6/21/10

On The Pom Pom Bandwagon

To celebrate the first day of summer I decided not to tackle the cleaning and made these pom poms instead. Technically, the tissue paper was part of the clutter on my studio desk so we'll say I was cleaning. While doing this I was also avoiding the laundry and there is no way to justify this helping me cycle through that pile.

I bought this huge pack of multi-colored tissue paper at Hobby Lobby a few months ago thinking I'd use it for a spring garland and various art journal projects. I love the weight of this tissue paper. It's tough but still slightly see through. It also comes in the most beautiful shades that allow for my favorite color schemes.

In case you don't have one of the hundred pom pom tutorials out there bookmarked, here's how I made mine.

Gather five or seven or nine (must be an odd number to get this look) pieces of tissue paper in two monochromatic shades (pinks & yellows, greens & blues) that compliment each other and cut them three times as long as they are wide. You'll also need some twine or embroidery thread.

With your papers stacked, fold them into a fan like so.

Don't fold them the other way or you'll get a wonky pom pom.

Trim off the ends at an angle for a petal effect.

Tie it together in the middle with your knot and extra string on the edge of the color you want at the top. I wanted yellow at the top of mine.

Fan out and pinch around the knotted area in between the folds to help it stay fanned.

Very gently, start peeling your layers down. Do them one side at a time so it all looks even when you're done.

Your middle layer should stick out in the center but you can peel it to the top or bottom a little here and there to make it look a little more like a flower.

I ran out of tissue paper before I could fill my room with them so I just have three but they are doing a find job of making me happy when I pass them and are a great reminder that summer has only just begun.

xoxo,
Rachel

48 comments:

Heather @ Life Made Lovely said...

love how simple these are to make! happy summer to you :)

Roxanne said...

These are so very very pretty! I want to hang some over my bed! Happy Summer!

Jessica said...

I *love* tissue paper pom poms!

HaPPy SuMMer!

malia said...

darling! i'm going to try these in red white and blue for the 4th. loving your rva class too!

Tara McKay said...

oh this is so cute.
some sort of lighting in these would be adorable.
nice craft! :D

Natalie Elphinstone said...

oh these are fantastic.
The colours are just divine.
So beautiful

Jenn said...

beautiful! I bought a Martha Stewart kit for making paper flowers for spring that I have YET to dig out. Maybe I'll do that this week ;).

Anonymous said...

I tried these for Violet's birthday party and it was one epic fail! Yours are just lovely! <3 Your tutorial is much better than the one I was trying to follow. Eat that Martha Stewart! Thanks! I will have to try again.

Laura said...

Gorgeous! These would be perfect for a birthday party!

Anonymous said...

cute! happy solstice!

emilymarie1024 said...

Your pom-pom's are BEAUTY-FULL...but what I am most curious about is that gorgeous floral print you displayed your tissue paper on. It looks like a Liberty of London print. If it is, you must tell me where I can get some. MUST TELL ME. :)
*love it*

mrs boo radley said...

Happy Happy!
I have green and blue ones hanging above our dining room table, and somehow they get more and more appropriate with each season. I don't think I'll ever take them down!

RachelDenbow said...

EmilyMarie,

It IS Liberty of London. It's one of the scarves from the Target line that I found on clearance a few weeks ago. I might still cut it up to make something for Ruby but for now, it's being used as a prop!

emilymarie1024 said...

Bah!!! My local Target is completely sold out of anything & everything to do with Liberty of London!!! (Although, I managed to snag the same cute pink romper you have for Ruby! ((I noticed in previous pics)) Haha! What can I say! I have a fabric-obsession!)

P.S. Word on the street is Target is coming out with a new Liberty line in July! Yipee! :)

Unknown said...

I love the colors you chose! SO pretty!

angie may said...

omg these are so pretty! im totally gunna make some of these. thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

Oohhh Rachel - I too have lots of chores to avoid...I sense pom-poms in my future!

And I smiled when I saw the Liberty of London scarf - I just picked up the same one last week for cheap cheap cheap with the thought I could turn it into something else - yippee!!!

Itzel Díaz said...

i love this! thanks for post this :)

AshleyAnn said...

You know I've been on that wagon at least since last summer...its been a happy ride.

Rachel said...

love these! I have some pom poms in my studio and they always make me feel happy!

Holly said...

these are absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for the tutorial! I may just have to show these to my sis to see if she likes them for some last minute wedding decor! xo

Klara Kamilla said...

These are just sooo lovely - you pick out the greatest colours

Kristi said...

eeek. love.

alix said...

These are so pretty and fun. YAY!

(and the liberty scarf is awesome as a background. can't wait to see what you turn it into eventually!)

Erin said...

They are so pretty! I need to make some of my own!

margot said...

omg that's so weird. i made like 20 of these the other night for my kitchen.
i think we're n'sync!!!

Stars and Rockets said...

I love the look of pom poms. They're so pretty!

Jacinda said...

Love the colors!

Unknown said...

These are the prettiest pom poms I've ever seen! This has been on my "I've been meaning to do" list for a while. Yours are so easy that I no longer have any excuses.

Laura-Jane said...

sooooo pretty!!! where is the fabric from? and what is it called? I really want some!!! u have the BEST taste EVER! XXX

Susie Lubell said...

I wanted to do these to brighten up my daughter's february birthday but couldn't remember how! Now I'm prepared for next year!

Kami said...

akkkk! Oh my goodness so pretty! I have actually never made a pom pom before, believe it or not! So going to try this out! Thanks

lili est folle said...

very pretty!! & very simple to do! Thanks for the tutorial Miss! :)

Anonymous said...

I remember buying extra large ones at Silver Dollar City. nice memory, thanks!

Lacey said...

I love this!

Unknown said...

These are so cute! I made some for my daughter's birthday party:
http://wethreepilgrims.blogspot.com/2010/06/trevor-and-i-were-so-thrilled-to-have.html

xoxo

eden mariel said...

Note to self: get tissue paper asap! cuteness!

kelly* said...

my daughter saw this tutorial and wondered why you had my wallet!! (the clutch from target) It was a had explanation that you had fabric LIKE my wallet but not my actual wallet :-)

<3

prashant said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
craftyMSP said...

We made giant pompoms to hand in the trees for our mountain wedding. Love.

Stephanie said...

The second pom pom tutorial that I bookmarked but the first one that worked for me. ;) Thank you !

Anonymous said...

i think i'm going to make these for my wedding! seriously!

Unknown said...

These are so cute! I love your blog:o)

Bridgette@Picked Fresh Daily said...

thanks for sharing this lovely tutorial! i passed it on to my readers today on Picked Fresh Daily

xo,Bridgette

julia said...

Super nice idea, will do some of these for the baby's room :)

Jasmine said...

O.O
ooooh... so pretty!
*mesmerised by the shape and colour*

HALLELUJAHS BY HOLLY said...

Love this! I included this in a Valentine Round Up on my blog. Thanks for sharing!

Blessings,
Holly
http://hallelujahsbyholly.blogspot.com/2011/02/valentine-inspiration-love-around-house.html

Anonymous said...

this is just a stunning tutorial!