This couple didn't want to waste money on a World Cup sticker book, so they made their own

Part of what makes the World Cup so great is that it's more than merely the results of a competition. It's not just a sporting event. It's a worldwide phenomenon, a cultural experience. 

Almost everywhere on this planet, people are following along in their own way to what's happening, and the little stories that emerge — whether it's the Iranian president tweeting out a picture of himself watching his nation's team or Robin van Persie's grandfather imitating his grandson's face-plant after scoring — remind us that for all of our political, economic and ideological differences, we remain linked. 

One of the things linking us is the quadrennial tradition of the Panini World Cup sticker album. Whether it's the Colombian president swapping stickers while campaigning or a Canadian dad collecting stickers with his daughter, for more than four decades people from around the world have been tearing open Panini’s packets in hope of filling their albums.

The hobby — or obsession for some — can be expensive. Swiss academics suggest that without swapping, it would take the purchase of almost 900 packages (typically priced around $1 each) to fill the 639-sticker album. 

However, as a couple from Oxford, England, have shown us, you don't have to spend a penny to complete your own custom book. Alex and Sian Pratchett — the Panini Cheapskates — have been using "pens from Sian’s craft drawers and stickers borrowed from a work stationery cupboard" to create their own stickers throughout the tournament.

Tracking their progress on a blog and a Twitter account, the thrifty duo have created some brilliant work. 

While the project began somewhat whimsically — they wanted to collect, but didn't want to spend the money — the two have scheduled out exactly how many stickers they have to produce each day of the World Cup to have a completed album by the final.

According to Alex, the commitment can be overwhelming at times, "It's like having two jobs ... but in a good way. I think."

While perhaps keeping up has been a little more taxing than they bargained for, the project's following will hopefully inspire the couple to keep working until its completion. They've been blown away by the response so far.

"We thought a few friends and family might find it amusing," explains Alex. "But nothing really beyond that. We certainly didn't expect to be answering questions from around the world! It's great that people see it as charming rather than, say, sad or pitiable."

Charming, indeed. Alex and Sian's work is one of those small things that makes the World Cup something more than the sum of the goals scored and matches won. Finding these little bits of pleasure littered among the massiveness of the tournament makes us feel connected in a way that goes beyond supporting our nation or our heritage in a football game.

It gives us a laugh, and a smile. And reminds us that it's often the little things that make the big things worthwhile.