How to Make Paper Pomander Centerpieces

Lengthen the life of your pomander by using paper flowers.

Formerly constructed for their fragrant and even disease-fighting qualities, pomanders are spherical arrangements of flowers. Throughout history, pomanders differed greatly in the flora used and manner of use. Pomanders of nobility, for example, were heavily adorned with jewels for looks, while commoners used theirs for believed disease prevention. Today, while the believed functionality may have been lost, pomanders are still cherished for their beauty. These arrangements have continued to evolve and are frequently constructed with paper flowers for long-lasting wedding and special event centerpieces.

Things You'll Need

• Flower-shaped paper punch
• Scrapbook paper
• Assorted sizes of foam balls
• Decorative straight pins
• Large glass bowl

Instructions

1. Use your paper punch to make approximately 150 paper flowers from the scrapbook paper. This should be enough to cover a single 3-inch foam ball.

2. Contour the petals upward with your fingers to add texture and dimension to your flowers.

3. Take two flower cutouts and set one on top of the other. Offset them so the petals from the bottom flower are visible in the spaces of the top flower. Insert a straight pin through the center of both flowers and push the end of the straight pin into the foam ball to attach your flowers.

4. Continue until the ball is covered in flowers. Overlap the edges slightly so none of the foam is revealed underneath the flowers.

5. Repeat to cover two to four more foam balls, depending on the size of your bowl. Place finished pomanders in glass bowl in an elegant arrangement.

Tips & Warnings

• Use odd numbers of pomanders when making arrangements, as this makes them more pleasing to the eye.

References

• Science Museum; Brought to Life; Pomanders
• Pizzazzerie; Tutorial: How to Make a Pomander Flower Ball; Paula Biggs; February 2011