{Christmas} DIY Decorative Balls & Link Party

Hello, hello friends! Thank you so much for all the sweet comments on yesterday’s Christmas Home Tour! Be sure to check back on the post each day because I’ll be linking new bloggers every day this week. You won’t want to miss all the good house-snooping!

But today I’m super excited to be partnering with the lovely Michaela of Michaela Noelle Designs for our Christmas Cheer in the Blogosphere party! Last week we shared our Mantels with Carmel and Michelle, and today is your chance to link up all your Holiday Craft projects right here.

Hi Sugarplum | Blogger Christmas Link Party

I’ll start by showing you how I made this decorative ball for only a few dollars!

Hi Sugarplum | DIY Decorative Ball

Kristin made a similar one last year, but she used nailheads. I’m too cheap to buy 600 nailheads.

{SUPPLIES}
Styrofoam Ball (use craft store coupons!)
Gold Thumbtacks from the Dollar Store

Hi Sugarplum | DIY Decorative Ball

Some of you will be disappointed, but I’m going to try and make it through this post without cracking ball jokes (unlike this post). I mean, this is the season of Baby Jesus, after all. You can make this with any size ball, if size matters to you. Just push the pins in one row at a time, overlapping them a bit so they look like fish scales.

Hi Sugarplum | DIY Decorative Ball
We’re not looking at my dry, scaly hands, but the nice rows of scaly pins.

After a few minutes, you’ll wish you’d chosen a smaller ball. That’s when you recruit helpers and really play up how fun this ball project is for her.

Hi Sugarplum | DIY Decorative Ball

If you’re a good manipulator actress, she’ll buy it and do the rest of the ball for you. And even be happy about it!

Hi Sugarplum | DIY Decorative Ball

We had a few spots where the tacks didn’t want to stay, so I added a dab of hot glue to give them something to grab. And if you overlap the tacks enough, the white ball won’t show through, so no need to paint it first.


Hi Sugarplum | DIY Decorative Ball
Hi Sugarplum | DIY Decorative Ball

I was so thrilled with how cool it was, I made a smaller version. A baby ball, if you will. Maybe I’ll make another one and I’ll have a pair of balls. For now, I call this one Lance Armstrong.

Hi Sugarplum | DIY Decorative Ball

Hi Sugarplum | DIY Decorative Ball

These aren’t necessarily holiday related, so expect to see them in more vignettes throughout the year.

Hi Sugarplum | DIY Decorative Ball

Now’s your chance to show off all your holiday crafting! Just click the ‘Read More’ to link up! Grab this cute little button for your post if you’d like.

Hi Sugarplum | Blogger Christmas Link Party

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Leave a Comment

34 Comments

  1. Oh, I love them. Super glam but easy to tackle. My kind of project!

    Posted 12.10.13 Reply
  2. Oh my gosh, I need those! LOVE them, Cassie ~ wonder if I could convince a 15 year old boy to think it was fun to make? 🙂 Thanks for the awesome party, ladies!

    Posted 12.10.13 Reply
  3. Katie wrote:

    I love these Cassie! Especially that you can use them throughout the year. I may have to make a few of these myself!

    Posted 12.10.13 Reply
  4. what a fun project! i love the end result. xo jillian – cornflake dreams

    Posted 12.10.13 Reply
  5. Carroll wrote:

    That project is so pretty and doable!! I might have to add that to my project list! Thanks for the great idea. 🙂

    Posted 12.10.13 Reply
  6. Love this! I definitely want to try!!

    Posted 12.10.13 Reply
  7. So proud of you for your ball joke restraint. In my head, I made jokes for you (especially w/ the pic of you gripping the ball).

