Ideas about magical ambiance surrounding a light globe, anyone?

static

OK, those are on my wishlist and I should be able to pay for them by September.
They look like they would indeed help, but I'm tapped out. I spent my laundry change on the Shadowcaster, but I will definitely be wanting to do more with these when I can.
Thanks Kid!

In the meantime, I am just about done with the item I have been wanting to do. Its a bit different than I originally thought of, but I think it came out alright. I'll post it here when I am done so you can all see what you helped me create.

static

Well, here is what I have concocted so far. I decided to go with the ball here due to the nature of the image and the pose. It seems more menacing than the wispy sort of thing I had first considered. But it does incorporate every step you have outlined and both the Fire and Smoke and Shadowcaster products. I have created a number of interesting effects already, but this one fit best for this scene, as I mentioned.

Thank you all very much for your help and input. I shall be posting the entire image somewhere. I just don't know where. This will be my first ever uploaded creation even though I have been here for seven years (so, I'm a procrastinator - sue me). ;)

By the way, where do I post my work?