These tissue paper pom poms are easily my favorite DIY party decoration: they’re super easy to make, they’re beautiful, and they cost less than $1, if you make them yourself.
You can make them in any color or pattern (even multiple colors), any size, and they’re versatile enough to be used for any occasion or holiday. I had a huge set of them (I think they were about 24″) in various shades of blue for my baby shower that we hung on the ceiling in the middle of my room, like a large upside-down flower bouquet.
Here’s how you can make them at home with only 8 individual sheets of tissue paper, some scissors, and a little bit of string.
For this holiday, they would make an excellent party decoration at any time. I envision some gold, silver, and black ones at my New Year’s Eve party! You could even make some smaller ones and put them on a Christmas tree, or do some white ones as an alternative snowy centerpiece.
You need tissue paper, scissors, and some type of string or ribbon!
1.) Layer 8 sheets of tissue paper on top of each other. If needed, trim them so that you have a 1:2 ratio. For example, if you have tissue paper that is 20″ x 20″, you would want to cut that in half, so that you end up with 10″ x 20″.
2.) Make accordion folds all the way across the long side of the tissue paper
3.) trim the ends to either a point or a curve (you choose whatever you feel like doing, I did curves)
4.) Tie a piece of string or wire around the middle
tip: if you want to make these flowers instead of hanging globes, you can use a bit of florist wire here for a stiff stem.
5.) Pull the tissue paper layers apart. Start with the outside layer, and pull it away from the rest and toward the string that you tied around the center. Do this continuously for all layers on both sides.
6.) Fluff out the globe; it may be a little bit oval, and that’s ok. Nobody will notice!
Decorate however you want to! Here are some great ideas from around the web:
Smaller scale tree decorations that you can purchase on Etsy.
You can even buy them on etsy! I like these colors a lot for a new year’s party.
Often credited for making these pom poms popular, Martha Stewart features them on her blog and sells them nationwide.
Amazon sells them too! Christmas themed this time.
String with some lights for a very bohemian party look! sewsweetstitches on blogspot
Smaller ones on branches could make a great winter decoration! various brennemans on flickr
use them to decorate wrapped gifts! allaboutyou.com
Check out yesterday’s peppermint bark!
…Or Tuesday’s DIY glass ornament ideas.