    I need to get on the ball (heh) w/ my holiday crafty! Love this especially since you can show off your cool shiny balls ALL YEAR LONG. Lance would be proud.

    xoxo

    Posted 12.10.13 Reply
  8. Cassie wrote:

    LOVE THIS! Such a pretty DIY! definitley going to give this a try. 🙂
    Also love your name… 😉 Hope you have a Merry Christmas!
    -Cassie at Cloud9

    Posted 12.10.13 Reply
  9. Thanks so much for hosting! Love your thumbtack objet d'art. I'm like a crow – anything shiny captures my attention! 🙂

    Posted 12.10.13 Reply
  10. These are super cute, but I'm dying over "For now, I call this one Lance Armstrong." 🙂

    Posted 12.10.13 Reply
  11. Lance Armstrong!! LOL! I needed that laugh on day 5 of icemagddon. I might get out today, but school is still canceled around here. Blah.

    Posted 12.10.13 Reply
  12. Michaela wrote:

    Love it, girl!

    Posted 12.10.13 Reply
  13. Love your "tacky" ball! 🙂

    Posted 12.10.13 Reply
  14. Such a pretty project!! And it can be used throughout the season too!

    Posted 12.10.13 Reply
  15. Love these! will definitely try!

    http://www.bajantexan.blogspot.com

    Posted 12.10.13 Reply
  16. I definitely don't need to be drinking coffee when I read your blog. I almost spit it all over my computer screen at that Lance Armstrong comment. Those are the prettiest gold balls I have ever seen (not that I've seen a lot). 😉

    Posted 12.10.13 Reply
  17. Beautiful! Love that these can be a new year-round accessory. Freckles Chick had me singing "Shiny Balls" to the tune of Silver Bells all day yesterday and I now pass that little gift on to you. You're welcome.

    Posted 12.10.13 Reply
  18. Mable Burt wrote:

    So smart. I love it. I will have to try it soon. Thanx for sharing..

    Posted 12.10.13 Reply
  19. Lance Armstrong……..bahahahaha – I literally almost spit my coffee out!

    Posted 12.10.13 Reply
  20. Jessica W wrote:

    I just love your shiny balls 🙂 OK, ball. But I know you will be making more of those because nobody can resist those gold thumbtacks!

    Posted 12.10.13 Reply
  21. Our Way wrote:

    Golly those gold balls are beautiful. They could even be silver. So that I'm clear, was Lance the big one or the little one. Somehow I would imagine a marble size 🙂 Great post!! Marisa

    Posted 12.10.13 Reply
  22. Genius idea – and so simple! I love the Lance Armstrong comment – you are hilarious! 🙂

    Posted 12.10.13 Reply
  23. This brings me back to design school….one of the first textile projects we had to complete was a decorative foam ball. We had to get creative and make sure the lines, texture, color, overall feeling were spot on. You nailed it. I give you an A+ my friend.

    Posted 12.10.13 Reply
  24. Beautiful and fun project! Thank you for sharing festive crafts with us!

    xo

    http://www.PlumPrettySugar.blogspot.com

    Posted 12.10.13 Reply
  25. anu wrote:

    Love how simple and beautiful they are.

    Posted 12.11.13 Reply
  26. Thanks so much for hosting by the way! How pretty! Such a fun craft! These would be perfect for any party or tablescape! I just pinned for later 🙂 Happy holidays!

    Posted 12.11.13 Reply
  27. Thanks so much for the party!!

    Hugs,
    Debbie

    Posted 12.11.13 Reply
  28. This is such a cute diy project! The Christmas balls turned out beautiful!
    Domestic cleaners

    Posted 12.11.13 Reply
  29. Such a neat idea!! Way to go crafty Cassie 🙂 xo

    Posted 12.11.13 Reply
  30. I'm sorry….styrofoam and thumb tacks……whoa…who knew. Since it doesn't involve a glue gun I'm in.

    Posted 12.12.13 Reply
  31. I am so into this! Anytime I can add pops of gold to a room for less than $5 I will jump on it. Love the texture

    Posted 12.12.13 Reply
  32. Nicola O. wrote:

    Lance Armstrong! you crack me up. Happy holidays!

    Posted 12.14.13 Reply
  33. Haha, I knew you couldn't last too long in a post about holiday balls without making a few good jokes. 🙂

    Erin @ The Great Indoors

    Posted 12.16.13 Reply
  34. really nice and simple idea 🙂 greets from Poland 🙂

    Posted 12.17.13 Reply