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Modified Sparkleballs Using the "Wrong" Cups
The rogue sparkleballer's secret weapon.
Form a circle with the cups you want to use. (these are 5 1/2 oz) Measure the diameter across the circle with a ruler or measuring tape in several directions to make sure you've got a perfect circle. Try removing or adding a cup to see if the circle improves. Once it's perfect, make a note of how many cups are in this first layer. (18 5 1/2 oz cups in first layer)
Add a ring of cups on top of the first layer to make the second layer of cups. Then make the third, fourth, or even fifth layer to finish the half. (on this one, the last layer had 1 cup.) Make notes as you complete a layer so you'll remember how many cups in each one.
I often clip both halves together to make sure they'll make a round ball before I attach the cups.
Now make your unique sparkleball using your new modified formula.
The 5 1/2 oz cup (right) has straighter sides than the Solo-style 9 oz cup (left). So even though it's smaller, it takes twice as many to make a sparkleball. (116 vs 50) Straighter sides mean that it will take more cups to make your sparkleball turn out nice and round.
It takes 23 16 oz cups (Chinet Casuals) for the first layer of a giant sparkleball (27" diameter).
These are small 3 oz bathroom cups from CVS pharmacy. It takes 21 cups for the first layer! (oooops. not quite a circle. this one needs work.)
I can't wait to make this one. These are 5 oz tumblers I found at Party City. It takes only 10 of these for the first layer. Precious!
All of these sparkleballs - giant to tiny - were made by modifying the basic sparkleball formula.
