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To
glue, staple or solder? Frank
staples his. Alan uses a hot glue gun. (He says
you must hold cups together tightly as the glue cools and use gloves to
keep from being burned.)
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1 |
Melt a hole
(approx 1/2 in) in the bottom of all 50 cups.
Divide cups
into two groups of 25. Each group makes half a ball.
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thank
you Mary for your help. |
2
Working
from inside the cups, near the bottoms, gives the ball a nice round
shape.
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Arrange
12 cups in a circle.
Join each
cup to its neighbor, working from inside the cups. Press the iron near
the cup bottom, through to the next cup. (see photo) Hold cups
in place until the melted hole cools and a joint forms.
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3
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The next
layer has 9 cups. Build this ring on top of the first, one cup at a
time.
Join each
cup to at least two neighbors-- working from the inside and close to
the bottom.
There may
be small gaps between some of the cups in the second ring.
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thank
you Steve for your camera. |
4 |
Fit the
last 4 cups into the space left at the top of the dome, then join
them. Work close to the cup bottoms and attach each cup to all
the cups it touches.
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5 |
When half
the ball is done, I reinforce it by melting a notch wherever cup rims
touch. But do not force the cup rims to touch or they may crack.
(This is
optional. )
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thank
you Trudy and Finley for my first sparkle ball |
6
NOTE:
Some people prefer to use 2 sets of 50 lights because they are easier
to work with during the threading part.
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IMPORTANT!
TEST THE LIGHTS BEFORE YOU INSERT THEM.
To insert lights: start at the prong end of the cord. Insert the two
lights closest to the prong into a cup at the outside rim. (The plug
will then hang out when you put the two halves together.)
Put
two lights in each cup. Work your way around the ball half, zigzaging
from outer cups to inner cups and back. You want to end up on the outer
rim, at the cup next to one you started with.
Work
slowly, careful not to skip a cup or miss a light. If you crack a cup,
that's ok.
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7 |
Set aside
the completed half. Build the second half just like you did the first.
(Steps 1 - 5)
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8 |
On the second
half, insert lights starting from the opposite end of the cord (the
plug end.) Start with any cup but make sure you finish at the outer
rim. (But if you plan to hang more than ball at once, make sure the
plug end hangs out between the cups, as well.)
The last
lights will be the hardest to insert as you juggle the two halves.
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9 |
Press the
two halves together, making them fit nicely. When you join them-- be
careful not to burn the lights or wire.
Go over
the sparkleball, making sure each cup is joined to at least two other
cups.
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10
NOTE:
The hole you make for your "s" hook must be as reinforced
as you can make it. You don't want the pressure from hanging to pull
cups loose from the ball.
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Make a hanger
for your sparkleball. I use a bit of chain and two "s" hooks.
Choose the
top of your sparkleball. Melt a hole between two well-connected cups.
Insert one "s" hook into the hole and close. Add chain and
second "s" hook.
I have also
used clear fishing line and wire coat hangers to hang sparkleballs.
Some people use ribbon.
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Plug
in
and
enjoy!
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Now
you're ready
to get fancy.
Make
a
dancing
sparkleball
Make
a
mini
sparkleball
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