Bridezilla roars: DIY Kissing Ball

“Happiness is like a kiss – it feels best when you give it to someone else”

I just discovered pomanders a few days back when Sheryl send us a link www.the-jules-touch.com as Michi and Queenie are looking for crystals and feathers bouquet. Or rather, I discover that those flowery puff balls that grace the ends of church pews or hang from tree branches are called pomanders (or kissing balls).

Why is it called a kissing ball? Apparently, it dates back to the Victorian Era and used as a Christmas decoration. It is similiar to the tradition of mistletoe. If a young woman was caught under the decoration, she has to kiss a gentleman. Some other traditions stated that couples that kissed beneath the ball would stay together for the year and maybe even marry (note to self: to place the kissing ball above the bed after wedding so that we stay married … lol)

Nowadays kissing balls can be seen in many weddings. They can be used as decorations, working very well on wedding arches, backs of chairs, over door knobs and also ends of pews or aisles. It as an alternative and sweet way for the flower girl or the bridemaids to hang from the wrist.

As far as I can tell, they are dead-simple to make (at least a basic version).

Things you need:
3″ Styrofoam Ball or 4″ Styrofoam Ball
Artificial Flowers (of your choice)
Ribbon (of your choice)
Floral U Pins
T-Pins
Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks

Things to do:
1. Take your styrofoam ball and push a floral u pin through the “top” of the ball, then take the pin out. Place a few dabs of glue over the holes and place the floral u pin back in. Make sure that you leave about 1/4″ gap between the styrofoam ball and pin. The gap will be used later so that you can attach a ribbon or wire so that you can hang your pomander.
2. Next, separate your artificial flowers from their bunches and cut the stems to about a 1/4″ or 1/2″ in length. Starting from the top use your glue gun to create small dents in the styrofoam ball and add a dab of glue before placing each stem. Repeat this process until the entire styrofoam ball is covered. You can also use T pins or floral U pins instead of hot glue, depending on the size of your flowers and styrofoam ball. It may help if you start from the top and work your way down in a line and repeat the process this way so that you ensuring that the flowers are evenly placed with no gaps.
3. Once your pomander is completely covered with flowers, string your wire or ribbon through the floral U pin at the top. The length of the ribbon will depend on how you choose to use your pomander. Shorter loops are great for pomanders that will be carried by individuals in the wedding party and longer loops are better for pew decorations. You can also just skip the ribbon and hanging altogether, creating pomanders for bowls and wedding centerpiece decorations.

Kissing ball symbolises romantic love. So here’s to the kissing ball….SMOOCHES! xoxox