Hot Glue Sparkleball

Hot glue / hard plastic cups make really sparkly sparkleball.

• 64 5 oz hard plastic tumblers (hot glue only works with hard plastic cups.)
• 100 string mini-lights
• 200 large paperclips
• hot glue gun
• soldering iron

note 1: If you use standard 9oz tumblers change formula to 12 - 9 - 4.

note 2: I used two different colors of red shot glasses for Valentine's Day.

• Clip 14 cups in a circle.
• Put 11 cups on top of the 14. Clip each one to cup it sits on.
• Put 6 cups on top of the 11. Clip each one to cup it sits on.
• Add last cup and clip to 6 cups around it.
• Now, add a clip wherever the cups touch.

note 1: In this step the pink cups show you how the layers are placed.

note 2: If 14 cups doesn't make a circle, your cups aren't the right size.

• The paperclips guide you where to glue.
• Pull off a paperclip and squirt a generous dab of glue between cups.
• Re-clip after gluing to press cups and glue tightly.

note 1: don't force cups. only glue where cups touch.

note 2: cracks are ok.

• Burn a 1/2" hole into 25 randomly selected cups on each side.

• Do this step outside with good ventilation.

Simply stuff lights between the two sides, making sure cord hangs clear.

• On 1st side, start at plug end.
• Insert two lights per hole (50 lights in all.) Begin and end on outside rim.
• On 2nd side, start with opposite end of cord.
• When you finish, lights will meet in the middle.

• Clip sides together. (It's easier to see where to glue.)
• Glue and re-clip.
• Leave clips in place overnight to set.

Melt a hole between 2 cups and make a hanger. I use zip-ties.

Modify or embellish it dozens of ways. But be careful. Hard cup Sparkleballs are breakable!
For more sparkleball ideas check out sparkleball.com.