Wire fencing: one length at 59'L x 48'H.To play, thread the plant stakes at odd angles through the middle of the cylinder, dump the balls in from the top, and see who has the magic touch needed to remove stakes without letting the balls slip through. The doubled-up plywood rings that make up the base and lid consist of two rings of different sizes-a small one that nests snugly in the rim of the wire cylinder and a larger one that covers the top and bottom edge of the cylinder. Our giant version of the classic ball-drop game comprises three large pieces: a lid, a cylindrical wire cage, and a base with lumber legs. Step 1 Overview to Build the Ball-drop Game of Shishkaball Photo by Douglas Adams Once the pieces are assembled, invite your friends and neighbors over to get reacquainted with the heart-pounding fun of yore. All you need is some wire fencing, lumber, plastic balls, plant stakes-and perhaps a dose of video instruction from Team Saturday.

You can do it in a yard-size version that's sure to become the raucous centerpiece of any summer gathering. The heyday of classic board games like Ker-Plunk and Jenga may be long gone, but you can re-create that heady feeling of pulling out a piece and waiting to see if everything comes crashing down.

Ball of life 2