Crystal Snowballs

Last year during our advent activities we had a go at making some yarn snowballs they were so much fun that we decided to give them a go this year – but adding a little sparkle to them making them naturally sparkly with a little help from the kitchen cupboard. These yarn crystal snowballs are messy and fun to make and really really easy to do.

DIY Crystal Snowballs - yarn wrapped ornaments with a natural sparkle that you or the kids could make this Christmas to decorate the tree or home.

Materials Needed

School Glue – PVA Glue

Yarn or string

Balloon

Epson Salts

How to make them

So there are two different ways that I see to make them – last year we piled our yarn into a bowl and then tried to untangle it as it came out soaked in glue and it was very very messy. This year we tried an alternative method – coating the balloon.

DIY Crystal Snowballs - yarn wrapped ornaments with a natural sparkle that you or the kids could make this Christmas to decorate the tree or home.

To make the balloons round instead of tear drop shaped you need to blow up the balloon quite small then squeeze the air into the blown up part making the opening tie longer and longer – when you have a round shape squeeze a little more and tie in a knot – you will have lots of tail left but also a round balloon rather than the tear drop shape.

Mix some PVA glue with water in 50:50 ratio and then roll the balloon in the glue.

DIY Crystal Snowballs - yarn wrapped ornaments with a natural sparkle that you or the kids could make this Christmas to decorate the tree or home.

Let the glue drain off the balloon a little and then wrap the yarn around the balloon – changing direction, making loops so that you get an interested effect with it covering the whole balloon.

Once it’s covered with the yarn that you want then in a paper dish pour some Epson salts and roll the balloon into the salt so that it covers it.

The best way that I have found to dry them is to use a cup – add some cling film to the top and then place the balloon in the cup let it dry over night.

DIY Crystal Snowballs - yarn wrapped ornaments with a natural sparkle that you or the kids could make this Christmas to decorate the tree or home.

To remove the balloon – gently cut the end off and watch as the balloon and your yarn ball slowly deflate – you now need to put your finger between the balloon and the yarn and slowly pull it away from the balloon.

DIY Crystal Snowballs - yarn wrapped ornaments with a natural sparkle that you or the kids could make this Christmas to decorate the tree or home.

Once you have the balloon removed then shake out the ball and reform – it will easily keep it’s shape and then you can hang on your Christmas Tree or decorate a bowl with the balls.

DIY Crystal Snowballs - yarn wrapped ornaments with a natural sparkle that you or the kids could make this Christmas to decorate the tree or home.

I love the way at night when we have our lights switched on the lights capture the Epson Salts and sparkle like glitter.

DIY Crystal Snowballs - yarn wrapped ornaments with a natural sparkle that you or the kids could make this Christmas to decorate the tree or home.

Out Now! – Countdown to Christmas Ebook

When life gets hectic in the lead up to Christmas wouldn’t it be great to be able to spend a little time with the family creating gifts for others, food to enjoy together and traditions that make magical Christmas Memories?

But what actually happens is you spend hours searching through Pinterest looking for ideas and realise halfway through saying you are going to start that you have only 1 thing on the materials list!

I’ve been there!

So that is why we’ve put together our 24 favourite Christmas Activities, Crafts and Recipes with full materials lists and step-by-step instructions so that you have everything at your fingertips.

Produced as a PDF you can download, print and use these ideas throughout the festive season with your children and families.

Find out more as we share with your our Favourite Ways to Countdown to Christmas.

More decoration ideas for Christmas

Check out these other fabulous Christmas decorations that you and the kids can make together.

Do your kids like to help decorate for the holidays? Try making one of these Jolly Kid Made Salt Dough Christmas Ornament Garlands! from Crafty Mama in Me

Easy to make Cinnamon Scented Sled for Winter Decor. Made with Cinnamon Sticks and Candy Canes. Easy for Adults, Fun for kids from Playdough and Popsicles

Work on fine motor skills like a tripod grasp, open thumb web space, and intrinsic hand strength by making a standing Snowman craft using glittery painted egg cartons from Sugar Aunts

Are you looking for homemade holiday decor ideas? Kids can help make these festive pom pom garlands from Spark and Pook

Make some simple Christmas Jingle Bells Ornaments that really make a jingle noise from Peakle Pie

Bubble Wrap Stamping makes for a super simple Holly Wreath decoration for kids to make from Crafty Kids at Home

A simple upcycle craft for kids to make a Nativity Lantern to explore the Christmas Story from Sun Hats and Wellie Boots

This delightful DIY gift wrap is a decoration in itself from Mum in the Madhouse

Use glitter glue pens to create a Gingerbread Man decoration for your Christmas Tree from Adventures with Adam

Make this super adorable gingerbread house ornament to use as a photo frame! from Teach me Mommy

A fun and easy tissue paper wreath for Christmas from 3 Dinosaurs

Make simple gingerbread man paper dolls to use for Christmas decorations or fun from Creative Family Fun

Use your kids’ drawings and paintings to create a Christmas tree decoration from Non Toy Gifts

Create a Santa Hat Pom pom decorations with the kids from Gingerbread House

Kid-Made Little Blue for Christmas Cards and Toy Trees from My Bright Firefly

Recycled crafts snowman Christmas tree decoration from Sew Kidding

Author
Cerys Parker

Cerys is a marine biologist, environmental educator, teacher, mum, and home educator from the UK. She loves getting creative, whether it is with simple and easy crafts and ideas, activities to make learning fun, or delicious recipes that you and your kids can cook together you'll find them all shared here on Rainy Day Mum.

10 Comments

  1. Such a neat Christmas decoration idea! These crystal balls are beautiful!

  2. I’ve always been put off doing yarn crafty with glue as they look too messy but your tips make this activity sound really appealing,
    we’ll have to have a go!

  3. What a wonderful way to add extra sparkle. I never knew how to get the balloon so round. We also tried the stick-the-wool-in-th-blow-of-PVA-glue method and it didnt work either!

  4. These look like a ton of fun! I can just imagine a whole bunch of them hanging over our Christmas dinner table.

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