Snowball Wreath: DIY Holiday

Greetings, sassy friends! Tonight, I'm sharing a project that I've had halfway done for a few weeks, but finally got what I needed to finish - and it's about time!

You'll think it's worth the wait, though, 'cuz look how cute....  

Here's what you'll need to make your own Snowball Wreath: 

- Large skien of white yarn

- cardboard cut in wreath shape (any ole' cardboard box will do...)

- plastic grocery bags

- masking tape

- iridescent ribbon

- irridescent snowflakes of varying sizes

- hot glue gun 

- scissors

 

Directions: 

Step 1: Create wreath Form

A.  Using exacto knife, cut a piece of cardboard in a circle of your size. (You could use a large mixing bowl to trace) Cut a smaller circle from the center of your circle to create a wreath form; a slightly smaller bowl might do if you don't have a handy-dandy circle cutting tool like the one I used - Martha Stewart makes it. (Save the smaller circle cut out for tomorrow's project!) 

B. Next, grab your plastic bags and masking tape to add some depth to your wreath form. Take a slightly scrunched up plastic grocery bag and secure it to your wreath form with masking tape, working your way around the wreath form. Wrap it up like a mummy. When you're done, it will look like this:                                                   

Now set your wreath form aside for quite some time, because you've got a snowstorm's worth of snowballs to make!

Step 2: Make Yarn Pom-Poms  "Snowballs"

A.  Take your yarn and wrap it around your fingers, (I alternated between 3 fingers and 4 fingers in order to have variable sizes...) covering the width of all fingers and doubling back for at least a second layer of yarn. The more yarn you use, the fluffier your poms. But don't wrap too tight! You've got to slip this off your fingers for the next step!

B. Snip the end of your working yarn to roughly align with the end of your fingers, and snip another smaller piece to tie off your Pom in the next steps. 

C. Carefully slide the bundle of yarn off your fingers and onto a solid surface. (Don't let it unravel!) 

D. Wrap your small length of yarn (for tying your bundle) around the entire center of the short side of your yarn bundle. (You'll know it's the short side if the loops from your endless winding are NOT tied off, but are unimpeded on either side of your tie-off.) Tie it really tightly in a knot in both directions. 

E. Take your scissors and snip open your loops. Fluff it up, and give a slight trim if needed. (Don't worry too much, though, because you won't notice asymmetrical poms once glued to the wreath form.)

F. Repeat incessantly. Once you think you have enough, make about 40 more. Seriously. It takes ALOT of these bad boys to fill a wreath. 

Step 3: Assemble the Wreath

A. Grab that hot glue gun and go to town gluing on your yarn poms. Arrange the poms to obscure the wreath form. 

B. Once all your poms are on, add your sparkly snowflakes and ribbon. I curled lengths of irridescent ribbon and added to the bottom only, using larger snowflakes in place of a bow -mostly because I ran out of poms & I ran out of white yarn, and I was pretty darn determined to finally finish this project. (It's a housewarming gift for my sister, who I'll see on Thanksgiving, so time was definitely up!!!)

C. Attach a bit of ribbon or twine with hot glue to the back of the wreath to make hanging easier.  And, voila! You're now the proud owner of a snowball wreath! 

Now don't forget to save that smaller cardboard circle from the center of your wreath form....we'll be using that tomorrow for another fun & easy craft that will cost you mere pennies, but look amazing. Stay tuned! And stay sassy!

- Anna

DIY Holidays: Yarn Wrapped Letters

Apologies about the lack of postings this week...been a bit under the weather. But, as all of us theatre kids know, the show must go on! 

I don't know about you, but we got a TON of junk mail from politicians over the last week or so. My husband and I vote opposite sides of the aisle, so we really get deluged. I hate the ads, but they usually use a decent stock of paper and I figured I'd save a bit out of my recycle bin for this little project. 

So grab some card stock junk mail, as well as these supplies:

 

- Yarn of your choice

- Glitter

- School Glue

- Scissors

- A pen or pencil

- optional stencils or letter templates

( ignore the thread;for a different project)

This is a really simple project...

Step 1: Determine what word or phrase you'd like to use. I chose "SNOW," primarily because I was working with white yarn and it seemed a logical choice. ( Note to God & Mother Nature: Please remember that I'm a Michigan girl who hates cold weather and snow - and who's seen more than her fair share already - so this is by no means an invitation to send the awful white stuff my way.). Either draw your letters on your card stock, as I did, or use stencils or templates to trace your lettering onto the card stock. 

Step 2: Use scissors to cut your letters. (If you'll be using these letters as ornaments, punch a hole and add your hanging string now.) 

Step 3: Begin wrapping your letter.  I did not try to precut the yarn; just let it unspool from the yarn as needed. Add a bit of glue to the end of the yarn and to the section of the card stock that you begin wrapping. Wrap, wrap wrap; round and round you go!  Depending on the letter, you may need to  work in separate sections. Just be sure to secure any cut yarn with a dab of glue.  You may also need to wrap two layers to adequately cover the attack ad and campaign slogans. Make the most of those campaign dollars!!!!

Step 4: Add some glue to the front of each letter and sprinkle liberally with a coordinating glitter. Allow to dry. 

You can arrange your letters in a tableaux, like so:

You could also add these to a canvas or card stock and create your own holiday art, or you can hang as ornaments. You could also create a garland or banner for your mantle. I can't wait to hear about your creative applications and see your projects!

Stay sassy, 

- Anna