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Guess what?? I made my first puffball!
Yes, this was around Christmas. Hence the ornaments.
So, it kind of looks more like a really large, lopsided, blue loofah…
…but that’s OK. It was my first one.
And there’s a good chance it may be my last.
I’ve recently become obsessed with these loofahs tissue-paper puff balls (or pom poms—whatever) and am seriously torn as to whether I’d rather have lots of them at our venue instead of paper lanterns, which was my first instinct. Are they seen all over the wedding world right now? Yes. But I’m pretty sure there’s a reason for that. Like…because they’re gorgeous.
I mean, just take a look!
They make me giddy just looking at them!
All images by Martha Stewart Crafts
Top row: Image via FutureGirl / Image via Kollewin
Bottom row: Image via FutureGirl
I originally figured this would be a perfect chance for me to get all DIY and show some tissue paper who’s boss. It could be a cost-effective way to get chic, simple decor, right? And it’s not like I’m short on time or anything.
However…after making the one, I’m not sure it’s worth it for me to make all of them. I’m all for DIY, but I’m also lazy. Especially when I have a bunch of other DIY projects going on/in planning stages. A much simpler (albeit pricier) solution would be to just scour Etsy—there are tons of sellers like Prost to the Host that offer the poms in all different sizes and colors. All I would need to do is fluff them a day or two before the wedding!
So there’s my dilemma: to DIY pom, or not to DIY pom. WWtHD (what would the hive do)?
I love these loofah/poms too! I wanted to put them everywhere! I was this close to making one out of tule before my mom pointed out that it would totally be a loofah…not just look like one! (Maybe we should just hang loofahs? (loofi? what is the plural of loofah?))
Yours looks great! and I think they always look better in groups. 
I actually made the poms for my engagement party, here’s the link of the finished product on my site-
http://bananabreadandhomestead.blogspot.com/2011/09/diy-decor-instructions.html
I found that using Martha Stewart’s instructions (listed on my site) and cutting the edges rounder made for a softer, more fun pom. We then clustered them (4) in different colors to make huge colorful poms.
We did the DIY poms, but I had my MOH, BM, and Mom there to help, it really was four person job. Also, Martha Stewart sells a kit 4 poms for 8 bucks. I found making the poms was fun, and cheap. I bought all of the supplies (Tissue paper, floral wire) for a dollar each (Tissue paper has 25 sheets for 1 buck!). The fishing line we already had.
I say go for it! You can do it, the first 2 poms I made… sucked, but they got better. You could always mix up lanterns and poms too!
GOOD LUCK!
I think the poms are a lot of fun but you need to perfect your craft! A friend of mine spent so much time on them and so many weren’t uniform so she ended up trashing the whole thing on the wedding day.
Practice, Practice, Practice!
The poms I made ended up working out to a little over $2 each with buying the foam balls from the dollar tree, tissue paper from the dollar tree and walmart, floral wire I already had, and ribbon (for hanging) from the dollar tree and walmart. I don’t know how much they’re selling for on Etsy, but if you can make them cheaper, do it! (We made 30-something poms… so the price per pom adds up fast!).
I used a tutorial for pomanders that one of the older bees posted online… I can’t remember who though 
I found them pretty easy to make while I was sitting on the couch watching TV (and as a bonus I got to feel productive even though I was being lazy and watching my favorite shows!)
We’re also using our pomanders in combination with yarn balls and paper lanterns for an overall whimsically look, so you could still use the lanterns you initially wanted!
I made my first pom months and months ago and I was pretty happy with the way it turned out! It turns out I liked the results when I used about 50% more tissue than Martha suggests (I used 14 sheets). Now that the wedding is 11 days away (eep!), I’ve been cranking them out. I made 5 of them on Sunday in about an hour. I’m planning on fluffing them right before I drop them off at the venue. I love the look of them, so keep practicing!
@Miss Aardvark: Loofi! Love it.
@lindsey: Very cool! I have to admit, it’s been a while since I attempted this, so I should probably give it another go. Helloooo, Martha Stewart!
@SaraP2012: Oh no! That’s my fear, actually.. that I’ll make all of them and they’ll just look.. bad. Heh.
@Nicole: I’m so intrigued by the combo of puffballs and laterns.. and at $2 for each puff? Way cheaper than most laterns!
@MissCarolyn: Aw yay!! I hope they look amazing at your wedding!! Great tip re: using more tissue paper.
I did some DIY poms…. it wasnt really the folding and securing part that was tough for me… no, I hated the fluffing so buying via Etsy wouldnt really solve that problem….
I would check to see what kind of tissue paper you can get and the cost… I’m sure the Etsy sellers might be able to offer a comparable price since they can buy in bulk and get all different colors…
I like the lanter idea because they can be resold right? The puffs are less likely to withstand the wear and tear.
I love these so much! I’m so sad we can’t hang things from the ceilings in our venue, because of the ceiling fans. I would DIY if you have the time, only because I hate the idea of paying $5 a pop plus shipping for these. But if you can afford it and you’re low on time, there’s no shame in buying them either! I’m so tempted now to do something like this for our back deck. We’re doing bunting to decorate, but my MOH is sewing it and is running into a time crunch. It’s not the end of the world to have NOTHING adorning the back deck rails. And do I really want to take on another project with a month to go? Really? I think not.
It sounds like you need some cost-benefit/reward analysis here, Foxy! I ended up DIY-ing basically everything, and there were points where I was like, “Why didn’t I just order this online??” Sometimes outsourcing a project to someone else really is worth it.
The main difference between yours a MS’s seems to be that yours looks spiky and hers has the edges either in rows or rounded. Get your bridesmaids in on the pom pom action.
We’d try it! Try a couple and then assess if you can make them in large numbers.
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Miss Fox, Washington DC/Havre de Grace, MD Age and Occupation: 26, Massage Therapist Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Field Support Engineer Engagement Date: April 18, 2010 Wedding Date: June 2012 Venue: Vandiver Inn About Me: I’m a dancer turned massage therapist who was born and raised in New York. Alas, true love has brought me “south” where I still maintain my penchants for pretty shoes, wine, crossword puzzles, cherry blossoms, and the Mets. I own more sunglasses than a normal person should and don’t eat red meat (though I make up for it by eating my weight in sushi). I tend to be a big planner who likes to get things started early, but generally end up being indecisive and procrastinating when it comes down to it. I have a (not so) secret crush on Chris Carrabba, but my loyalty and love ultimately goes to the future hubs, of course! Together, my Foxy man and I love to discuss (read: debate) politics and current events, have Mario Kart and Scrabble duels, and just laugh. A lot. We’re hoping and planning for a laid back, fun, summery, rustic vibe to our June wedding that will be genuinely “us” – that is, if we finally make some decisions. Huzzah!
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