Tissue Paper Pom-poms
Tissue pom-poms have become quite popular in décor lately; they are fun, add interest and texture, and quite easy (and inexpensive!) to make. We made about fifteen of them in three different sizes to decorate the loggia above the seat at our outdoor wedding ceremony. They were perfect!
We made white pom-poms, but you could easily use colored tissue paper to decorate for a birthday party, outdoor barbeque, or even a nursery. Smaller pom-poms could even be made into a garland—the possibilities are vast.
To make each pom-pom, you will need:
- 7 or 8 sheets of standard tissue paper (rectangular works better then square sheets
- scissors
- 18” length of wire
- Lay seven or eight sheets of tissue in a fairly neat stack. I found six layers to be too few, and nine ended up more difficult to work with; eight was my magic number, but use what is easy for you and results in the look you want for your project.
- Begin accordion folding the stack using 1½” to 2” folds. I flip the whole stack over with each fold as it helps keep the folds more even for me.
- Fold your accordion in half lengthwise and secure it with a length of wire. (You will also use the wire to hang the pom-pom).
- Cut the ends of the paper into a point for a dahlia-like pom-pom (as pictured), or round the ends for a simple scallop shaped pom-pom. I like the look of the pointed ends—they add more texture. A point 1½” to 2" long is best.
- Open the accordion and begin pulling the layers of tissue apart, one at a time. The tissue tears easily so do be careful. Small tears won’t really show in the finished pom-pom, but you don’t want to shred it while making it.
- Fluff the layers and move them around a bit to even out the pom-pom; you can really fuss with these forever if you choose. I just made sure there weren't any gaping holes or flat bits, and called them good.
If you’re planning a DIY wedding, this project is great way to decorate your ceremony or reception space. The pom-poms are festive, and they are both budget friendly and reusable. (I actually used a few that got crushed after the wedding as packing material). They’re also a fast project. We made ours the week before the wedding in about an hour. Fun!
