Just can’t bear to part with your beloved old Bowling Ball, even though you bought it twenty years ago, it’s got a crack in it and somehow it always ends up in the gutter, no matter how perfect your throw? Even the best bowling balls bite the dust eventually, but don’t worry; you aren’t obliged to toss your beloved ball into the dumpster.

For the crafty bowlers amongst us, there are tons of cute and clever ideas for “recycling” old balls into garden decorations, sculptures and even furniture!

One of the easiest ways to rehab your old Bowling Ball is to simply give it a nice coat of some bright, water-repellent paint. It doesn’t take any extra artistic skill to paint on some oversized eyes and facial features, and voila, you have your very own Bowling Ball garden gnome! Just stick it in your yard or in a flower planter and be prepared for the amused chuckles of your admiring neighbors.

If you want to tackle a more involved project, try mounting your old ball on a stand and sticking some fake flowers in the finger holes; voila, you have a one-of-a-kind flower pot! Another clever idea is to take four to six used bowling balls and use them as the base of a coffee table; just affix the balls to the underside of a clear glass plate or piece of wood using a strong craft glue.

Want more crafty tips for rehabbing old bowling balls? The internet is, of course, one of the best resources for craft ideas, but there are also entire books devoted to the subject! Check out your local bookstore or library to see if they hold any in stock. Once you start turning your old balls into lovely works of art, they’ll add a unique and amusing touch to your own home, and make fantastic gifts for the bowling enthusiasts in your life, as well.