My fireplace mantel sat for many years empty or even worse with a few random mismatched pieces. I could never quite figure out what worked in the space. It was the albatross hanging over our living room. When we ramped up our COVID-19 project to do list, tackling the mantle was top of that list.
I found some great outdoor themed prints from The Landmark Project for the wall above the mantle and then started judiciously editing the pieces that I had on hand until I had a final display that I loved. But, as with all my projects, it still needed one more thing.
I had a glass vase that was the perfect shape and size as an accent piece for the mantel but it rarely had flowers in it so was a little plain. I added some gold tone twine balls that filled out the vase nicely. It made all the difference.
The idea that something so simple could have such a strong impact stayed with me.
I have a cloth bowl in my office made by New England artisan ColeMama Creations. I love it but it sits empty much of the time similar to my glass vase. It was time for another craft.
I was going to make my own decorative balls using yarn.
You can find instructions for this craft online. It seems incredibly simple but somehow I struggled. It was so messy. There was glue everywhere.
I also bought the wrong balloons. They were not round so of the fifteen that I blew up only about half could be considered round enough for the look I wanted. For some strange reason, many of them also deflated almost as soon as I blew them up.
Including, sadly, one balloon after I had covered it in yarn. That one turned out interesting.
I also forgot to dilute the glue with water. I think that step would have been helpful as it might have made it easier to work with the glue covered yarn. Even with the mishaps, it really is a simple craft and ultimately it worked.
It didn’t take long to cover the balls in the glue covered yarn but achieving that haphazard yet cohesive look required more focus than I anticipated. When I added the yarn mindlessly, I kept doubling up in the same area so I had to stay focused.
Slowly and steadily I got seven balloons covered. I knew they had to sit overnight to fully harden. I was hoping to have six usable yarn balls.
The next day, I deflated the balloon using a pin. It was easy to remove them. I just pushed in the balloon in a few of the open areas until the deflated balloon was loose and could be pulled out of the yarn ball.
While not perfect, I had enough that were salvageable to put in my cloth bowl. They make a nice addition. If I get ambitious I might try to make more in different sizes too. It think it would be a nice balance.
I have to brace for the onslaught of glue first. Did I mention this was a messy craft?
Have you ever made anything with yarn and glue?
I’m participating in a Blogging A-Z Challenge for April 2021. I will be posting new content every day this month except most Sundays. Each post is associated with a letter of the alphabet, starting with A and ending with Z. My theme for the challenge is Craft Projects for my Home. To read more of my A to Z posts from this year, click HERE.
Weekends in Maine 
I haven’t made yarn balls before but this looks like a fun craft to make with the granddaughters this summer… outside! I crafted with my Florida granddaughters recently and we made cardboard horses she painted. It’s a free pattern by Ann Wood, she offers many free patterns plus paid ones. It’s fun to make crafts at any age. Good job!
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Crafting is fun to do at all ages. I agree.
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Love this!
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We’ll have to make some together for your house too!
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What a clever idea. I have truly loved reading about all of your craft ideas during #aprilatoz!!
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Thank you so much. It’s been fun to share all my craft endeavors during the challenge.
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Personally, I’d like to hear “yarn balls” in a native Maine accent.
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It would be distinctive!
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This will probably be my first project, as I already have all the “ingredients” here at home. And to think, they sell these for a fortune in the stores!
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It’s such a great project – so easy! I’ll definitely be making more of these in the future.
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How completely fun and messy but I love the idea. My hubby would call it yet another dust collector but I like it…. Cheers.
Crackerberries
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Tell him it won’t collect too much dust with all the holes 😉
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So that’s how these are made! Very clever.
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It’s so fun to see them hold their shape when you pop the balloons.
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I love this and have some yarn that I like but didn’t know what to do with. I may have to try this.
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This would be a great way to use up yarn that you don’t have a plan for yet.
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This looks like a craft I might be able to pull off! I was given a large shallow bowl that sits as a decoration on a hutch. I keep wondering what to put in it, and I think balls like these might look great in there.
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It’s such a great way to add a little extra touch to an empty bowl.
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While I don’t think there’s any way to get around the messy part, your ultimate success seems worth it. I haven’t made string balls, but I’ve done several things that required working from a balloon as a base. I confess I love the pricking part when done. 🙂
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It is fun to remove the balloon at the end. I love how these keep their shape.
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I now want to do this one 😉
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It’s so each – I hope you give it a try!
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The yarn balls look cute and easy. Once upon a time I did a fair bit of craft but it’s fallen by the wayside.
I admire how many craft activities you’ve shared this month, and what a month it’s been.
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It’s been a busy one that’s for sure!
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These are great! The things I’ve made with small balloons are chocolate bowls!
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I’ve never tried chocolate bowls but have seem it done. It’s a cool technique.
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Have I ever made anything with yarn and glue? I don’t think so, but your yarn balls look mighty cool! You may even make them Christmas-themed and use them as ornaments ♥
https://thethreegerbers.blogspot.com/2021/04/a-z-2021-days-are-long-but-years-are.html
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They would make excellent Christmas-themed ornaments.
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Love. Love. Love this one.
I can use these in my garden with fairy lights. I think this may be the craft I’ll start my summer with.
Cheers Karen.
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They would look so festive with fairy lights!
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These are great, well done!
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Thank you. I love how they came out – even the ovals!
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