Remember when I was going to post a flower project every Friday and then I stopped doing it because I kept forgetting it’s Friday? Well, today I’m rectifying that, even though technically this is Monday. Let’s just pretend it’s Friday, okay? I could go back and alter the date so it looks like I posted this on Friday but that seems dishonest and technologically complicated.
Also, this project is no big whoop because I have pretty much posted it already. Only difference this time is that I’m using a plastic bag to make a bow for a wine bottle, because, let’s face it, there’s a good chance you are giving away some wine bottles in the next few weeks. Okay, Okay, Okay….not everyone drinks and gives away wine. You can slap one of these pom-pom flowers on a tasteful hostess gift like some French soap or a scented candle….but I like using wrapping wine in something that would normally end up getting thrown away. There is something really fun about giving away booze and garbage.
To make these, all you need is a plastic bag, some scissors, a 3# piece of cardboard and a piece of wire or ribbon or twine (pipe cleaners are my personal favorite). If you have ever made pom-poms out of yarn on your fingers, you will know how to do these already. Skip it and start making stuff already, wouldja?
First, cut your bag on one side to create one large flat piece of plastic, then roll your bag into a tube shape. Snip across the tube every inch or so. You will be left with something that resembles a pile of loose spaghetti or plastic ribbons.
Wrap the individual strands around your 3” piece of cardboard. One at a time, or ten at a time, doesn’t really matter. Once the cardboard is done, slip the pipecleaner under the plastic ribbons you just wound up. Twist the pipecleaner so it holds all the plastic together, then, on the opposite side, exactly reverse from where the pipecleaner is knotted off, snip the bundle of plastic ribbons apart. Ta Da!
Now you can add colorful plastic bags to the list of things hoarded inside your pantry. I know, I know, you have way too much space in there already. You’re welcome.
Michele Pacey
believe it or don’t i was making pompoms today using pretty much the same technique. unfortunately mine were so ugly i couldn’t bring myself to post them, boo… i hate it when that happens… yours are so much prettier than mine! … ah well c’est la vie, right?
Anonymous
This is a silly question, but where are pipecleaners in the store? I assume by the pipes, which is by the tobacco, but is that right? (okay, I’m a non-smoker…so I don’t even WALK by that area!)
Anne in NC
PEACHES
Haha Anne –good question! You know, I have been buying pipecleaners in the craft/art/school supply section for so many years that i forgot that they probably were created as something to clean pipes at one point in time. Seems obvious enough though, right? Pipe. Cleaner. Ha! …..but to answer your question, you can find a variety in any craft store, or, at a general place like Target or Walmart or similar, I usually find them around the section where they sell crayola crayons/markers/etc. They use pipe cleaners for a lot of children’s art projects, so you’ll find them near kid-friendly stuff.
Michele –isn’t it funny how people thousands of miles away can be on the same wavelength!? I don’t believe you though about them being ugly…everything you make is GORGEOUS and these are hard to mess up! Now you have to post them so I can see!
Anonymous
Terrific work! This is the type of information that should be shared around the web. Shame on the search engines for not positioning this post higher!