No Time To Stamp?

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:

1. It would be so easy to add a Monogram or sentiment to the snowball!
2. 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!!!