How to Make a Lavender Ball

Lavender balls are an inexpensive way to decorate with lavender. Placing one in a linen or clothes closet will keep it sweet smelling for months, discourage moths and bring the scent of spring to a musty coat rack or shoe caddy. Lavender is a well-loved fragrance and has the distinction of being one of the most scientifically complex of the flower fragrances. It has advantages in aromatherapy as a muscle relaxer and mood enhancer. It's even an effective insect repellent. These are just a few of the reasons it's a good idea to keep some lavender around. Making lavender part of your life is easier than you think. Lavender essential oil, lavender water and dried lavender flowers can all be used bring the fragrance of lavender into your home, and they can also be used to make decorative elements like lavender wands and lavender balls that add a touch of whimsy and elegance to a closet or cabinet.

Things You'll Need

• Small Styrofoam ball
• Narrow ribbon or raffia
• Dried lavender flowers
• Essential oil of lavender or lavender water
• White glue
• Floral wire
• Wire cutters
• Small foam brush
• Newspaper or a plastic garbage bag
• Paper plate

Instructions

Make Lavender Ball

1. Lay a piece of newspaper or a plastic garbage bag over your work surface to keep it clean. Assemble the materials for the project and keep them nearby.

2. Pour a thick layer of lavender dried flowers onto a paper plate.

3. Cut a 3-inch length of floral wire, bend it in half and insert into the Styrofoam ball so that only a half inch loop is visible.

4. Brush 1/4 of the ball with glue using a small foam brush. If necessary, hold the ball by the loop you've just made.

5. Role the glued section of the ball in the dried lavender slowly. You are trying to achieve a thick coating of lavender flowers through which no potion of the Styrofoam is visible.

6. Allow the area to dry completely.

7. Repeat this process until the ball is completely covered with lavender flowers.

8. Fill in empty spots by gluing and sprinkling dried flowers in place.

9. Reapply flowers with glue as needed.

Apply Ribbon to the Lavender Ball

1. Cut two lengths of ribbon at least 15 inches long.

2. Wrap one length of ribbon around the ball and tie it in a knot next to the wire loop. Be careful to dislodge as few of the lavender flowers as possible.

3. Wrap the second length of ribbon around the opposite side of the ball and tie it in a similar knot. You should have ribbon creating four equal sections of the ball.

4. Cut a 3-inch piece of ribbon, slip it through the wire loop and tie it off. Rotate it so that the knotted end is nestled at the base of the loop. Trim the ends.

5. Tie bows with the four free ribbon tails.

6. Hang the ball by the short ribbon loop.

Tips & Warnings

• You can dress up the top of the ball by adding assorted dried flowers, like baby's breath and rose buds, after the lavender has been applied and the ribbons are in place.

• Replenish the fragrance of your lavender ball by brushing the flowers occasionally with essential oil of lavender or spraying the ball lightly with lavender water.

• Instead of using ribbon, you can use lengths of raffia to decorate a lavender ball.

• Work slowly. The best way to get good coverage of lavender flowers over the entire area of the ball is to work slowly.

• Be sure to let the glue dry completely between applications.