January 1, 2011
Apache Junction ARIZONA
Ekuth posted this sparkleflake on DoItYourselfChristmas.com. [rollover image]
December 25, 2010
Sonoma CALIFORNIA
Gus with his mom's sparkleballs.
December 25, 2010
Boothville LOUISIANA
Dori is making sparkleballs-- with mom and fiance's help-- for DIY wedding decorations.
December 24, 2010
Covington LOUISIANA
Brooklyn NY resident Juliet captured these sparkleballs (and trespassed in a stranger's yard) with her Aunt Kate, who lives in nearby Folsom LA.
December 24, 2010
Loganholme, near Brisbane, AUSTRALIA
This is Anita's first sparkleball-- a feat of hotglue engineering. Plastic cups in Australia are different from the solo-style 9 oz tumbler and produce a larger sparkleball with more cups. [rollover image]
December 20, 2010
Houston TEXAS
Leomi's first sparkleball. She used 16 oz cups because they were cheaper, in case the sparkleball didn't turn out. It turned out just fine-- all 30 inches and 231 cups of it! (more than twice as big as a basic sparkleball.)
December 20, 2010
Houston TEXAS
Leomi stapled the 231 cups together and used 400 red and white mini-lights. A wire support runs through the middle and through several cups at the bottom and at the top to support the weight. Directions for making a giant sparkleball are here. [rollover image]
December 18, 2010
San Francisco Bay Area CALIFORNIA
Eliot's sparkleball was inspired by a light fixture in the CB2 catalog. His inventive diy version incorporates clear Christmas balls glued onto a bowl which encases a florescent light. Sparkleballery is an inclusive craft, and we accept all departures from the norm. The common denominators are sparkle, ball, light, and fun. [rollover image]
December 16, 2010
stolen from Monroe MICHIGAN
Peggy and her son made 5 LED sparkleballs and hung them from a tree in their front yard. Earlier in the month, someone pulled down the tree and stole three of the sparkleballs.
December 13, 2010
Fullerton CALIFORNIA
This will give you a pretty good idea of what it's like driving down Sparkleball Street, N. Yale Ave (at E. Chapman), Fullerton CA. Video by Tambrateer. To read how N Yale does it and see more photos, click here.
December 13, 2010
Kampala UGANDA
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Matthew Dea is the first sparkleballer from Africa! He soldered the plastic cups together at their rims. (sparkleball map at bottom of the page)
December 11, 2010
Joaquin TEXAS
Shelby county news website ShelbyWired did a story on Mickey Estes and her sparkleball hobby and business.
December 9, 2010
Midland TX
Jenny's sparkleball treetopper in Midland TX. [rollover image]
December 9, 2010
Houston TEXAS
Marie Tran uses multi- and single color mini-lights in her sparkleballs, sometimes mixing colored lights with same colored cups. Above, blue lights in clear cups. [rollover image]
December 9, 2010
Houston TEXAS
Sparkleballs in Marie's yard in Houston. [rollover image]
December 9, 2010
Houston TEXAS
Marie is a five year sparkleball veteran, making as many as 30 a year for friends and family. Above, green cups with white lights. She also makes sparkleballs to sell. [rollover image]
December 9, 2010
Santa Barbara CALIFORNIA
Preston (aka "Ptone") is one of the expert contributors on DoItYourselfChristmas.com; a free forum for great ideas, including several threads on sparkleball-making. His video is below.
December 9, 2010
Santa Barbara CA
Preston's short video of his sparkleball tree, day and night. Beautiful in the California breeze!
December 9, 2010
Franklinville NORTH CAROLINA
Geri's husband brought home the holly-printed cups which were close enough to 9 oz tumblers that she could use the basic pattern (with a few gaps.) [rollover image]
December 9, 2010
Franklinville NORTH CAROLINA
Geri's assorted sparkleball halves will be used as church event table centerpieces, a front door decoration, and and a wall hanging above her mantle.
December 9, 2010
Franklinville NORTH CAROLINA
Geri prefers LED lights, including the little "pinecone" style above.
December 9, 2010
Franklinville NORTH CAROLINA
Geri's mini-sparkleball made of small shot glasses (purple, green, red, and blue; 2 oz, 2" tall) and multi-color lights. Her pattern for building it was 17-13-11-6.
December 4, 2010
Sonoma CALIFORNIA
Steve's first sparkleball. He used a plier stapler and 100 LED mini-lights.
December 4, 2010
Sonoma CALIFORNIA
Threading the lights is the part where you wonder why you ever thought this was a good idea. But then you plug it in-- and can't wait to make another one. [rollover image]
December 9, 2010
Fullerton CALIFORNIA
Word from Don Bales just in: the 450+ sparkleballs of North Yale Avenue are UP. If you're within driving distance, fill your car with bodies and go. I took a friend from NYC, and he still talks about it. [Rollover image. More North Yale photos here. Photo credit - Dave Welch]
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