The recent thread about oversized ornaments made me think about using gazing balls. Better Homes & Gardens has had some interesting pictures, like these:

http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/09/ss_BHG154224.jpg (I love this one and have copied it)

or

http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/09/l_SIP915261.jpg

or

http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/09/l_SIP915260.jpg

or

http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/09/l_SIP915283.jpg

or

http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/05/ss_SIP915279.jpg

I have a blue swirled glass gazing ball and decided to stuff it with lights for an outdoor display. I pulled the cap off the stem and initially stuffed it with 300 white mini lights, but they built up too much heat. Next I tried two 70-light strings of LED lights, which solved the heat problem. If I can find them at a better price I'll stuff two more strings inside, but this gives the idea. The ball looks much better in person, especially at night, than it does in the photo since the camera flash makes the "guts" too visible, but it will give you the idea.

{{gwi:1449174}}