I have such a cute project for you today friends! These adorable 3D book page butterflies were inspired by a post from A Magical Mess on Pinterest. I shared her picture with you and everyone LOVED them! So I had to do a video tutorial to show you how I made my take on her butterflies.

If you’re a book lover looking for a creative way to repurpose old falling apart books, or simply seeking a whimsical craft project with a vintage feel, then making 3D book page butterflies is the perfect project!

These delicate and charming 3D book page butterflies add a touch of enchantment to any space. Whether displayed in a shadow box, incorporated into a wall art arrangement, or used as unique gift toppers, they make a beautiful addition. In the video below, I show you how to bring these delightful book page butterflies to life!

How to Make 3D Book Page Butterflies

I love finding crafting inspiration from allll over the place. There are so many talented people out there coming up with amazing ideas every day. So, when I see something that I know you will love too, I just have to share it.

I want to thank A Magical Mess for showing us her beautiful butterflies and giving me the inspiration to make my own. I hope you love them as much as I do!

Design Variations

There are so many ways that you can make these book page butterflies your own. I didn’t see how A Magical Mess made her butterflies. I just studied her picture and came up with my own process. You can do the same thing, take my process and do your own twist on it!

You may want to use a thicker paper than I did to help your winged friends stand up a little better. Maybe attach your book pages to cardstock to add strength. Or use different kinds of decorative paper all together. Music pages, pretty scrap booking paper…anything you like!

You could also add little bits of vintage bling to your butterflies. Tiny buttons or jewels would be cute. Or add a skeleton key down the back of the butterfly. Or perch your friend on the key. These are just a few of the many things you could add to your butterflies!

How to Display your 3D Book Page Butterflies

When I posted about these beautiful butterflies on my page, people were saying how much they loved them! But also asking what the heck to do with them. So I sat down and came up with a bunch of ideas for you to try.

• You can attach them to a wire or skewer in groups of three to make a plant decoration. Alternate your butterflies on either side of the wire. Then stick it down into a plant (real or artificial) to give it some added fun.
• Use hot glue to attach a magnet to the back of your butterfly and stick them on the fridge.
• Attach them to the front of a scrapbook or photo album.
• Use hot glue to attach them to a clip and add them into any spot in your home.
• Display them in a small dough bowl.
• Set them on top of any vintage treasure or book stack.
• Put a grouping of them on a bulletin board or your wall.
• Plus so many other ideas that you have that I haven’t thought of yet!

How to Make 3D Book Page Butterflies Supply List

• Old book pages
• Butterfly stamp (about 2 inches tall by 3 inches wide)
• Black ink pad
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun
• Beige paper wire (or any kind of wire that you have on hand)

How to Make 3D Book Page Butterflies Instructions

• Start by laying out the book pages you’ve selected in a stack.
• Apply ink to your butterfly stamp either by pressing it onto the stamp pad. Or by rolling the ink onto the stamp with a brayer. Then stamp your top book page. Let your ink dry before moving on to the next step.
• Then cut out your butterfly, cutting all the pages in your stack. That way your are cutting all the butterflies you need at one time. You can cut off the antennae because we are going to make our own.
• Next lay your first butterfly down on your table. Apply a line of glue up its center. Then place the next butterfly down on top of that, pressing it into the glue. Now bend the wings of the second butterfly up a bit.
• Now cut two antennae from your paper wire and wrap them around something small to get a curly cue. Then use the hot glue to attach them in place.
• Next take your stamped butterfly and attach it like you did the second one. Bend your wings up a little and you’re done!

Once all the butterflies are assembled and any added decorations are secured, allow them to dry completely. Then, let your creativity take flight! Display them in various ways – arrange them in a shadow box, pin them onto a bulletin board, or attach them to string for a whimsical garland.

But Wait…There’s More!

In the video above, I show you how to make these adorable creatures. I also show you how to make 2 bonus projects! Our friend Cindy perched her handmade butterflies on a beautiful paper flower ball. So I explain two different ways that you can make your own paper flower balls if you want to. They sure are cute!

I also show you how to make handmade spools of vintage lace. This was another project I saw and shared with you. And I wanted to explain how you can make your own. It’s a simple craft project that packs a lot of pretty punch!

So, come for the butterflies and stay for the bonus crafts!

The Wrap Up

Creating these 3D book page butterflies is a great way to bring new life to forgotten books. And a touch of enchantment to your home decor or craft projects. So, dust off those old books and let your imagination soar as you transform their pages into beautiful butterflies!

