Amp Up Your Holiday Decorations With Some Sparkleballs [Instructables How-to]

We all know the best part about the end of the year is going to an array of holiday and New Year’s celebrations. If you’re hosting, deck out your home or yard with these homemade sparkleballs that are a surefire way to get the party started (along with that spiked punch).

Materials:
-50 clear tumbler-style plastic cups
-Hole-puncher
-Drill with a 1/2 inch bit
-Strand of mini-lights (100-150)
-200 small zip-ties
-Chain and two “s” hooks (to hang)
-Glitter, glue, and beads (optional)

Step One: Get Drilling
Set up the cups (you can stack up to three at a time) and drill holes in the bottom of each one. Make sure the holes are between 1/4-1/2 inches wide, or large enough to insert 1-2 mini-lights.

Step Two: Punch Holes
With a hand-held hole puncher, punch four evenly-spaced holes around the tops of all 50 cups right under the lips. Each hole should have one directly opposite, but just eyeball the spacing.

Step Three: First Layer
Arrange 12 cups in a circle (with the mouths facing outward) and attach adjoining cups with zip-ties. Then after all the cups are connected, tightly cinch each zip-tie making sure the ring of cups stays flat. Trim off the ends of each zip-tie.

Step Four: Second Layer
FYI: there are nine cups in layer two. Place one cup on top of layer one. With a zip-tie, connect this cup to the cup it sits on top of. Do not tighten the zip-tie all the way yet. Now add a second cup. Attach it with a zip-tie to the cup it sits on top of. When all nine cups are situated on top of layer one (forming layer two) — then attach each cup to the cups on either side. Every cup in layer two will be attached at three points. When all the zip-ties are in place, go around the ring tightening and trimming all zip-ties.

Step Five: Third Layer
There are only four cups in layer three. Layer the cups onto the space left at the top of the sparkleball-half. Once they fit neatly, then start attaching the four cups to each other and to the cups in layer two. These cups will be attached at four points. You may need to punch new holes, if the holes don’t align…and you may end up leaving some holes unzipped. Tighten zip-ties and trim. Half the ball is done! Now you start threading the mini-lights.

Step Six: Insert Lights
Make sure you test your lights, before starting the insertion with the prong end of the cord. Insert the two lights closest to the prong into a cup on the outside rim. (The plug will then hang out when you put the two halves together.) Fit one or 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, next to the cup you started with. Work slowly. It is important NOT to skip a cup or miss a light, but if you accidentally crack a cup, it’s ok.

Step Seven: Build the Second Half
Set aside the first half and start building the second half of the sphere repeating steps three-five.

Step Eight: Finish Inserting the Lights
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. If you plan on hanging more than one 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. Some people use two strands of mini-lights, connecting them once the two halves are threaded with lights.

Step Nine: Join the Halves
Press the two halves together, making them fit snugly. Line up the holes and attach loosely with zip-ties, all the way around. Then tighten zip-ties and trim.

Step Ten: Make a Hanger
Using a bit of chain and two “s” hooks, construct your hanger. Find the top of your sparkleball, letting the electrical cord hang out from the bottom, and punch holes between two cups. Insert an “s” hook into the hole and close. Add the chain and second “s” hook. You can also use zip-tie loops, clear fishing line, wire coat hangers, or ribbon to hang sparkleballs.

Step Eleven: Decorate! (optional)
If you’re really a fan of sparkle, string plastic beads on the zip-ties, as you thread them between cups. You can also dip cup rims in glue then glitter, or use dollops of glitter-glue between the cups.

Step Twelve: Plug In and Enjoy
And on to the next…

Visit the Instructables “How To” for more ways to spiff up your sparkleballs, and for mini-sparkleballs click here. To see the sparkleballs from all over the world, visit Sparkleball.com.