As we say goodbye to the old and usher in the new, let’s make some memories with this New Years Craft for the family. With so many of us spending this New Year’s Eve at home, it might be fun to create some DIY decorations to celebrate.
While this craft is stunning, it definitely requires the assistance of an older sibling or adult. It involves the use of a hot glue gun and assembling the triangles require an eye for detail.
Once finished, it measures about 13 inches tall and wide. It takes a little patience to create, but once completed this craft leaves you feeling quite satisfied. Add some remote control LED lights and it is just beautiful. I’m getting a little ahead of myself, so let’s just get started.
HOW TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE NEW YEARS CRAFT SVG AND PDF FILES
There are over 70 files in the free resource library. You can make paper crafts like this Christmas Village, print out holiday gift tags or make any of these paper New Year’s decorations.
To access the free library, just subscribe on the top right sidebar or at the bottom of this post. Then confirm your email address and a welcome email will be sent to your inbox with the password to enter the library. Enter the password in the empty box at the bottom of the library page for instant access to over 70 free files.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure statement here.
SUPPLIES
- Card-stock
- Vellum
- Adhesive
- Silhouette Cameo or Cricut
- Cutting Mat (Cricut or Silhouette)
- Hot Glue Gun
- Craft Knife (If no cutting machine.)
- Self-healing mat (If no cutting machine.)
CUT OUT THE TRIANGLE TEMPLATES
There are two different size triangles for this project. The “A” triangles are 4″ on each of the three sides. The two “B” sides of the smaller triangle measure 3.5″ and the “A” side measures 4″. There are separate templates for the vellum as those triangles are slightly smaller to fit inside of the card-stock. You can find all of these templates (SVG, PDF, and Silhouette) in the free library along with instructions for cutting them on a cutting machine (i.e. Cricut or Silhouette).
This New Year’s ball is 13″ tall by 13″ wide. You will need to cut a total of 20 “AA” triangles and 60 “AB” triangles from both card-stock and vellum to create the New Years ball. If using a Cricut or Silhouette cutting machine, this will be 7 (12X12) sheets of card-stock for the “AB” triangles and 3 (12X12) sheets of card-stock for the “AA” triangles. You will also be cutting 3 (8.5 X 11) sheets of vellum for the “AA” triangles and 5 (8.5 X 11) sheets of vellum for the “AB” triangles.
Assemble And Prepare The Individual Triangles
Begin by folding all of the score lines on the triangles. I found it easier to use my scraper tool to quickly fold them and then slide my fingers along the crease. I folded all of my triangles at the same time.
Then use a tape runner to add adhesive to the inside of the triangles to hold the vellum in place.
Now add your vellum triangles to the card-stock frame and press them into the adhesive. Make sure you are working on the back of the triangle. I kept the two size triangles and vellum separate to avoid mixing them up while assembling them.
Here is the front side of a completed triangle.
Keep repeating these steps until all of your triangles are prepared.
Begin Assembling Your “AB” Panels
In this step we are only working with the “AB” triangles. Begin by lining up five of the triangles with the “B” sides touching. This will leave your “A” (longer) sides facing out.
Working on one “B” side at a time, add some hot glue to the folded flap.
Then press it to the triangle next to it, always connecting “B” to “B”. Repeat this process until 5 of the “AB” tringles are connected to create a panel.
To help create a tight bond, press the flaps together on the back side of the panel as in the image above.
When you get to the last seam of the panel, hold it downward, so you can add the hot glue to one of the flaps.
Then press it together to complete the panel. You will create 12 panels total.
How To Assemble The Pieces to Create Your 3D New Year’s Ball Craft
Lay out half of your pieces on a flat surface to match the image below. These are the pieces that will create one half dome.
Hold the center (5 triangle panel) in one hand and add hot glue to one flap. Then press one of the “AA” triangles to that flap. Work your way around the (5 triangle panel) until every outside flap has an “AA” triangle attached. This will create a 5 point star shape.
Now, working one flap at a time, add another (5 triangle panel) to the inside of two of the star points. This is the “V” shaped area in between the star points. Scroll down to see more pictures of this step.
