When Joey and I decorated my friend Maya's apartment, she had only one request: disco balls. This was totally something I could get behind ... unfortunately, our budget couldn't get behind it as much since a disco ball big enough to make the kind of impact Maya wanted costs upwards of $500. Yeeesh.
But if there's anything I love to do, it's DIY different types of balls, so I was incredibly excited to make Maya's disco shiners from some paper Chinese lanterns and sparkly accessories!
Check out the how-to below, and see the disco balls hanging in all their glory in the first episode of OMG We're Coming Over!
Prep It (supplies list for all 3 types of disco balls seen in photos):
White paper lanterns - we used 20, 24 and 30 inch round Spray adhesive Hot glue gun and glue sticks Metallic glitter in different shades and sizes Mosaic mirrored tiles Silver metallic foil tissue paper Light cord kit or twine - depending on if you want a light source Screw hooks for your ceiling
Just Glitter and Mirrored Tile Ball - Do It!:
- For the strictly glittered disco lantern, start by assembling the lantern over a well-covered surface area by inserting the wire frame that comes with the lantern.
- Working one area at a time, cover the lantern with spray adhesive then coat with glitter. I found it easiest to work with the glitter in the bottle it came in, using the sprinkle side of the top to get a good flow but we also ended up rolling the lantern around in the excess that fell on the drop cloth too! Note: Maya and I mixed silver and gold fine glitter for this ball but you can use any texture or color you'd like!
- For the mosaic mirrored tile disco ball, start by covering it in glitter, using the same technique as you did with the first disco ball and then hot glue on the tiles in whatever design you want - I chose to do them in a diamond pattern and disperse after covering the base of the lantern.
Metallic Fringe Disco Ball - Do It!:
- For the metallic fringe disco ball, start by cutting 6 inch thick strips from the entire length of your foil paper. Fold this strip in half and cut fringe into the open edge side, then unfold and cut along the seam. You should now have a strip that is fringed on both sides!
- Working from the bottom, use a hot glue gun to glue the solid side of each strip onto the lantern. Glue the strips on in a spiral, going around the width of the globe rather than up and down it.
Now hang your balls using twine or a light cord kit and a screw eye in the ceiling!
