Any help on how to make this

Question

It is made of wire and comes in 2 pieces to form a ball. I would like to make one at least 16 inches round. What type/gauge of wire and what to use as a form?
Thanks for any help!

Melody · Answer

It looks like strings of Christmas lights as a sphere; I would use a heavy gauge wire make as big a (starting) loop as I want the diameter make a few wraps for stability then start wrapping the lights on. Or use a flexible wire like chicken wire to make the sphere then add the lights, I don't see why it would HAVE to be in two pieces.

Tatjana Lijić · Answer

I like the idea of chicken wire,or some other kind with bigger squares ,so it's easier to wrap the lights around it. You can use a ball to create two spheres and than conect them in the end,it doesn't seem too complicated,good luck and happy holidays !

Katrina Warren · Answer

@Tina Smith Do you need it to open? You can get 100 ft. rolls of galvanized wire at Walmart fairly cheap that I think would work to form your orb. If it doesn't need to open, I would form 4 circles around something the size you are wanting, a trash can, paint can, flower pot whatever is the approximate size around you are looking for. Form hooks on the ends of your four circles to hook each one individually end to end to make 4 circles, then fit your circles inside each other to form your orb, using a thinner wire, (something flexible like floral wire) wire the top & bottom centers to hold your form in place. Then wrap with string lights... There's another wire you can find at hardware stores that would also work, but can't think of what it is called & can't find mine at the moment to tell you. :/ Anyway, it might be easier to work with as it isn't as stiff as the galvanized, but still heavy enough to hold the shape.... It is BLACK in color, & comes in rolls of 100ft. as well. Do NOT get aluminum wire to use, it's much too soft to hold a shape well & breaks easily...... If my directions don't make sense to you, try googling how to make a wire orb. Good Luck!

Vivian Tinder-Thomas · Answer

You can go to Club.ChicaCircle.com 
Repurpose Flower Baskets into a Glowing Outdoor Chandelier 
 and make them from 2 wire hanging baskets you get both the same shape tie them together and weave lights in and out. And you can also look up ChristmasLightsEtc.com..DIY How to make Christmas Light Balls these are made with chicken wire

Chr2267081 · Answer

Wire 2 hanging baskets together, spray silver paint all over it; then wind the lights in and around it :) I did this a couple of yeas ago but I can't find any photos. ( I also added some bits of holly here and there) Hope this helps...

Sharon Ackerman · Answer

I make mine with 2 large hanging baskets.  I buy solar fairy lights (400) - the more lights, the better the effect.  Attach the two halves with fishing line so it opens like a lid.  Weave the half the lights through one half of the ball.  It does take some time to do, but well worth it.  Close the 'lid', secure and now weave the rest of the lights in the 2nd half of the ball.  I love the BLUE fairy lights.  Hope this helps.  MERRY CHRISTMAS from Tamborine Mountain, Queensland Australia

Valerie · Answer

I was going to suggest using two hanging baskets, but I see that others have already beaten me! It is the most simple solution, and should look great.

Carol B · Answer

I would use an inflatable beach ball, wrap the wire around it, then puncture the ball, and pull it out from between the wires.

Teana F · Answer

I agree with Sharon, looks like 2 hanging baskets that have the sheet of moss to hold the soil. Probably wired or ziptied together to make a ball.

Karen Holsopple · Answer

I'm in the process of using grape vines and balloons. It'll take longer, but it's so much cheaper.

Joy Waldstein · Answer

An exercise ball might be deflated to the size you like and provide a dense form to wrap with wire.

Phyllis · Answer

chicken wire painted green..

Nbs2064393 · Answer

I made one with 2 wire hanging baskets . I tied them together with odd pieces of wire. 
I made one for Halloween too.

Ann · Answer

I made a vine ball for my garden using large embroidery hoops for shape. I wired four together to make a sphere, spray painted them brown then wrapped vines until I got the look I wanted. Embroidery hoops at the thrift store are so inexpensive!

