I wanted to buy them but after further examination, I realized that I could just make them.
So I went off to Michael’s and bought all the supplies and then NEVER made them!
So this year, I knew I just had to do it and I’m so glad I did… they are so cute!
Here’s the simple how-to:
Supplies:
-Glitter in your choice of colors (I used red, green, and silver)
-Glitter glue or glue of some kind
-Styrofoam balls in two different sizes (I bought two packs of each)
-Green Fabric Covered Floral Wire Sticks (the ones in the store were white but I like that the green disappears into the tree)
-Green Floral tape
-Toothpicks
-Styrofoam of some kind (I just used a wreath form I had lying around)
To begin:
Push a toothpick into each ball.
Cover each ball completely in glue.
Try not to get a lot of glue on the toothpick where it enters the ball. It can then be hard to pull out the toothpick once the glue dries.
Cover the ball with glitter.
Then, push the other end of the toothpick into the styrofoam to hold it while it dries.
Some of the balls drying.
I made 8 large balls in each color and 10 small balls in each color.
Now, take your 3 floral wire sticks and floral tape. Wrap the sticks together at the bottom a couple inches to hold them together.
All together.
Shot of ends with floral tape.
Now here comes the easy part. Just take your glittery balls when they are dry, and just push them directly onto the wire. 3 balls per wire.
For bottom and middle ball, just push the wire all the way through. Top ball just go halfway.
Space them out a little on each wire.
Either while you are putting the balls on or after you place them and have the correct spacing, you will need to glue the balls to the wire to make sure they stay. To do this, just move the ball a little forward (to the end of the wire) out of position and add hot glue to the wire. Then push the ball back over the glue to dry.
And here is a grouping complete.
I tried to alternate the colors of the sticks in each grouping.
I created 6 total picks of 3 bunches each. I used a total of 54 balls.
I could probably use a couple more picks but I ran out of supplies so maybe next year I will make some more.
Now all you have to do is just shove them into your tree where there is a bare spot.
I love how they stick out and give another dimension to my tree!
Hope you like my picks! I sure do!
I’ll be linking up to some of these parties.
Michelle
December 16, 2010 at 5:45 amWhat a wonderful idea. I was just at the grocery store and saw some and wanted them….but on a tight budget…will have to make these next year!
Kara
December 16, 2010 at 6:04 amLove this!!
Michelle L.
December 16, 2010 at 6:23 amGreat tutorial, I was unable to guess how you made them. They are so pretty!
Gina Alfani
December 16, 2010 at 10:19 amHi Allison . . . Love your blog!! I'm a new follower and I hope you don't mind that I featured your blog in today's post and used a few of your photos. I'll remove them if you don't allow that.
Thanks for the inspiration . . . it is appreciated!
Have an awesome day . . . Gina
http://labelladiva.blogspot.com
Beth@Wiccan Make Some Too
December 16, 2010 at 2:15 pmBravo! They turned out great & look awesome in the tree.
Cheri
December 16, 2010 at 9:56 pmLove it! I had an idea to do this and how best to accomplish it- and you've done that. Thanks!
Life with the Lebedas
December 16, 2010 at 10:09 pmVery cute!! What a fun idea! Thanks for sharing & Linking up for Craftify It Thursday!
Christine
December 17, 2010 at 9:12 pmThese are great, and thanks for the tutorial!
Shelley
December 18, 2010 at 12:33 amLove them and thank you for the tutorial! Can't wait to try this 🙂
Creative Ambitions
December 18, 2010 at 3:29 amLove these! Great tut!
Hollie
December 18, 2010 at 3:40 amthis was so clever. it's better than paying 3-5 dollars a pick! bookmarking this for next year!
Lucy Designs
December 18, 2010 at 4:16 amlove, love love these!
Shauna {SK Studios}
December 18, 2010 at 4:25 amsaw you on tatertots and jello- man I wish I'd seen this before I bought some!!! hehe, but now I know how to make more 😉 thanks for the tutorial- love it!!
Suzanne@Meridian Road
December 18, 2010 at 3:33 pmI really like these! Thanks for the tutorial~this is going on my "next year" list!
Jenn Erickson
December 18, 2010 at 7:40 pmStoppin' by from Look at Me Saturday. What a fabulous craft! Excellent tutorial. I remember going to Cracker Barrel restaurants when I was a kid, and have many fond memories of them. Good to know that they're good for crafty inspiration as well! Warmest wishes, Jenn
Jana
December 19, 2010 at 12:06 amSo cute! 🙂
Come enter for a free paper bead necklace from Heart Strings for Orphans!
http://gigglesglitzandglam.blogspot.com/2010/12/gifts-that-give-back-heart-strings.html
Michele {The Scrap Shoppe}
December 19, 2010 at 9:35 pmToo fun! I just love that you decided to make these yourself. They look great! They remind me a lot of some of the Christmas picks I've seen at Target (that are way overpriced!). Thank you so much for sharing your tutorial and linking up to Homemade Christmas!
The Inspired Nest
December 20, 2010 at 2:06 amI love this idea! I have a ton of styrofoam balls in my craft boxes that I will have to transform! Thanks for the tutorial!
Lacy
Jenglamgirl
December 20, 2010 at 7:06 pmHi Allison- These are just darling. Great to dress up any area of the home. Infact I bought Orange glittery sticks for Halloween just like the ones you made. Great tutorial. Hope all is well with you and hubby. Hope your Christmas is fab. too. P.S. come like CraftOManiac on FB. hugs, jen
The Rusty Teapot
December 20, 2010 at 8:31 pmADORABLE! Absolutely ADORABLE! and great photos too!
DANA
December 20, 2010 at 9:21 pmI found you through Polly Want a Crafter and I love this! I wanted to invite you to enter my $50 American Express gift card giveaway that ends in a few days! I also have a link party going on this week! Keep up the good blogging! -Dana
http://danajeanward.blogspot.com/2010/12/50-american-express-giveaway-ends.html
M.O.T.B
December 21, 2010 at 7:29 pmsuper great idea! Wow!
Kari
December 21, 2010 at 7:43 pmI found your blog from a link party and I love it (resulting in me being your newest follower)! I grew up in Louisville and lived in Lexington for 8 years before I got married and moved to Chicago – I hope my beloved KY is treating you well!!! I have a blog also – karicorsi.blogspot.com – if you're interested.
Krafty Kat
December 28, 2010 at 2:37 amYou are so creative! I am in love with these so I featured them tonight! Thanks so much for sharing them!
FrouFrouBritches
December 31, 2010 at 5:17 amI feel like such a dork! I bought some similar ones at a big holiday show close to us. I love them and didn't buy enought because they were expensive! I'm totally making my own next year. Thanks for sharing!
Ruby
November 2, 2011 at 3:56 pmJust came across this and I love it! Re-posting!
Girlfriends Are Like Shoes
Lindsay k
December 4, 2012 at 6:08 pmI just wanted to let you know – I made this the other day and I'm sharing them on my blog today!! Thanks – they are adorable!!!
rainy
November 16, 2013 at 6:03 pmLove them! They are so cool and innovative. Just gorgeous!
tanvi shines
December 17, 2017 at 10:26 ambeautiful 🙂