125 Coffee Cup Light/Art Object

For the Paper Cup Challenge I wanted to make something that would use more then just a few cups at a time, because the more cups it takes to make something means that less will be thrown away. When I was thinking up things to make out of cups I remembered seeing balls made out of plastic cups and Christmas lights so I thought I'd try to make one from coffee cups. In trying to make a ball out of 12 oz cups it started to get too big to hang from the ceiling, (just over 2 feet across), so I made half of one and hung it on the wall and here it is and how it was made.
This is made like a soccer ball,using hexagons and pentagons.

Note: some of the pictures show the cups with out their bottoms cut out,YOU MUST CUT OUT ALL OF THE BOTTOMS, if you don't the pentagons WILL NOT FIT when you get to step 9.
I tried it both ways and found out that the pentagons will only fit if you cut out the bottoms, this makes the cups more flexible. Otherwise when you push the pentagons in it will force apart seams and rip out the staples
I used pictures from both types because not all of my pictures came out right or I forgot to take some  and had to take more while writing this.
Sorry if this causes any confusion.

Step 1 Whats needed

Tools

• stapler
• staples
• small knife
• paper clips/clothes pins
• hammer and nails
• screwdriver
• drill and bits
• wire cutter/stripper
• screws
• saw
• pencil
• paint/spray paint

Supplies

•  
• 1 1by4 6ft. long
• lamp socket
• extension cord/lamp cord
• 125 12oz. coffee cups
• party bulb (mine's orange)
• add on plug (optional)

Comments

[HaliR]

Im going to try this and also put different colored plastic wrap over the cups

[creasemaker]

Great idea, post some pictures of it here when you make it

[tala910185010]

thank u for amazing post .My student and I did too.Hope u like it

[creasemaker]

Thanks, you did a great job and I how it looks with the two colors.
I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[scs3000]

 Cool, but this was a cover-featured Readymade Magazine project a while back.

[creasemaker]

Really, I've never seen that magazine before. This project started out as something different. I was going to hanging light/ball but as I started to make it, I found out that  it was going to be about 24 inches wide, way too big to hang from the ceiling So to make half of it an hang it on the wall instead. I got the idea from hanging balls made from plastic cups and Christmas lights as a kid. After I thought of making this I looked online to see if any one else had made anything like it. All  I could find where the ones made out of plastic cups melted together.
So, yes I am quit sure someone else has probably made something like this before, because once you start putting cups together like this they naturally start to form a ball.
This is in no way a new idea, it is just my version or twist on it.
If you can I would like it if you could  post a picture of  it here, I would really like to see it.
Thanks.

[meerar]

fantastic instructable. i remember some designer  doing similar with melded polystyrene cups

good clear instructions. if i could only get my hands on some paper cups ....

[meerar]

http://bcndesign.narotzky.com/2008/09/28/the-ballad-of-the-styrofoam-cup/

is the link to the Styrofoam cup lamp

[creasemaker]

Thanks, I put a lot of work on it.
I found a site when I was researching for this www.sparkleball.com, I might try to one of these one day too.