Once you glue the two flaps in the “V” area it will look like the image below. You panels will now begin to take on a curved shape.
Keep working your way around the star, adding and gluing panels in between the two star points.
The image below shows three of the panels attached to the star.
Here is what it looks like when four of the panels are attached.
In this image all of the panels are attached, leaving only the 5 “A” triangles left to be added.
I flipped the dome over to add the last triangles.
This just makes it easier to work with and press the flaps together.
Add The Two Domes Together To Create The Ball
Here is one completed dome.
You’ll need to repeat the process to complete the second dome. Once both domes are completed, flip them over so the under side is facing up and they are next to each other. Now begin attaching the flaps, one at a time. You will be able to connect about 3-4 flaps from the inside. Then you will need to glue one flap at a time pressing the two domes together from the outside.
Here is the completed New Year’s ball craft.
How To Add LED Lights To Your New Year’s Ball Craft
I purchased these LED lights because they had a remote control. The lights have a few different modes and have multiple colors. Overall I’m pretty happy with them. Just as an FYI, when I first opened them, they weren’t working. Then I figured out that you need to twist them together really tightly for the battery to connect. This is because they are also submersible and need a tight seal to keep out the water.
Create A Tube To Light Up And Hang Your New Year’s Ball
I placed three of the lights along the edge of a clear transparency sheet. Then I rolled it up to form a tube and added hot glue to the long edge to keep it closed.
Next, I took a piece of heavy fishing line and threaded it through the hanging hooks on the top of each light, leaving slack in between each light, so they could be fed into the tube. I also knotted the fishing line on the first and last light as a secondary backup in case the tube failed. This will keep them connected to each other.
I used the thin metal holder from two tea light candles to close the ends of the tube. You could alternatively use foil or another piece of cut transparency.
The plastic tube was a little tight on one end, so I used a ruler to push the lights in all the way.
Then poke a hole in the center of the metal cap so the top light hanger shows through. Finally, hot glue the cap on the outside of the tube. Please note: the cap is not supporting the weight, the fishing line is directly attached to the top light hanger.
Here is a picture of the light tube when it’s complete.
Now add some hot glue to the other end and add the other metal cap. I had to glue this one to the inside of the tube since this end of the tube was a bit larger.
Here is the light tube standing upright and turned on.
I weighed the tube to make sure my fishing line could handle the weight. It came in at 6 lbs., so make sure your fishing line can handle more than that amount of weight.
How To Connect Your Light Tube To The Vellum Ball
At this point, pop up one of your vellum panels, so it separates from the adhesive. This will be the bottom of the ball. You now have two choices. You can just slide the ball over your light tube and leave it on a table or you can thread fishing line through the top of the ball and out the bottom. Then attach it to the light tube to hang your ball.
This is the fishing line going through the top of the ball.
Then pull the line out of the bottom opening and attach it to the hook on the top light. The weight of the lights is always on the fishing line and never on the ball. In fact, the ball is resting on the light tube (when hanging) and the tube is attached to the fishing line to hang it.
Now slide your tube into the ball. I left the bottom vellum panel off for easy access. The purpose of the tube is to spread the light evenly inside the ball from top to bottom. It also provides the structure to hang the ball. Now use your remote to light it up, stand back and enjoy your New Years craft.
JOIN THE COMMUNITY
Don’t miss out! Subscribe on the top right sidebar or bottom of this post to get my latest craft ideas, templates and home decor projects. Join the community and gain access to my free library of over 70 printables, templates and cut files; including these free printable holiday gift tags.
FOLLOW ALONG ON PINTEREST
Do you like budget friendly home decor and crafts? Follow me on PINTEREST. Did you know that you can hover over any of the images below and save them for later? Just click on the red Pinterest button and save it to your Holiday Home Decor or Holiday Crafts board. It’s helpful to Pin It now and save it for later, when your ready to start your project.
What are you doing on New Year’s? This year is going to be a little quieter for us, with just family. We’ll probably be playing board games and enjoying our favorite snacks.
Thanks for checking out this New Year’s craft and have a wonderful holiday season!
Leave a Reply