Christmas Kissing Ball Tutorial

 

 Christmas Kissing Balls are one of my favorite decorations to make during the holidays.  I really enjoy creating them & I have fun with all different custom orders.  I decided to bring you along as I created this custom ball for a sweet Etsy customer.  I posted a tutorial a couple years ago {HERE}, but decided an updated version was due…my picture quality has improved a bit, I hope;)

 

Supplies

• moss ball (you can wrap a foam ball yourself or purchase one pre-wrapped)
• pine sprigs, pine cones, acorns, berries, greens, etc.
• About 2 yards of ribbon(depending on how far you want it to hang)
• hot glue gun and glue (optional)

Steps

1. Get your moss ball.  I used a pre-wrapped 6 inch moss ball.
2. Take your chosen ribbon and wrap your ball, sort of like a present twisting at the bottom and wrapping back up to the top. *Leave one end longer to hang
3. Bring the ribbon back up to the top.  Make sure it is even with your twist at the bottom and then wrap it under itself.
4. Tie a knot making sure your longer side is the length you want it to hang.
5. Add in a couple more loops by wrapping wire around another piece of ribbon and stick it in leaving the other end to drape down.
6. Add in you pine, berries,  and other goodies keeping it somewhat symmetrical, but not too ‘matchy’.  You can simply stick them in the foam or I like to secure with a little hot glue as well.  Just keep adding in layers until you get your desired look and fullness.  Keep checking as you go to make sure it hangs balanced by holding it up from the top of your ribbon.  You can add weight around with your foliage accordingly.

Once you get the look you want, neatly trim your ribbons.  If you used wired ribbon you can manipulate it a little like I did with with this one.  Make a looped knot at the top for hanging… and there you go!

 

Hang from your ceiling, an entry chandelier (that’s where mine is), or wherever you see fit.  They make great  hostess gifts for parties too!

Here are a few more of some of the variations I’ve made…

The possibilities are endless.. Have fun! xoxo

 

Thankful

So much to be thankful for. 

I had an amazing Thanksgiving and I hope you all did too:)

In the spirit of all I am thankful for, I am offering my friends 20% off everything in my Etsy Shop this weekend. 

                           Today through Monday simply enter                             THANKFUL at checkout to receive your 20% discount!

Also FREE Shipping on all custom orders place this weekend.  Just mention you are a follower of my blog and saw this post:)

Today I am Hopping and Shopping!  If you want to see other Handmade Loveliness, blogs and shops go check it out…

Give Thanks

If you follow me on facebook you may have seen the link I shared yesterday.  I was going through my old posts from last year and came across this one and it was a great reminder for me to savor the rest of this amazing season.  Even though the stores {and my custom wreath orders} are telling me it’s Christmas, it still is in fact November and there is another important Holiday coming up that shouldn’t be over looked.

I managed to get all my Halloween decor down yesterday…woohoo!…and wanted to add a Thanksgiving vibe in.  I am working on being grateful for the seemingly simple blessings in my I take for granted and trying to write them down everyday.  I decided a little reminder by the garage door I go in and out of 100 times a day would be perfect.

I picked up this wood frame with glass at a garage sell about 4 years ago.  After I made my burlap mat for our family picture in May of 2010, I thought of putting burlap behind the glass and maybe adding a decal onto the glass…well here we were Nov 1, 2011 and my empty frame still sat.  So I took action and put a scrap of burlap behind the glass.  I knew I wanted these two words and remember seeing framed memo boards, calendars and menu boards from framed glass around blogland.  I also saw this cute memo board on Pinterest.

I tried a few times to  freehand it, but couldn’t get it right.  I then printed out the words on a sheet of paper in the font I wanted, taped it on the inside of the glass and traced it on the top of the glass with a sharpie.  ** I didn’t have a dry erase marker and I didn’t want to wait…I read that alcohol will remove sharpie from glass if I ever want to change it though, so we’ll see**

I really love how it turned out. :)

To give it more presence, I added a thrift store frame around it along with my grandma’s silver platters I used in my Fall display.  Some little gourd & pumpkin friends below and I have my thankful reminder/Thanksgiving vignette.

The weather is gorgeous here and I am loving all the fall colors that are around.  I hope you all are enjoying the rest of this season as well!

I am a day late but for the month of November I will be sharing one thing I am grateful for everyday on Twitter & Facebook again this year. 

Have you ever kept a gratitude journal?  It is amazing how it helps me be conscious of how blessed I am!  Or is there something else similar you do?

Happy November:)