Silvio Dominguez Gonzalez · Answer

hermosa y se puede mejorar

DC · Answer

My son did a class project several years ago. He had bought some wire covered w/ a green coating at Wal-Mart (I think, because that's the only store we have in our town:) I'm sure craft stores would carry it - if not WM. It is a pretty stiff wire - would hold up great.

Kristine Fiddelke · Answer

I made three Balls of Light last year. You use chicken wire. the gage in the pic is the better one but I used a cheaper one and it worked. IF the wire is Two Ft wide you cut a 4FT length. Hook it in a cylinder form with the cut wires. Then you press it down with the cylinder on a hard surface standing upright. It becomes a Ball. Then you wrap your lights around it. Either solid or solid with one and white or multi. It is very easy. Oh and I got my Chicken wire at Lowes.

Emily Antonecchia · Answer

The wire baskets or hanging baskets wired together are the easiest.....and most durable

Laurie Powell · Answer

I make the lighted balls with the solo cups. I buy the 150 light sets with music for inside the house. You don't have to use that many lights, but I like a lot of lights.

Angela Shumate · Answer

Try using an exercise / yoga ball for your form and then you can inflate to whatever size you need to make it the dimensions you are looking to do, them simply deflate afterwards and pull out. It will hold and you get to keep the ball for another use later, maybe to work off the extra weight we all seem to put on around this time of year, lol.

You can pick them up cheaply at thrift stores or even cheap buying them new from Walmart or other similar type of store. You also can buy one of those large kids play balls they keep in the kids section of Walmart. They look very similar to the workout ball listed earlier.

Barbara Ball · Answer

I went to the dollar store and bought two wire hanging baskets from the dollar store and zip tied them together. I then used the small green zip ties to put the lights on. Just kept adding the lights till I liked the look of it. Walmart has the hanging baskets also but they are a little bigger and cost a little more. I did one of each size. Good luck.

Zebbie Hardy · Answer

In this pick they used chicken wire

JANE · Answer

THESE ARE TWO HANGING FLOWER BASKET HOLDERS        MOST OF THE TIME YOU CAN FIND THEM AT THE DOLLAR GENERAL STORE FOR A FEW BUCKS.  WIRE THEM TOGETHER AND STRING YOUR LIGHTS ON.  THEY TURN OUT VERY PRETTY.

Laurie Powell · Answer

Hi Judy Patterson, I used a soldering iron. You can buy them just about any place for under $10. The melting of the plastic cups is toxic!! I gathered some girlfriends & out in the garage with a heater & some coffee, we had a great time! You need to do these balls in a well ventilated area!! Just last week I found a faster way, but she drilled the holes & sometimes the cups do crack. She stapled hers together. My way takes a little bit longer but they hold together for years!! Three weeks ago I repaired my mom's ball because she dropped it. I just remelted the cups back together again! This is already getting long so you might want to check out Pinterest for full directions. Or I can write them out on here if you'd rather. Have fun! The clear lights look pretty too!

Alice · Answer

made from a 2x4' chicken wire piece. Molded into the ball shape and then just attached about 3 strings of 70-100 lights.

Linda · Answer

Hi Tina, I've just received an email from Hometalk today about this, type, DIY Lighted Christmas Balls, in the Hometalk search box, Tasha from Greensboro shows you how to make them :)

Leida R · Answer

Check it out here: http://www.hometalk.com/diy/decorate/christmas/diy-lighted-christmas-balls-11858139?cid=2048967

Eileen B. · Answer

These would be kind of neat to string with solar lights and hang from a tree in the summerl

Laurie Powell · Answer

I was just showing another idea on a lighted sphere or ball. Look closely at my photo. I used 50 clear Solo cups.

Maria Serwacki · Answer

Wire two metal hanging baskets together to make a sphere and add lights.

Any help on how to make this

DIY Lighted Christmas Balls

Suggested Project Book

17 Amazing Garden Features We've Been Saving for Summer

Other

More

Any help on how to make this

DIY Lighted Christmas Balls

Suggested Project Book