How to Make Animals Out of Pom Poms

From classic farm animals to exotic jungle creatures, it's amazing the types of critters you can create out of pom poms. Whether you give them as gifts or use them for festive decor, they add instant charm and whimsy to every occasion. As a symbol of springtime, the bunny, lamb and chick make a delightful addition to an Easter basket. They would also look adorable year-round on a shelf or dresser in a nursery or child's room.

• Cardboard scrap, at least 8-by-8-inches
• Round lids, bottle caps and coins (ranging from 1 to 3 inches in diameter)
• Pen or pencil
• Sharp scissors
• Medium weight yarn in various colors, approximately 6 yards of each color
• Felt in various colors
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Note: Use white yarn for the lamb and yellow yarn for the chick. You could use either white, brown or gray yarn for the bunny.

Use two different sized lids or bottle caps, one about 3 inches in diameter and the other about 2 inches in diameter. Trace two circles from each size. Next, place a smaller cap or coin about 1 inch in diameter in the center of the four circles and trace around it.

Cut out all four circles from the cardboard.

Cut an opening into the center of one 3-inch circle, and then cut out the center of the circle, creating a C-shape as shown. Trace this C-shape onto the other 3-inch circle and cut out so you'll have identical pieces. Repeat this process on the two 2-inch circles.

Cut a piece of yarn that's about 15 inches long and set it aside. You will use this later to tie your pom pom together. Next, stack the 3-inch cardboard C-shapes on top of each other. Wrap two layers of yarn around both cardboard pieces as shown. Snip the yarn off of the skein, leaving about a 2-inch tail.

Hold the yarn tail tightly so the yarn doesn't come unraveled. Gently pull the tips of the cardboard pieces apart to create a small opening between them.

Insert your scissors between the two cardboard pieces and cut the yarn all the way around the edge. Keep holding the yarn tail tightly and applying pressure on the top and bottom cardboard pieces to prevent the yarn from coming unraveled as you cut.

Thread the 15-inch piece of yarn that you cut earlier in between the two cardboard pieces and tie a tight knot around the pom pom. Tie it again to create a tight double knot.

Slide the cardboard pieces off of the pom pom.

Fluff up the pom pom and give it a haircut, trimming away any long or shaggy pieces until you have a uniform length all the way around it.

Repeat the steps above to make two additional pom poms in different colors. Then, use the 2-inch cardboard pieces to make three smaller pom poms. You'll end up with six pom poms in total, three large and three small.

You can make the facial features as large or small as you'd like. The eyes and noses in this project are about 1/2 centimeter in diameter. The bunny ears are approximately 1 inch long, and the lamb ears are about 1/2 inch long.

• Eyes: Cut out six small circles from black felt to make the eyes.
• Noses: Cut out two small circles from pink felt to make noses for the bunny and lamb. Cut out a small triangle from orange felt to make a beak for the chick.
• Ears: Cut out two curved bunny ear shapes from brown felt and two curved lamb ear shapes from white felt.

Dab a small amount of hot glue in the bottom center of each bunny and lamb ear and pinch them together for about 10 seconds until the glue sets. This will give the ears a little dimension.

Dab a small drop of hot glue on both eyes and and press them lightly into place on the smaller brown pom pom. Do the same with the nose. Dab some hot glue onto the bottom sides of each ear (the portion that's pinched together), and press the ears into place on top of the bunny's head so they stick straight up. Once the glue has set, dab some hot glue on the bottom of the bunny's head and glue it to the larger brown pom pom. Allow the glue to dry.

Trim the smaller white pom pom so the bottom of it is narrower than the top, somewhat in a soft V-shape. This will give the lamb a narrower chin and jaw. Dab a small drop of hot glue on the eyes and nose and press them lightly into place on the trimmed pom pom. Dab some hot glue onto the bottom sides of each ear (the portion that's pinched together), and press the ears into place on the sides of the lamb's head so they stick out but slightly droop. Once dry, glue the lamb's head to the larger white pom pom and allow to dry.

Dab a small drop of hot glue on both eyes and and press them lightly into place on the smaller yellow pom pom. Do the same with the beak. Once dry, glue the chick's head to the larger yellow pom pom and allow to dry.

Tuck the pom pom animals into an Easter basket or use them to create a festive table for Easter brunch. You could incorporate them into the centerpiece or set one pom pom animal at each place setting for a special party favor. You might want to make extra, since these pom poms retain their charm long after the holiday!

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