paint Black Paint Plaid Glow in the Dark Glitter Paint Plaid Dragonfly Glaze Paint Plaid Paint Pouncers Paint Brushes (a smaller and a larger brush) Optional: Paint Pens or Paint Marker

Thrifted Globe Before:

Here's my globe, fresh from the thrift store.

It's likable. I like the gold paint, the gold hardware.

But when it comes down to it, the hardware is great and the globe is a cardboard sphere.

I knew it needed a fabulous update!

Thrifted Globe Before: Here's my globe, fresh from the thrift store. It's likable. I like the gold paint, the gold hardware. But when it comes down to it, the hardware is great and the globe is a cardboard sphere. I knew it needed a fabulous update!

Step 1: Black Paint Base

Begin by using a wide flat paint brush to paint the full globe black.

If your globe as removable hardware, remove the globe from hardware to be sure to paint the poles completely black.

If you want to be super creative, you can even use black chalkboard paint for a DIY chalkboard globe.

Step 1: Black Paint Base Begin by using a wide flat paint brush to paint the full globe black. If your globe as removable hardware, remove the globe from hardware to be sure to paint the poles completely black. If you want to be super creative, you can even use black chalkboard paint for a DIY chalkboard globe.

Just a thin layer of black paint is all the globe needs at this point, since it will be painted all over a few more times.

I love Plaid Multi-Surface paint, it's great for so many surfaces, and coats this cardboard sphere super easily and dries very quickly.

Step 2: Reassemble Globe

If you removed hardware, after the globe is dry, it's time to reassemble the globe on the stand.

If your stand isn't gold, you could spray paint it gold while it is disassembled to make it a little more fancy, vintage or gothic looking.

Step 3: Acrylic Craft Paint

Squeeze out a variety of colored paints, I'm using a ceramic palette (aka a thrifted escargot plate).

These are the colors that will pop through the black paint of the galaxy.

Use the sponge pouncer and tap it in the paint, blot it a bit on the color palettes and the sponge it on the globe in random swaths and swirls.

Repeat with all the different colors, sponge painting it all over the place, careful not to blend the colors too much or you can create muddy colors.

Add lots of color to the globe, we'll tone it down in the next step.

Use the sponge pouncer and tap it in the paint, blot it a bit on the color palettes and the sponge it on the globe in random swaths and swirls. Repeat with all the different colors, sponge painting it all over the place, careful not to blend the colors too much or you can create muddy colors. Add lots of color to the globe, we'll tone it down in the next step.

Then let the colorful splotches on the globe dry completely.

Step 4: Black Paint

Now squeeze out some black paint and use a sponge to finish off the galaxy look of the globe.

Dip the sponge in paint and blot it off gently.

Then sponge paint on the globe, around the color, softening the edges of color...just letting the colors peek through the black paint.

Step 4: Black Paint Now squeeze out some black paint and use a sponge to finish off the galaxy look of the globe. Dip the sponge in paint and blot it off gently. Then sponge paint on the globe, around the color, softening the edges of color...just letting the colors peek through the black paint.

Step 5: Invisible Glow Stardust

Get the Invisible Glow Stardust craft paint and sponge it all over the entire globe.

The full globe won't glow...just where the little glitter specks end up.

Be generous and sponge the glitter paint all over the globe, it will dry clear.

Let it dry completely before moving on to the next step.

Step 5: Invisible Glow Stardust Get the Invisible Glow Stardust craft paint and sponge it all over the entire globe. The full globe won't glow...just where the little glitter specks end up. Be generous and sponge the glitter paint all over the globe, it will dry clear. Let it dry completely before moving on to the next step.

Step 6: Star Map Painting

The next step is to recreate the stars on the globe.

I painted on the big dipper and little dipper (just portions of Ursa Major and Ursa Minor).

I painted Cassiopeia, Orion's belt and a few others.

Use the paint brush to paint stars and the back end of the paint brush to add white dots to the globe.

Step 6: Star Map Painting The next step is to recreate the stars on the globe. I painted on the big dipper and little dipper (just portions of Ursa Major and Ursa Minor). I painted Cassiopeia, Orion's belt and a few others. Use the paint brush to paint stars and the back end of the paint brush to add white dots to the globe.

Again, this can be as detailed as you want.

Add all 12 of the zodiac constellations or just the ones that are meaningful to you.

The globe was big enough for quite a few star clusters.

Step 7: Dragonfly Glaze

After the white paint dries, use the sparkly Dragonfly Glaze and paint over a few of the special stars, constellations and even paint some swirls on the globe.

Add a little flair to the nebula star dust clusters with the sparkly Dragonfly Glaze.

This isn't glow in the dark, but it reacts beautifully to light, making it just as fabulous in the daylight as in the dusk.

Look at how amazing this globe looks in the dark!

I love the nebula burst, the swirls of glowing stars, the glow in the dark effects and the fun little nods to my favorite constellations.

This is a perfect way to have a statement globe in your home even if you are a flat earther, right!?

Look at how amazing this globe looks in the dark! I love the nebula burst, the swirls of glowing stars, the glow in the dark effects and the fun little nods to my favorite constellations. This is a perfect way to have a statement globe in your home even if you are a flat earther, right!?

What do you think!?

Do you like the before version of the globe or do you like the upcycled version?

The before is very standard, and I hardly keep anything in in my home that isn't unique and eclectic.

So hand painting the whole cosmos on the globe is the solution for my perfect globe!

What do you think!? Do you like the before version of the globe or do you like the upcycled version? The before is very standard, and I hardly keep anything in in my home that isn't unique and eclectic. So hand painting the whole cosmos on the globe is the solution for my perfect globe!

I love that it is black but has beautiful pops of colors and vibrancy!

I planned on painting the globe all black and then painting big colorful flowers all over it but my husband suggested a galaxy instead and I went with it.

That's it!

Learn how to paint a globe in a gorgeous galaxy pattern!

Transform an old globe into a galactic star map for the perfect home decor or Halloween decoration for a spooky entry table.

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Learn how to paint a globe in a gorgeous galaxy pattern! Transform an old globe into a galactic star map for the perfect home decor or Halloween decoration for a spooky entry table.

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