Kissing Ball
Whether you are decorating a wedding or a bridal shower, there is always room for a Kissing Ball! They make gorgeous floral decorations at showers and weddings. The kissing ball is also known as a Pomander.
The name “Pomander” is from the French pomme d’ambre – meaning a ball of perfume. They were once carried to help protect against infections and diseases, or hung in doorways to bring good will. Today, they’re used as beautiful decorations. Not only will this be an amazing decoration for your wedding affair, but it can then be used as a home decor item for the new couple. What a wonderful way for the new couple to keep the memories of their special day with them everyday!
The supplies that you will need include:
- digital papers
- card stock or premium print paper
- printer
- cutting machine and flower cutting files (or flower punches)
- 4″ Styrofoam ball
- corsage pins or brads
- ribbon
Start by making a loop from ribbon and attaching that to the Styrofoam ball using a pin or brad. This will be used to hang the ball. Tie 3 – 4 bows using the ribbon and attach them to the ball surrounding the loop. This will be the top of the ball.
Let’s prepare the papers. I wanted my flowers to have different colors on the front and back. I created this look by printing different patterned papers on each side of double sided Premium Presentation Paper Matte by Epson. I chose papers from the All About Me collaborative kit by the DigiChick Design Team
Now create your flowers. I used three different flowers from the Paper Flower templates set 1 by The Cutting Files. I used a Silhouette electronic cutter to cut my flowers. I opened the flower files in the software, re-sized them, replicated them to fill the page with flowers and then cut them. The templates come with the files for all the popular electronic cutters. They also include PDF’s so you can hand cut flowers. Or you could use flower punches to create your flowers.
For the center of my flowers, I cut the flower 006 from the set in 2 different paper patterns and then used the wet paper scrunch technique with them.
To do this, spritz the cut out flowers with water. Then scrunch them into little balls. Just using your finger tips.
The image above is what they will look like all scrunched up.
While the papers are still damp, carefully unfold the flowers, but don’t flatten them. Doesn’t this give them some awesome dimension and texture?
I used flower 005 as the base of my flowers and flower 002 on top of that and finished them with the two 006 flowers for the center. Shape your flowers as you construct them. I folded up the petals of the 005, and curled under the petals on the 002 flowers. Layer your flowers.
Pierce a corsage pin or brad through the center of the layers and stick it into the Styrofoam ball to secure your flower. Continue to do this until the ball is filled with flowers. Cut or punch some additional small flowers from a coordinating paper and place them about the ball using corsage pins or brads to cover up any open areas. I used a white paper that I glittered for these filler flowers on my ball. Hard to tell in the photograph, but it added a nice touch of bling! Decorate with ribbon streamers or greenery as desired.
Here is a bit of a closer pic so you can see some details.
Make a few kissing balls to decorate a bridal shower, or to be hung as aisle decor for the big day. A kissing ball can also be carried by the flower girl in the wedding procession. The flower girl can just slip the ribbon loop over her wrist. For a young girl, this may be easier than carrying a bouquet.
Wouldn’t that be nice to create a kissing ball in the wedding colors to decorate a bridal shower and then have it used during the wedding ceremony before finally having it decorate the couples new home?
I hope you enjoy creating a kissing ball for a special couple!
Other Articles by scrappycath:
- Card Caravan Challenge: Cheer - February 17th, 2013
- Card Caravan #33: Holiday Card - December 9th, 2012
- Card Caravan #28: 7 Things - September 30th, 2012
- Card Caravan 23: Ice Cream - July 22nd, 2012
- Card Caravan #19: Flowers - May 13th, 2012
