Will this be the next craze? There was an interesting article at Kottke talking about Shiny Dorodangos. Shiny Dorodangos are evidently shiny balls of dried mud Japanese school children have fallen in love with making.

Should you want to make your own, the article also included instructions, which are mirrored here, so Enjoy:

 How to Make a Shiny Dorodango

1. Pack some mud into your hand, and squeeze out the water while forming a sphere.
2. Add some dry dirt to the outside and continue to gently shape the mud into a sphere.
3. When the mass dries, pack it solid with your hands, and rub the surface until a smooth film begins to appear.
4. Rub your hands against the ground, patting and rubbing the fine, powdery dirt onto the sphere. Continue this for two hours.
5. Seal the ball in a plastic bag for three or four hours. Upon removing the sphere, repeat step 4, and then once again seal the sphere in a plastic bag.
6. Remove the ball from the bag, and if it is no longer wet, polish it with a cloth until it shines.