I would love to see how you use these 3D Book Page Butterflies in your own home. So if you post any pictures of them on social media, tag me so I can check them out! As always, I hope you love this project as much as I do. Happy crafting, friends!

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number: 740-273-6693

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram! You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel so you never miss a video tutorial!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami’s Making. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

I am so excited to share today’s project with you, friends! It is one that my friend Julie and I did together one night. With some trial and error, a lot of laughter, and a bit of wine…we figured out how to make our own vintage dolls. And I can’t wait to show you how we did it!

There isn’t much that I love more than crafting with friends. That’s what I love so much about what I do. I get to make things that I love while hanging out with all of you. Chatting with you girls and crafting is so much fun and I always look forward to it.

I also love crafting together in person. When Julie and I get together, we get to bounce ideas off of each other and enjoy the company. And our projects always end up that much better for it. Since this project happened while we were just hanging out, I don’t have a video for you.

But I did take lots of pictures and I will explain what we did for each step. It was all pretty simple, so no worries. I hope you love making your own vintage doll as much as we did!

Make your Own Vintage Dolls

As with most projects that I share with you, your vintage dolls will turn out much differently than ours. The uniqueness that comes from crafting with vintage items is one of the things that I love most about it. In the instructions below, I tell you what Julie and I used to dress our dolls.

Then you will be able to adapt yours based on what fabrics and vintage items that you have on hand. There is no right or wrong way to make these dolls. So just go with your gut and what you love!

Where to Find Vintage Doll Heads for this Project

As I am writing this it is spring in Ohio. Which means the outdoor vintage markets and garage sales will be starting up soon. I can’t wait to get back to searching for vintage treasures in the warm sun! The markets and antique shops are where I have the best luck finding vintage noggins like these.

But you can also get lucky on Etsy sometimes. Just keep your eyes peeled while you are antiquing and you’ll be sure to find some!

Make your Own Vintage Dolls Supply List

• Vintage doll head/shoulders
• Glass bottle
• Dowel
• Spray adhesive
• Glue gun
• Vintage fabrics
• Tulle to match your fabric
• Needle and thread
• Vintage bling
• Vintage laces

Make your Own Vintage Dolls Instructions

The first thing we did was glue the doll heads into the bottles. We used dowel rods that I had laying around. But you can snag some at the craft or hardware stores if you don’t have any.

Julie found some vintage dress sleeves that had beadwork around the wrists. We cut them up and used spray adhesive to attach some fabric to the bottles.

We added some black tulle for it’s texture. We gathered it together and sewed the top to make it into a skirt.

Next we sewed a bustle for the back. More sewing for the bodice, then tightened it up with even more sewing. You all should know that I absolutely hate sewing, but there was no way around it, Lol. I toughed it out and I am so happy that I did!

I had found some old doll clothes and I pulled out this piece. I am not sure if it was a skirt or a slip but it is pretty and it worked! I put it underneath the tulle because I also found the perfect compliment to it. The beautiful piece of gathered lace kind of has a jumbo look to it. I thought it was the perfect bustle to add to the train of the black sleeve, turned skirt.

We then bejeweled them like crazy. I just kept adding more and more and so did Julie. When we were finished, Julie said they need something for their hair. So she used felt, old lace, and another piece of bling to make a hat. I just gathered some tulle and used a small rhinestone for mine. We love how they turned out and just had to share them with you.

The Wrap Up

And that’s how to make your own vintage dolls! We had so much fun making these, even with all the sewing! It was all the joy of playing dolls as girls. Plus the creativity that we love about crafting. Add in those beautiful vintage bits, and we were in Heaven!

I would love to see how your DIY vintage dolls turn out. So if you post any pictures of them on social media, tag me so I can check them out! As always, I hope you love this project as much as I do. Happy crafting, friends!

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number: 740-273-6693

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram! You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel so you never miss a video tutorial!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami’s Making. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

I have a beautiful vintage style craft idea for you today, friends! I am showing you how to make a DIY floral frame that is as simple to make as it is lovely to behold.

Many Victorian and vintage frames are embossed with flowers. It was a common trend at that time and I love bringing it back for our time. I’m showing how to give a frame an extra special touch with air dry clay and hand-crafted flowers!

Air dry clay is the perfect material for transforming a plain frame into something truly unique. First, you can use the clay to create delicate flower details or shapes to add to your frame. You can then give it a vintage style by painting it in muted tones like pastel pinks or off whites. You could even add some glitter here or there.

