Napkin Snowball Craft

Hey all!
So like I promised, here's the quick, simple, TOTALLY inexpensive, decorative dinner napkin snowball tutorial! from my Christmas Shelf Decorating post! :)




Okay... so the first thing you want to start off with, are white dinner napkins.
I used  the ones that measured about 7 inches square.
Open up 4 napkins, all the way, so it looks like the napkin on the right.
THEN... cut the 4 layers of napkins, into fourths... like the napkins on the lefts.

Okay... got that? :)

So now... you have these 4 squares, made up of 4 layers each.

Next... you're going to DOUBLE UP these... to make just TWO piles of napkins.

So... now you have TWO sets of napkin squares, made up of 8 layers each.

Next, you are going to just take some scissors and scallop the edges, like so.

It doesn't have to be perfect, but just more, rounded.

Now take each set of scalloped napkins... one at a time,

and accordion them, like this.

Then, to keep it together... wrap some wire around it, and twist it tight.
Floral wire works great for this :)

 Now take your second accordion folded napkin set, and twist it side by side, with your excess wire...

Like this...

So now they look like this!

After you get to this point, it's all pullin' and fluffin' from here :)

Hold onto the wire base... and just start pulling the layers of the napkins apart, and TOWARDS you.

You will see the ball form start to take place, as you get more and more layers pulled apart.
ALSO pull apart the actual napkin SKIN layers.
you know... those really THIN layers of the individual napkins.
This will help the "ball" look more full.

If you get big gaps, like this, below...

or want to force your napkin to have a bend, that it's not making naturally...

Just take the piece of napkin that you want to manipulate...

fold it, crease it... or bring the two pieces together...

Grab some double sided tape...

and place a small strip, on one side of the napkin... and pinch softly.

This will help your napkin STAY fluffed the way you want it too.

I also used the scotch double sided tape to keep my "snowballs" from falling off their candlesticks, because they are really light.

Just place a few strips to the base of each candle stick, and then lightly set the napkin ball on top.

Things to keep in mind:

* This project IS made from napkins... so the layers will be delicate.

Try not to pull them too hard, when separating the layers.  They WILL rip.

* The size of the "ball" will depend on how large your initial square is, to start.

you can also do smaller versions of these :)

Like shown here.

* If you feel that your napkin ball isn't "fluffy" enough... try adding more napkin layers, at the beginning.

Some napkins have more "internal layers" then others.

* Double stick tape is your friend, for this project. lol. I used most of my double stick tape at the base of the layers... to keep them sticking together.

These are a really fun way to add some "fancy and fluff" to your Christmas decor, for only a few bucks! :)

You can try some out on this fun idea, or use it for any OTHER crafts you have going on, during this crafty holiday season!