How to Make Tissue Pom Poms

Tissue paper pom-poms are a delicate decoration that can add elegance, color, and fun to any event. Hang them from the ceiling, use them to build centerpieces, or accent place settings with them. They can also be used for house decorations, fun toppers for wrapped gifts, or creative craft ideas. Although tissue paper pom-poms are not terribly durable, they are cheap and fairly easy to make with just a few craft supplies.

Things You'll Need

• 15 to 20 sheets of tissue paper per pom-pom
• 6 inches of pipe cleaner (or floral wire) per pom-pom
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Determine the desired size of the finished pom-pom. Choose the size of tissue paper based on the size of the finished product. The pom-pom will be a bit smaller than the width of the sheet of tissue paper. Use 17-inch by 30-inch sheets for of tissue paper for medium-sized pom-poms and 20-inch by 30-inch sheets for larger ones.

2. Cut the tissue paper down to size if it is too big for your desired look.

3. Lay eight to 10 sheets of tissue paper in a stack on a flat surface.

4. Starting from the bottom, fold the stack of tissue paper lengthwise, back and forth, accordian-style.

5. Cut each end of the folded stack into either a rounded edge or a point.

6. Tightly wrap 6 inches of pipe cleaner or floral wire around the center of the folded paper. This will create two distinct fan shapes on either side of the pipe cleaner.

7. Leave a tail on the pipe cleaner/floral wire if you ultimately want to attach your pom-pom to something or have the appearance of a "stem." If you don't want the tail to show, wrap the pipe cleaner completely around the paper, or cut the tail off.

8. Gently separate each layer of tissue on either side of the pipe cleaner/floral wire, starting from the top of each sheet. Pull each layer of tissue toward the center where the stack is bound. This should form a basic pom-pom shape.

9. Fine-tune the pom-pom by fluffing or compressing the tissue paper until you achieve the desired shape and fullness.

References

• Martha Stewart Weddings
• Nested