Potpourri Floral Balls
Fill your home with the smell of fragrant dried leaves and the beauty of ornamental decorations. When wrapped in aromatic floral and fancy cord or ribbon, these mere Styrofoam balls transform into ancient treasures. You can combine different sizes in a glass bowl for a great looking, and great smelling, centerpiece. Or, use them in clusters throughout your home to give all your rooms their own personal touch, and scent.
Supplies:
- a.. 3" and 4" Styrofoam balls
- b.. Dried Lavender
- c.. Dried Leaves-Lemon tree, Eucalyptus, Salal leaves, whatever harmonizes with your decorative theme and will conform to a curved ball easily.
- d.. Cord, ribbon or wire (3-4 yards per ball)
- e.. Aleene'sTM Tacky Glue
- f.. Scissors
- g.. Straight pins
- h.. Wax paper
Directions For Lavender Ball:
1. Pull lavender off stems and gather into mound on a sheet of waxed paper.
2. Coat an area of the Styrofoam ball with glue and roll in the mound of lavender. Roll that area on the waxed paper to anchor lavender, or pat with your hand to securely embed in the glue.
3. Set aside and allow glue to partially dry before coating the next area of the ball with glue and then repeating the process.
4. When ball is completely covered and glue is dry, anchor end of cord into ball with straight pin. Wrap several times, anchoring inconspicuously, as necessary, until you are pleased with pattern. Cut and anchor end of cord with another straight pin.
Directions For Leaf-Covered Ball:
1. Trim leaves from stem and separate sizes if they are not uniform. Prepare as many as you think are necessary to cover the entire ball before beginning.
2. Using smallest leaves, create an attractive circle or spiral at top of ball; attach with glue.
3. Continuing with smallest leaves, enlarge the circle or spiral,
overlapping the first set of leaves. (Allow the glue to dry slightly before adding successive circles of leaves.)
4. After each row of leaves, roll the ball gently on waxed paper to force leaves to conform to curves of ball.
5. When ball is completely covered and glue is dry, wrap in cord or wire. Cord may be anchored with straight pins; wire may be poked deeply into ball to anchor.