When your craft is complete, you will have a one-of-a-kind vintage piece of art that will bring personality and charm to any room in your home. In the video below, I show you how to make your own DIY floral frame. I hope you love it as much as I do!

How to Make a DIY Floral Frame

What Kind of Frame Should I Use?

There is really no right or wrong kind of frame to use for this project. Just make sure that it will be strong enough to support your clay flowers. The clay isn’t super heavy when it dries. But it does have a little weight to it.

The frame I used was an old oval one that I have had for awhile. I have tried it out in a few different shades and was just never totally happy with the way it looked. So I pulled it out for this clay flower project and I am finally in love with it!

I love the oval frame because it adds variety to the many rectangular frames I have around the house. But you can use any shape and size frame that you want. I painted mine an off white color because I love neutrals for our home. But any color you love will work for this project!

Working with Air Dry Clay

I have really been loving working with air dry clay. I bought a big ole box of it about a year ago and I have used it for so many projects. It is simple to mold and sculpt. And, since it doesn’t need to be baked, I don’t have to worry about any cracking or shrinking.

You can get as simple or as fancy as you want when you are working with clay. In the video below I show you how to make your own flowers with clay. You can simply make the petals and the flower center and call it done.

Or you can add little details to make the flowers look more realistic. The more detail you use, the more real your flowers will look. For example, you can take a small knife and cut tiny lines in your petals. Or poke tiny holes in the center of the flowers to add detail there.

If you have sculpting tools, that’s great! But you can also use everyday objects from around the house. A toothpick, a straw, and an exacto knife are just a few tools that I have used that you may already have.

DIY Floral Frame Supply List

• Air dry clay (I used a Marblex clay that I find at Hobby Lobby)
• An old frame
• Molds of smallish flowers, leaves, or whatever you think is pretty
• Corn starch
• Chip brush
• Scraping tool
• Tacky glue
• Cream colored paint

DIY Floral Frame Instructions

• Start by coating the inside of the molds with cornstarch. I just do one or two at a time so I don’t have it everywhere.
• Then break off a small piece of the clay and press it firmly into the mold. Make sure you get it all the way down in. And all the way to the edges. Then use a scraping tool to scrape away any excess clay. This will also give you a smooth bottom.
• Next, remove your clay from the mold and set it aside to dry. If you want your flowers or leaves to have some shape, give them a little bend and use something to prop them up in that position while they dry.
• Now let’s make our own flowers. We are going to make several petals and put them together to make a flower. To do this, take a tiny bit of clay and roll it into a ball. Then flatten it out until it is nice and thin. Then pinch one side of your circle together to form a petal.
• Repeat the same process with more petals, pinching each petal onto the previous ones until you have a flower. Then roll a small ball (or more) to cover the center of your flower where all your petals come together. Set it aside to dry.
• Once you have all of your flowers made and dried, use the tacky glue to attach your flowers around the frame. Then let the glue dry.
• Now it’s time to paint! I just gave my whole frame (flowers and all) a coat of Country Chic Chalk Paint in Cheesecake. As you can see in the pictures, I didn’t work it down into all of the nooks and crannies so that some of the black would come through as highlights. Another option would be to paint your frame thoroughly and then go back in with antiquing wax to finish it off.

The Wrap Up

And that’s it friends! That’s how I made a beautiful vintage style floral frame using air dry clay. Now that you know the process, you can dress up tons of other items using your clay flowers. Think of it as bedazzling, but for vintage lovers!

I would love to see how you use these… in your own home. So if you post any pictures of them on social media, tag me so I can check them out! As always, I hope you love this project as much as I do. Happy crafting, friends!

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number: 740-273-6693

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram! You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel so you never miss a video tutorial!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami’s Making. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

Faberge eggs are timeless works of art that have gained popularity worldwide. They were created as gifts for the Russian royal family during the late 19th and early 20th centuries by the renowned jewelry house Faberge. The exquisite design, attention to detail, and intricate patterns made Faberge eggs so special.

Today, Faberge eggs have become an inspiration for many crafters around the world, with people creating their own unique designs to suit their artistic taste. Including myself and my friends in the Sparkle Room! A couple of weeks ago, 16 of us got together to share our own takes on the Faberge egg. And you know mine had to be vintage!

I wanted to share this project with all of you too. So today I am showing you how to make a vintage style Faberge egg of your own. I can’t wait for you to see how they turn out!

