This week, we take a look at those colourful little spheres we all played with as children. Marbles!

Types of marbles

There are so many different types of marbles. Listed below are a few:

Toothpaste (marbles with wavy streaks)
Pearls (opaque marbles with a rainbow finish)
Cat’s eye
China
Crystal
Bumblebee
Tiger
Swirly
Onionskin
Galaxy

How to collect marbles

When it comes to collecting marbles, you can opt to collect a particular type or all kinds of marbles.
Start hunting!

You can easily find marbles at any toy store or home décor shops. They will stock marbles of any shape, size and colour.

Once you make your purchases, be sure to store the marbles in a plastic box in a cool place.

Clean them with a damp cloth at least once a week to keep them from getting dusty.

You can trade marbles with other people who collect them as well.

You can even purchase different types of marbles online if you feel as though it will add value to your collection.
Once you have a collection comprising different types, keep them in separate boxes so you don’t get them mixed up.  

How to play marbles
Source: Internet

First, you will have to draw a circle 2 to 3 feet wide. You could use chalk on asphalt or concrete but the traditional way Sri Lankans do it is by taking a stick and drawing a circle in the sand
 
Select your shooter and place any marbles you wish to play with as targets inside the circle; the other players do the same. Shooters are designated marbles used to knock targets out of the ring. Your shooter should be larger than the other marbles so it is powerful enough to do its job. It should also look different from other marbles so you can distinguish it from them easily.
 
When it is your turn to shoot, you must shoot your marble from outside the ring at any marble \ inside the ring. Shoot by kneeling on the ground and flicking your marble out of your fist with your thumb
 
Gather all the marbles you knocked out of the ring.
 
Shoot again if you knocked any marbles out of the ring. Let the next player shoot if you haven't knocked any marbles out, your shooter must remain in the ring.
 
Repeat the above-mentioned steps until the ring is empty.
 
After all the marbles are taken out of the ring, each player should count the number of marbles at the end of the game. The winner is the player with the most marbles.
 
Return the marbles to their original owners unless you're playing 'keepsies.' In that case, each player keeps the marbles he or she won during the game.
 


Marble crafts


Flower arrangements: Replace water with glass marbles in a bowl when it comes to flower arrangements. This is much more colourful.

Picture frames: This can be done using flat glass marbles. Take craft glue and apply it on all four corners of the frame. Then, apply glue on each flat glass marble. Stick them on the picture frame. You can use various colours, which will be sure to jazz up your picture frame.

Marble jewellery: Frying marbles can be used to make jewellery.

Home décor: Using glass marbles, usual home items such as vases or jars can be jazzed up. Fill a glass container with glass marbles and put it next to a window so the sunlight comes streaming through the jar. Glue flat-sided marbles to the corners of a mirror, vase, clay pot or bulletin board.