Dec 13 2008
Snowball Ornaments
I made these ornaments quite a few years ago, but I bring them out each year and I love them as much today as when I made them. They are fun and easy to make, kids can help, and I think they are just so pretty, so I thought I’d share them today. I found the instructions maybe 8/10 years ago in a women’s magazine. I didn’t save them and have no clue anymore which magazine. Here’s a pic:
Aren’t they pretty! They can be hung on the tree or in a window. I love them in windows, but they usually end up on the tree. The first year I made these I gave many away as gifts. I only have 4 left. I see the glitter is notshowing up in the photo — sorry.
Here’s the list of supplies:
- Styrofoam balls (any size works, mine had a 3″ diameter)
- Drywall mud (that is what I used, I mixed up a batch, but I think you can buy some pre-mixed in the hardware section — is it called spackling????)
- White spray paint (optional)
- Glitter spray paint (again, hardware section with regular spraypaints)
- Wire (I used electric fence wire, but something like coat hanger wire would work)
- Silk flowers, leaves, etc.
- Glue Gun
- Wired Ribbon
Start by inserting your wire into the ball, all the way through. Once through, I made a hook (J) on the end of my wire, then you can pullit up back into the styrofoam and it’ll stay put without pulling back out. Twine and twirl your wire tops however you want.
Then coverthe ball completely with the drywall mud. Just get it on there with your hands or a spoon– this is what the kids would have fun doing!!! Then you can just smooth it out with your hands or the back of a spoon, and the texture will look just like a snowball.
Hang somewhere to dry — time varies depending on product you use. I think I let them hang overnight and finished on the next day.
When dry, if they are too grayish, then spraypaint them white.
When dry, spray paint with the glitter paint (I used gold glitter paint) NOTE: I made these long before I used a ton of glitters/gluesfor stamping. I am sure with your stamping supplies you couldcome up with other glittery alternatives to the spray paint!!!
When dry, decorate the top of the snowball with silk flowers, greenery, etc., adhereing with a glue gun.
Top off with a wide wired ribbon, hang and enjoy!!!
Alternatives:
- It would be so easy to add a Monogram or sentiment to the snowball!
- Make the snowballs only, no wire and no decorations, and put them all in a vintage pail to keep at your entry. They make such a pretty bucket of snowballs that will never melt!!!!
So I thought I would add a winter sentiment to my snowball — here it is:
It just took a few mintues to make this tag. I used the Let It Snow and the border from 10 Designer Centers and Borders by JustRite.
I colored the images with my Baroque Burgundy and Handsome Hunter SU Markers, cut out with my Petite Circle Nesties by Spellbinders, added a thin line of glue around the rim for my Dazzling Diamonds and added a few tiny little sparkly stickers!! I adhered it to the ball with a Dimensional. Fun!
I’d love to know if you make any!!! Thanks much for looking!!!
26 responses so far
These are so wonderful Sharon!! Thanks for sharing the instructions, this makes a wonderful gift!! Merry Christmas, Jennifer
Lovely! Very Christmas-y – nothing like a handmade ornament.
These are beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing the instructions!
Sharon these are fabulous!!!
So pretty! You are so creative! I don’t remember seeing these at your house ever– I have to make sure I see them this year!
Sharon, how cute is that!! What a great idea and it sounds very easy to do. I love it!
Joan
These are really neat Sharon! Very unique ornament. I made some Santa heads a couple of years ago with styrofoam balls and paper mache…..I bet that would work for the snowballs as well! How fun!!
Sharon, these snowball ornaments are so pretty! Wow, what wonderful gifts and I bet they are very light weight! I love doing crafts, this is something I would have enjoyed doing with the boys when they were little!
These are gorgeous and so beautiful!
Love these beautiful ornaments! You are one creative and inspiring stamper you are!
This is beautiful! I don’t have time to make any this year, but am saving this and I think I will be checking out Hobby Lobby for after Christmas sales and pick up some supplies to make them for next year. Ü
I have a question for you. To get a different color for the border and the inside of the JustRite stamps, do you always color them with markers? I have been trying to figure out how to do that.
Sharon, the snowballs are lovely and what great gifts. I copied all the instructions and will try to make them next year or after Christmas. The spackling worked great, and your personal touch always makes each project a winner.
Shirley L.
Roseville, CA
This looks like an easy project and yours came out so gorgeous! TFS
These are so gorgeous, Sharon! Dry wall mud? Amazing! Gosh, maybe my husband could help make these. He’s good with drywall mud! I love how you decorated them. Very elegant and charming!
How simple but how gorgeous! Really like the look of the ornaments and will save the directions. Thanks so much for sharing another great project.
Sharon – these are just darling! Thank you for sharing them along with the instructions!
Stunning! Thanks for sharing!
These are awesome! Thanks for the information on how to make them. I am going to make some of those babies
!
Barb
Gorgeous ornaments! I love that you can also use this idea for snowballs! Thank you for the instructions Sharon!
How fun do these look! My nieces & nephews would have fun making these, even if it was after Christmas! They don’t get much snow if South Carolina, these would be perfect! TFS!
LeAnne
You are just too talented for your own good, Sharon!! These ornaments are so special and gorgeous!! I love your tag that you’ve added!!
awesome!!! thanks!
These are so pretty! So thankful that you shared how to make them! Thanks so much!
These are so adorable!!! I will have to make some of these over the summer for the “kids’” ornaments next year!!! Thanks for sharing these…they are lovely!!
These are lovely and landed in my to do file.
Thank you for sharing these wonderful snow bals and for telling us how to make them! God willing, next year will be my first Christmas in my own home and I think I will make them to decorate my tree.