staple

Best Stapler for Making Sparkleballs

| Alex

It’s called a plier stapler.   Like everything else in life, with the right tool you can do anything.  Buy a plier stapler, and your hand will thank you.  Your sparkleball will turn out better because you can staple deep in the cups, and the staplers are stronger.  I’ve used an Arrow P22. for years. Sometimes  it’s clunky, but if I keep it oiled it’s pretty great.  Don’t forget to buy staples!  Each stapler has its own brand of staples and you have to buy them separately.
You can find plier staplers at hardware stores and online.

click on stapler photo for more information.
RAPID K1
ARROW P22
BOSTITCH B8
RAPID HD31
more helpful DIY:
–  find the right cups
–  tips for inserting lights
–  the best stapler
–  how to hang it – 1
–  how to hang it – 2
–  how to hang it – 3
–  using different lights – 1
–  using different lights – 2
–  drilling a perfect hole
–  how to get it really round
–  make The Original Sparkleball
–  make AnyCup Sparkleball
–  making Mini Sparkleballs

Making Mini Sparkleballs

| Alex

 


Dart makes souffle or portion cups in 4, 2 and 1-oz sizes.  They are closest to small solo-style cups I’ve found.  So you can follow the Original Sparkleball instructions and come out with mini versions.  The 4-oz cups (left) make a really nice mini.  The 1-oz souffle cup (right) is trickier.  With it, I had to follow a 14-11-6-1 recipe. My stapler was too big,  so I used paper clips and hot glue, as in the Hard Cup method.  The 1 oz mini also has room for only 25-50 lights.

Remember to staple deep in the cups and make sure the rims meet.  Also,  there are some stapling guidelines if you want your sparkleball really round.  Read them here.

To find portion cups, check restaurant supply stores, like Smart & Final. Try online. It also looks like Dixie makes some similar cups, including a 2 oz jello shot cup.

To make a mini sparkleball with hard plastic shot glasses and see more mini sparkleballs made with other cups go here.  And a collection of mini sparkleballs on Pinterest.

helpful DIY how-to posts:
–  find the right cups
–  tips for inserting lights
–  the best stapler
–  how to hang it – 1
–  how to hang it – 2
–  how to hang it – 3
–  using different lights – 1
–  using different lights – 2
–  drilling a perfect hole
–  how to get it really round
–  make The Original Sparkleball
–  make AnyCup Sparkleball
–  making Mini Sparkleballs