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Ornaments

How to create wintry snowball ornaments

This season, deck the halls with something other than boughs and holly. These 7 steps help you work twine and felt into beautiful snowball Christmas balls.
How to create wintry snowball ornaments

Snowball ornaments. (Photo, SIan Richards.)

Balloon Ornaments

Look to snow for a fresh decor idea

Skip the boughs of holly and decorate with easy-to-make snowball-inspired ornaments. All you need is balloons, flour paste and wrapping materials like twine, ribbon or lace.

balloon-ornament-ball-decoration-closeupCraft styling, Sara Wood. Prop styling, Jennifer Evans. Photo, Sian Richards.

The checklist:

• 1 cup of flour• Boiling water• Balloons• Petroleum jelly• Twine• Scissors• Felt• Needle and thread• Beads

balloon-ornament-all-materials-craftCraft styling, Sara Wood. Prop styling, Jennifer Evans. Photo, Sian Richards.

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1. Begin with paper mache

Make the papier mâché paste by gradually adding boiling water to flour until you have a smooth consistency. Blow up the balloon to your desired size and cover with a thin layer of petroleum jelly. Next, dip the twine into the paste and wrap it around the balloon shifting the direction slightly with each wrap until the whole balloon is covered.

balloon-ornament-craft-paper-macheCraft styling, Sara Wood. Prop styling, Jennifer Evans. Photo, Sian Richards.

2. Pop the balloon

Let the papier mâché dry overnight. Once the paste has dried, pop the balloon and remove with tweezers. You'll have yourself a structured twine ball.

How to create wintry snowball ornamentsCraft styling, Sara Wood. Prop styling, Jennifer Evans. Photo, Sian Richards.

3. Cut out your shapes

Cut eight circles of the same size out of the felt. Fold each of the circles in half, making a crease down the centre.

Hobbies that boost happiness: crafts.Craft styling, Sara Wood. Prop styling, Jennifer Evans. Photo, Sian Richards.

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4. Stitch your circles

Line up two of the folded circles back-to-back so the creased sides face each other. Sew the two pieces together along the crease line. Keeping the circles folded, add another felt circle to the top and one to the bottom so that your initial sewn circle is sandwiched in the middle. Sew down the crease. Repeat until all circles are attached.

ball-ornament-felt-decorationsCraft styling, Sara Wood. Prop styling, Jennifer Evans. Photo, Sian Richards.

5. String on some beads

Fluff out your 16-petal ball. Use a needle and thread to sew beads to the bottom of it.

balloon-ornament-craft-materials-threadCraft styling, Sara Wood. Prop styling, Jennifer Evans. Photo, Sian Richards.

6. Connect the dots

Attach the finished felt and bead component to the string ball with a needle and thread. Make a loop of thread or attach an ornament hook, so that the ornament can be hung up.

balloon-ornament-twine-ball-felt-craftCraft styling, Sara Wood. Prop styling, Jennifer Evans. Photo, Sian Richards.

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7. Embellish your home with twine Christmas balls

We attached our snowballs to branches and arranged them on a staircase railing, but they look equally good on a tree, made into a wreath or simply placed in a bowl as a centrepiece. Store them safely and they’ll last for years.

balloon-ornament-ball-staircaise-decorationCraft styling, Sara Wood. Prop styling, Jennifer Evans. Photo, Sian Richards.

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