Pushing lights into the cups is the hardest part of making a sparkleball.  Here are some things I’ve learned over the years to make it easier.

• Test the lights before you begin. I’ve finished a sparkleball, plugged it in, and nothing. Pulling lights out is actually harder than putting them in.
•  The right size hole helps.  Thanks to Carl Boro,  I use a 1/2 ” step drill bit which makes the perfect hole.  Ever since I got it, lights are so much easier to insert.  For a standard drill bit or soldering iron, aim for 1/2″.
• If a hole’s too small and you’re in the middle of adding lights,  use scissors to cut a slit or two out from the hole.  Bulbs should push through. Just be careful not to cut the light wire, which I’ve done.
• If the hole’s too big and lights keep popping out, Carl’s got a simple fix.
• Icicle Lights are easier to thread into a sparkleball than regular mini’s.  Trust me on this.
• Two 50 strands are easier to work with than one strand of 100. One for each side. Just make sure the lights have a male and female plug–  and the right plugs end up on the outer edge so they can join.
• Go slow so you don’t skip a cup.
• Too lazy?  Just stuff the lights in the middle.  Still a pretty cool light ball.

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
–  painting the cups
–  make The Original Sparkleball
–  make AnyCup Sparkleball
–  making Mini Sparkleballs