How to Make a Vintage Style Faberge Egg

One of the things that I love most about these DIY Faberge eggs is that each one is unique and special in its own way. No two are ever the same. From what you use to dress them up, to what you set them on when your are done…every part of this project will be different each time. And that is so fun and exciting to me! I hope you enjoy making your eggs as much as I have loved making mine!

Design Variations

In the video below, I show you how I made my egg and what I used to do it. But you can use any supplies that you want! For starters, you can use any type of paper that you have or love. If you want brighter colors and patterns there are a ton of options available to you.

Any type of paper can be Mod Podged! So keep your eye out for cute scrapbooking paper, adorable Easter napkins or table clothes, or some fun wrapping paper!

You can also switch up your moss. In the video below, I explain why I made the switch from Spanish moss to excelsior moss and how much I love it. The excelsior has a lighter happier color than the grey of the Spanish moss. So it fits in better with most of my vintage craft projects.

I still love Spanish moss for some things. But for this project, it’s excelsior for the win! All that to say, you can use annny type of crafting moss that you like. Even a green moss would work well for a spring themed egg!

For my Faberge egg, I added in small Mod Podged eggs around my bunny. I used some small craft eggs and covered them with tiny bits of torn paper. I just love the look of these “paper mache” eggs! But if you don’t have the time or want to do this part of the process, you can use any small egg. This time of year the craft stores are chock full of cute options!

How to Make a Vintage Style Faberge Egg Supply List

• 6 1/2″ craft egg
• Sharp knife (I used a steak knife)
• Cream colored paint (I used Country Chic Cheesecake)
• Glitter
• Old book and/or music pages
• Mod Podge
• Paint brush
• Glue gun
• Excelsior Moss
• Vintage lace (or new lace with a vintage feel to it)
• Tea stained seam binding
• Ceramic bunny (Mine is a Lefton bunny. You can usually find these pretty easily at the vintage markets or online. They usually run around $15. But you can use any bunny that you love or can get your hands on!
• Mod Podged eggs
• Happy Easter paper sign (This is optional. I show you how I made mine in the video, but you can skip this step if you would rather.)
• Vintage bits and bobs (broaches, pins, buttons, etc)
• Paper flowers (I found mine by the scrap booking supplies.)
• A base for you egg to sit on

How to Make a Vintage Style Faberge Egg Instructions

• Start by tracing an oval onto your egg. Then use a knife to cut out your oval. Cut down into the egg so that you create an opening.
• Paint the inside of your egg with the cream paint. I used three coats for my egg. Just be sure to let the paint dry between coats. As soon as you put down your final coat of paint (while it’s still wet) sprinkle the glitter over the paint. Then allow it to dry.
• Next, we cover the outside of the egg. Start by choosing the paper that you want to use for your egg. I like to use a selection of old book pages and sheet music. I look for pages (or parts of pages) that have a pretty look or some interest to them.
• Then, tear your paper into smaller pieces. Also tear off any edges of your pages. This will keep you from having areas on your egg that are just plain paper. The plain portions breaks up the design and don’t lend any beauty to the egg.
• Now use a paint brush and the Mod Podge to apply the paper to the outside of the egg. Be sure to overlap the pieces of paper a bit so you don’t have any egg showing through. Once your egg is covered. Give it a final coat of Mod Podge to seal all of your papers down. Then let the egg dry.

Decorating your Faberge Egg

• Now that your egg is carved, glittered, and covered, it’s time for the real fun! First, take a handful of the excelsior moss and glue it into the bottom of the opening.
• Next, run some hot glue along part of the edge of the opening. Press the lace down onto it. Continue around the edge, adding glue and lace, until it is covered.
• Take some of your seam binding and make a simple bow with it. Then use the hot glue to attach it to the top front of your egg.
• Then, put some hot glue on the bottom of your bunny and place him on top of your moss inside the egg.
• If you are using a Happy Easter sign, go ahead and attach it to your bunny’s paws now.
• Next, add your paper mache eggs around the bunny and use hot glue to secure them in place.
• Then start to add your embellishments. I added a beautiful pin to the center of my bow. Then put paper flowers here and there around the edge of the opening.
• Once your egg is all dressed up, attach it to your chosen base.

The Wrap Up

And that’s all there is too it, friends! You are ready to display your Faberge egg as a beautiful addition to your home decor. The vintage feel of a classic Faberge egg will elevate any room’s aesthetic. From vintage-inspired to trendy chic. And anywhere in between!

Crafting a vintage style Faberge egg is a fantastic way to express your creativity and elevate your home decor to a new level. By mixing your own unique style and elements with a classic design, you will be sure to create an exquisite piece that will stand the test of time.

