to make a basic sparkle ball you need. . .

make a dancing- sparkleball

make a mini-sparkleball

EASY PRINTABLE INSTRUCTIONS

 

 

50 plastic cups - 9 oz with slanted sides more>

 

 

100 mini-lights OR two sets of 50 more>

soldering iron more>

good ventilation more>

For more photos and creative ideas click the sparkleball!


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.)

 

 

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.

  thank you Mary for your help.

2

Working from inside the cups, near the bottoms, gives the ball a nice round shape.

 

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.

3

 

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.

 

 

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.

   
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. )

  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.

 

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.

   
7

 

Set aside the completed half. Build the second half just like you did the first. (Steps 1 - 5)

   
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.

   
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.

   

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.

 

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.

   

11

See sparkleballs in action. Click here for photos from everywhere.

 

Plug

in

and

enjoy!

 

 

Now you're ready to get fancy.

Make a

dancing sparkleball

Make a

mini sparkleball

 


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