Solar Sparkleball!

Like cousins No-Melt Sparkleball and Sparkleball Mini,  Solar Sparkleball is a handmade light ball made of plastic cups and Christmas lights. The big difference:   the lights are little icicles powered by a solar panel.  Arranged in a sparkleball, the icicles make a star shape and give off a starry, snowy light.  Lovely in trees!  (For a kid's project, adapt directions using the No-Melt method.)

Step 1: What You'll Need

1.  50 Solo-style 9 oz tumbler-size plastic cups (with slanted sides) 
2.  A string of solar holiday lights.  I used  icicle lights (25 to  a string) from Target  
3.  clothes pins  (optional)
4.  soldering iron  (or for a no-melt version adapt using No-Melt Instructions)
5.  zipties to make hanger
6.  hot glue gun to anchor lights (optional)
7.  outdoor work space;  fans for ventilation 

Comments

[Bosun Rick]

You can avoid the need to replace the rechargable battery by simply removing it from the holder. I use these (solar-powered) lights around my camper each summer, and they "keep" very well if charged up all of the last day of use before removal for the winter.

I usually store them inside the light fixture in the fall and winter, so they are there & ready in the spring. One note: just be sure to give them time to recharge on the first day you put them out.

Merry Christmas!