I would love to see how you use these vintage style Faberge eggs in your own home. So if you post any pictures of them on social media, tag me so I can check them out! As always, I hope you love this project as much as I do. Happy crafting, friends!

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number: 740-273-6693

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram! You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel so you never miss a video tutorial!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami’s Making. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

I have a really quick and easy project for you today, friends! I am showing you how to dress up and old meat grinder and turn it into a little shelf. The results are a beautiful way to display more of your favorite vintage treasures!

Decorating a vintage meat grinder can be an exciting project for anyone looking to add a bit of rustic charm to their home. It’s a great way to show off your creative style while incorporating one-of-a-kind vintage pieces into your decor.

Start by finding an old meat grinder that is still in good condition. Use an old book to transform it into a shelf. Then, as a final touch, add some vintage buttons or baubles for extra detail and texture. With this project you can create something truly special that will be admired for years to come!

How to Dress up an Old Meat Grinder

Whether you have an old meat grinder that has been in your family for years. Or you snagged a great one at a vintage market. This idea will give you a fabulous way to display it. And we get to mix in some of our other favorite decor items. You really can’t go wrong with this project!

Ways to Dress up your Vintage Grinder

I decorated my meat grinder using the things that I love. And I left the grinder itself in its original state because I love the look and character of it. But there are so many other ways you can dress yours up!

You could use a combination of paints, decoupaged paper, washi tape, and other embellishments to give it a unique finish. For instance, you could cover the body of the grinder with decoupaged paper and use different colored paints for the handle and crank.

I have covered grinders in the past with old book pages and sheet music. I loved the way it came out! But you could use any kind of paper that you love or find interesting. I know that many of you love using pretty scrapbooking paper for things too.

You can also swap the muslin shreds for something else. If you don’t have any on hand, or just aren’t a fan, you have other options. Some beautiful vintage lace would be a great option. Or if you love a more rustic look, grab yourself some thick twine or raffia. Use whatever you love or have on hand!

How to Care for the Wooden Handle of your Meat Grinder

If your meat grinder has a wooden handle that is still in good shape, you have a great find! I really love the look of the wooden handle on mine. As you see in the video below, I use hemp oil on my handle to bring it back to life.

The hemp oil soaks into the wood and moisturizes and conditions it. (A lot like hair treatments for us, hehe!) All you have to do is use a rag to apply a small amount of the hemp oil. Rub it in and then wipe off any excess. It will appear shiny at first but that will fade as the oil absorbs and dries.

What you are left with is wood that has returned to most of its natural gorgeousness. Over time the wooden handle will fade again. But you only need to oil it again to bring it back. Once or twice a year should keep it in good condition.

How to Dress up an Old Meat Grinder Supply List

• Old meat grinder
• Tea stained muslin shreds
• Hot glue gun
• Scissors
• Vintage buttons and other items
• An old book that will fit in the clamp of your grinder
• A greenery plop (In this video I used a white flowered plop)

How to Dress up an Old Meat Grinder Instructions

• Start by putting your handle facing down. The top of your grinder is the opening where the meat would go in. The bottom probably has a clamp where it would attach to a table or counter top.
• Use a few skinnier stained muslin shreds to tie your handle to the base of the grinder. This will keep it from moving around on you and disturbing your embellishments. I tied mine in a bow after double knotting it in place. Then I trimmed the ends to the length I liked.
• Next, use the hot glue to attach an interesting button to the center of you bow. Then stand the grinder upside down so that it is sitting on the meat part.
• Take your book and put it in the grinder’s clamp. Twist the clamp to hold the book in place. You can place the book with either the pages or the spine showing, depending on which side you like the look of more.
• Now you have a little shelf. Next, place your greenery plop on top of your book. Then add in whatever vintage items that you want. I love a little bird next to the plop. Or some skeleton keys. An you also have some space below your book on whatever surface you place your grinder. Another plop or a next would fit perfectly there!

The Wrap Up

And that’s it, friends! This is such a quick and easy project. But it packs a whole lotta vintage punch! And there are so many ways to to make your decorated vintage meat grinders beautiful and unique.

I would love to see how you use these dressed up old meat grinders in your own home. So if you post any pictures of them on social media, tag me so I can check them out! As always, I hope you love this project as much as I do. Happy crafting, friends!

