Step 1 : Lighted tree ornament


This project will take approx 2 hours to complete, note the small white (pieced of coat hanger)used to hang the ornament in a tree. Mini's used here were two 50 mini multi color. Note: when you exceed 50 mini lights, just stuff the excess in the middle of the sphere.
I started making these things about 5 years ago. I have several with the 150 mini multi color with the 8 function sequencer controler.

Step 2 : Materials and Tools


The tools needed to assemble this projectinclude but not limited to:
$40 dollar drill press (from Harbor frieght or similar drill press)
1/4 inch drill bit
drilling fixture (adapted piece of 2X4 to fit into base of 9oz Solo cup)
50 9oz Solo cups Note: use only 90z cups, other sizes of cups will not result in a sphere. Something about the angle of the sides and diameter of the bottom and top.
Deep reach stapler (use 1/4 inch staples)
Hot glue gun (to attach mini's to cup)

Step 3 : 4, 9,12 cups(predrilled)


Place the predrilled cups into stacks of 4, 9 and 12 (total of 25). It takes two assembled 25 cups to make a sphere. Predrilled cups can have 1 hole in each cup, 2,3,or 4 but, it gets very crowded in the middle of the assembled spheres.(the more lights left in the center of the sphere, the brightrer the center will be.
Using , blue, red, green, clear would bring interesting dancing colors on /off and fading ..well let your imagniation take over.

Step 4 : Drilling holes for mini lights


Fabricate a driling fixture from a scrap of 2X4. The top of the fixture should be sized to fit into the bottom of the cup. For convience, place mark(s) on the fixture to aid in locating the holes. Debris will be trapped between cups, but is easily removed.

Step 5 : Asembling 4,9,12 cups


Staple the first stack of 4 cups togeather as shown. Staple them twice once near the lip, then down towards the bottom.