How to Turn Plastic Cups Into Giant Festive Sparkle Balls

Shawna Bailey
by Shawna Bailey
5 Materials
$3
10 Minutes
Easy

If you're looking for a really big-impact Christmas decoration, this is the project for you. Using just Christmas lights and some household materials, you can make giant sparkle balls for your home. Let's get started!

1. Gather your materials

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Tools and materials for the DIY

I used about 100 mini plastic cups, fairy lights,  a stapler, and a  drill (Optional) to make holes in the cups. If you don’t have or don’t want to use a drill, then you can punch holes with an X-ACTO knife or even a screwdriver.


If you’re using something else to make holes, check to make sure the holes are correctly sized for your fairy lights. It would be a real shame to build your whole sparkle ball only to discover the lights don’t fit.


2. Put holes in your cups

Drilling holes in the cups

I used an 11/64 sized drill bit to make holes in my cups. By drilling through them, I was able to do 100 cups (in 2 groups) in under two minutes. Like I mentioned before if you aren’t using a drill, then just make your holes with whatever you're using.

Adding holes to the cups

Here's what each cup should look like after you've added your holes.


3. Staple them together

Stapling cups together

Using a stapler from our office, I started building the ball. Make sure to squeeze all the way down when stapling, so that the cups really stick together. I found it easier to staple as far down away from the lip of the cup as possible.

Stapling the cups

In order to make a ball, I simply put the second row (and third and fourth row...) of cups around the first row. That, combined with the gentle slope shape of the cup, made it easy to make a ball.

Half a ball

Here's a picture of half a ball. You need to make two halves and attach them after you have added the lights.


4. Add the lights

Threading the lights into the cups

Because my holes were exactly the same size as the fairy light bulbs, I was able to pop them in and they all stayed in place. If you find that your holes are too large, a small drop of hot glue will hold them in place.


If you find that the hole is a little too small, force the light in -- then they won’t fall out. If it's really small you might have to make it bigger.

DIY sparkle ball

DIY sparkle balls

Voila! These are safe to hang outside.

DIY giant light ball for the holidays

We string them all along our porch for a really WOW effect you can see from the street. I actually hang them using a small piece of string I tie in between two of the cups. You can easily save these from year to year!

Suggested materials:
  • Stapler   (Amazon)
  • Half sized cups   (Amazon)
  • Fairy lights   (Amazon)
See all materials
Frequently asked questions
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3 of 24 questions
  • Jennifer Jennifer on Sep 13, 2020

    can you send me link for printed directions

  • DaLonna. Sprinkle DaLonna. Sprinkle on Nov 12, 2020

    I’m confused, if you used 100 cups for your ball, how does that work ? Wouldn’t you need more in row one than the -12-9- then 4 ?

    is like to make a bigger one . Any suggestions . Thanks 😉

  • GG GG on Nov 23, 2023

    Can one use the laundry or fabric softener cups for this project?

Comments
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2 of 69 comments
  • Anne Anne on Jan 13, 2020

    My compliments, Shawna Bailey! My granddaughters and I made a bunch of these and I'm pretty sure it took us longer than 10 minutes for each one! Must have been my clumsiness that slowed the girls down. The first ones we did, using off brand cups, didn't turn out round or neatly fitted; we had to use Solo brand. Obviously, I should have followed your tutorial and saved some time and money. Live and learn. I will be following you now. Thanks!

  • Nandini Nandini on Dec 10, 2023

    Have to try this. I recently saw a snowman built from white cups at my library which I’m planning for next Christmas. Supposedly the instructions are on YouTube.

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