How to Make Decorative Balls

Make your own expensive-looking home designer decorative balls for a fraction of the store price. By using items you already have and purchasing inexpensive craft supplies, you can create a bowl full of decorative balls to display on your coffee table or buffet. They are a great way to use those leftover seeds from a previous garden season or miscellaneous vintage beads from grandma's jewelry box. This craft is a wonderful project for a ladies' party, kid's club or weekend family project.

Things You'll Need

• Disposable plastic knife
• Craft glue
• Three Styrofoam balls, assorted sizes
• Package of silk rose petals
• Paint brush
• Acrylic paint to match seed color
• Seeds (such as sunflower, pumpkin or corn) or beads
• Coffee cup
• Spool of twine
• 2 brass upholstery tacks
• Scissors

Instructions

Rose Petal Ball

1. Using a disposable plastic knife, spread a thin layer of craft glue on a Styrofoam ball, the approximate size of a silk rose petal. Place a rose petal right side up on the glue. Spread more glue beside the first petal and all the way around the ball in a band. Place another petal in the glue beside the first petal, slightly overlapping. Repeat with additional petals all the way around the ball on the band of glue. End by overlapping the ends together.

2. Apply a band of glue on one side of the petals and repeat the process of adding petals. Continue with additional bands of glue and petals to cover the ball.

3. Apply a thin layer of glue to the open ends on the top and bottom sides of the ball. Place a petal over each end.

Seed or Vintage Bead Ball

1. Paint a Styrofoam ball using an acrylic paint color that closely matches the seeds or beads you will be using. Allow the paint to dry.

2. Spread a thick layer of craft glue (the size of a quarter) on the Styrofoam ball. Place your chosen seeds or beads in the glue, as close together as possible. Continue to add glue and seeds or beads until half the ball is covered. Set the uncovered side of the ball on the mouth of a coffee cup to dry.

3. Spread glue on the other half of the ball and continue to cover with seeds or beads.

Twine Ball

1. Apply a liberal dab of craft glue to the ball. This will be considered one end of the ball. Place the end of the twine in the glue. Slowly begin to spiral the twine around the beginning point at the end of the ball. When the spiral reaches 1/2 inch in diameter, insert a brass upholstery tack in the center of the ball end.

2. Add more glue in a line beside the last spiral made. Wind the twine around the spiral. Continue to add glue and spiral the twine until the whole ball is covered.

3. When only 1/2 inch of the ball is still exposed, cut the twine 2 inches from the spiral. Fill the bare area with craft glue and continue to work the 2-inch end in a spiral. Insert an upholstery tack over the end of the ball to finish.