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number: 740-273-6693

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram! You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel so you never miss a video tutorial!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami’s Making. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

It is still sweater weather here in Ohio. While I am ready to swap my sweaters for sandals, Mother Nature has other plans. In an effort to embrace the rest of the winter, I am showing you how to make sweater balls. They are adorable and fit in so well with our vintage winter decor!

There is something so cozy about sweaters. Just looking at them gives me that comfy cozy feeling. What better thing to add to our winter decor than a little extra coziness? I knew I had to figure out how to make sweater balls the moment I saw them. They are perfect for putting in our dough bowls once we take out our Christmas decor. I hope you all love them as much as I do!

How to Make Sweater Balls

I love finding new crafting ideas for winter decor. The time of year between Christmas and Spring seems to need a little extra TLC in order to bring the same joy that other seasonal decor brings. Being able to rotate new things into my winter decor definitely helps with that.

If you are like me and like to change out your decor pretty often, these sweater balls are such a great project. When you do end up ready to put them up and go with something new, you can give them a second life as a snowman!

I got that idea from one of the gals in my group and I just love it. All you’d need to do is run skewers between the balls to keep them together. And then hot glue them in place. Dress up your snowman with buttons and a cute hat and you have a new piece of Christmas decor!

A Love Note to Spray Adhesive

If you have been with me for awhile, you know that I love spray adhesive. I use it in my work, in my crafts, and it is one of my favorite tools! Don’t get me wrong, my glue gun is just as important to me. But it doesn’t have to be one or the other. They often work great together!

This sweater ball craft is a perfect example of it. If I would have only used hot glue to adhere the sweater to the ball, it would have bunched in some places and been loose in others. By using the spray adhesive, I get a really smooth and consistent bond between the fabric and the ball.

Then, as I trim and place the ends of the sweater, I use hot glue to secure any edges that may come loose from handling. Spray adhesive and hot glue team up for the win!

Where to Find your Sweaters

I my dream world, we could all afford to go out and buy a couple of new sweaters that we could use for this project. But that just isn’t the case for most of us. And, now that I think about it. Even if I had that kind of money, I don’t know if I could bring myself to cut up a brand new sweater, lol.

Either way, second hand sweaters are the way to go here. I was able to find a cable knit and a crochet type of sweater that were the perfect shade of cream for me. Depending on your area, you may have several options for finding sweaters for crafting.

Goodwill is probably the most available and I usually find great things for crafting there. But there are lots of other kinds of thrift stores to check out too. And don’t forget about consignment and resale shops. You can find good deals there too.

Garage sales aren’t happening where I live during the winter months. But those of us in the northern parts of the country can score great stuff during the garage sale season.

Wherever you find your sweaters, I suggest grabbing at least two. Whether you choose the same color for both or not is up to you. But using two different textures (like cable knit and crochet) will give your sweater ball display more texture and interest.

How to Make Sweater Balls Supply List

• Old sweaters (I used cream because that fits my decor. But you can use any color you have or want! I suggest using two different sweaters to add variety and texture to your sweater ball display.)
• Scissors
• Spray adhesive (My favorite is Super 77 but you can use any kind.)
• Hot glue gun
• Styrofoam balls in assorted sizes

How to Make Sweater Balls Instructions

• Start by cutting your sweater into ovals/circles that are big enough to cover your whole ball.

• Then spray one side with the spray adhesive. Let it sit for just a minute because it goes on pretty we and we want it to tack up a bit. Then set the ball in the center.

• Fold the sweater onto the ball, pulling and stretching the sweater taught as you press it onto the ball. Tug and place until the whole ball is covered. Make cuts in your sweater as you need to to make it lay down. This part of the process will look terribly messy. But I promise we will fix it!

• As your covering the ball and once you have it wrapped, don’t be afraid to use your scissors to cut away the fabric that you don’t need that gathers at either end of you ball. We want the sweater to lay as nicely as possible. Removing the excess bulk will help with this. I cut away lots of mine. I was nervous at first to take away too much but it worked out great. If you are nervous like I was, just cut away a little at a time.

• As you work, use your glue gun to secure any parts of your edges that need a little more adhesive. Trim down any excess sweater that may be sticking out so you have a nice smooth ball.

The Wrap Up

And that’s how you make sweater orbs for your home decor! Once you get the process down, it goes really quickly. I liked the way my balls looked with just the sweater covering. But you could always add old buttons or other small vintage treasures to dress them up.

I would love to see how you use these adorable sweater balls in your own home. So if you post any pictures of them on social media, tag me so I can check them out! As always, I hope you love this project as much as I do. Happy crafting, friends!

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