Cuddle-pillars the Pom Pom Way!

I cannot seem to get off of the Pom Pom train...so much so that the conductor isn't even asking for my ticket anymore?!!  I suppose it will be a lifetime trip!

Today's installment of Pom Pom love involves a very special friend of mine...the Cuddle-pillar!! You may be thinking I have gone off the deep end. And indeed, you may be correct. 

The Caterpillar is an extraordinary creature. They meander across the earth in what appears to be slow motion...creeping not nearly as deftly as their peers, the ants and pill-bugs, yet they make their way with purpose and intention. It is only when they retreat into secrecy that the real magic happens. 

After a lifetime (caterpillar timeline, of course), of seeming to get nowhere, content in their journey, the caterpillar begins to weave a cocoon in which to hide itself. One might think, if unaware, that this was a self-imposed death sentence for the lowly caterpillar, as he wraps himself up in hiding.  

Oh how wrong one would be, to think so!

For in the next magical moment, somewhere in that hidden place...the cocoon begins to crack. The creature labors and breaks free...no longer a lowly caterpillar...life has been re-gifted as a glorious butterfly with wings that have been supernaturally knitted together in a secret place, now transformed to fly!!

I am inspired and humbled by the journey of a caterpillar, for many reasons. Theirs is a tale of intution and transformation! But I am getting ahead of the train here...

All of this really has nothing to do with the project...but it makes me smile to think about caterpillars and their supernatural transformation...does it do that for you too? I hope so :)

You can make your pom poms in whatever size you prefer. I like to use Clover® Pom Pom Makers for the easiest process. They are available in about 7 sizes from 3/4" up to sbouty 6" or 7" (depending on how full you wrap the tool). They are reasonably priced (under $10 US dollars for a set of 2 sizes) and I find them to be the easiest of all ways to make pom poms.
The link to Joann.com where you can purchase them is Here or you can also find them on Amazon.com Here.

 You can also use a cardboard template to make your pom poms. 

Here is a link to an excellent Free Template to make pom poms : 

FREE POM POM TEMPLATES

Another way to make pom poms is simpley to use your fingers on one hand and wrap around them until a full mound is formed, then tie a strong thread/yarn tightly around the center (between your fingers), then cut the loops. Voila! You now have a pom pom. Just trim it to the round or oval shape you desire. The fuller you wrap your fingers, the fuller the pom pom will be.

To make mini pom poms, use the tines of a dinner fork, wrapping the yarn/thread around the width of the tines until a full mound is formed. Then using a strong thread, tie around the center area of loops (going through the center tines) and tie off securely. Slide off the end of the fork then cut the loops to form the pom pom. The size of fork will determine the general size of the pom pom. Try using an appetizer mini fork to get really tiny pom poms.

And now for our Cuddle-pillar....

Supplies Needed:

Red Heart® Yarn (any weight)
(in various colors, or yarn brand of your choice)
If you choose to do a Rainbow Cuddle-pillar, you will need 7 colors of yarn, one for each pom pom: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo (dark blueish/purple), & violet (or any variation you prefer, but that is the official scientific ROY G BIV of rainbow reality.

To make multi-colored pom poms you can combine colors in whatever choices you prefer to create a unique critter, by simply changing yarn colors as you wrap the pom pom maker. This is a great project to use up scraps and random yarn leftovers.

Eyes: 
The Cuddle-pillar in the photo is made with my faux glass eyes (Free Tutorial: Here)

 *You can also use 8mm-10mm (or larger) beads for the eyes and sew or glue them into place (NOT if the toy is for small children under 8 yrs. old!!) 

**To make eyes for toys that are intended for babies or toddlers, you can glue felt shapes for eyes which are safe for young children. However, the pom poms can shed yarn fibers so they really aren't suitable for very young children who are putting toys in their mouths. Use your careful judgement!)

Tacky Craft Glue: I prefer Aleene's® Tacky Glue 

Waxed cord, Bead Thread, or strong cording to tie poms
Chenille Stems for legs
Embroidery thread in desired colors (to thread-wrap legs)

Tools Needed:
Pom Pom Maker: I used Clover® brand size 2.5" 

Or you can find various sizes of Free Cardboard Templates: Here

Sharp Scissors
Large eye needle (plastic or metal)


Let the Crafting Begin!!

Make Pom Poms in the desired colors and sizes you have decided upon by wrapping your pom pom tool with yarn, as directed in package instructions. 

I loaded my Clover® pom pom maker with random colors to create a wild and whacky color blast. You can play with your own yarn to and see what you can come up with. Making one using lime green and bright yellow would look more like a real caterpillar, which would be fun...or maybe a pink one would fit into your favorite little princess's room? There are no rules in the pom pom universe, just wanted you to know! ;)

The Cuddle-pillar pom poms are all the same size, so trim each of your pom poms to a similar size and round shape. I used my Clover 2.5-inch pom pom maker (the light green one) to make my Cuddle-pillar pom poms. 

I used a variety of colors to create a bullseye pattern. It would also be adorable to do a "shaded varigation" with colors ranging from darkest to lightest as you go to each next pom pom. A solid color Cuddle-pillar would be adorable too.

For the "bullseye" pattern, pick the color you want at the center of your bullseye, then wrap a very small amount of that color yarn at the center area of half of the pom pom maker (making approx 10-12 wraps in the upper center; trim the yarn then add the next color, wrapping over the cut end of the previous color to secure it from unwrapping. 

Wrap over the center mound of color and on each side of center color, covering the initial color wraps completely and making sure to have a thick wrap over it. This creates the second color of the bullseye which encircles the first color. With practice you will learn how much to wrap over each of the colors to get an even balanced pattern on your pom pom. Continue this process with each additional color of your choice, until it is full. 

Trim pom pom wrapping (as described in Clover package directions); then using waxed cord/thread, tie through the pom pom mechanism using a surgeons knot. Be sure to tie VERY TIGHTLY so the yarn pieces are secured and will not pull out of the pom pom. 

*I like to use a surgeons knot to tie my initial knot, making sure to pull it as tightly as possible. If you don't know what a surgeons knot is, it is merely an extra over & under wrap, of a regular square knot; so instead of just going "over and under" the opposite thread once in the initial half of hte knot, you go "over and under" twice before completing the lock stitch of the knot. This, plus using waxed cord/thread will give you the tightest knot possible and make your pom poms nearly indestructible....I did say nearly!!

Most often, (if you have wrapped your pom pom maker fully), you will end up with an oblong or oval shape of fluff. When you pull it out of the device (or cardboard template) be sure to grab the tied knot strings and shake the pom pom vigourously in the air, bobbing it back and forth to fluff it up. I tend to do this naturally, so you may find yourself doing it without even realizing it, just to get a fluffy puff. 

You can now trim the pom pom into a round shape, (as we need for our Cuddle-pillars), OR you can trim it into an oval shape or other sculpted shape you desire. GO SLOWLY!! 

You cannot add yarn back once you have cut it, so cut small amounts at a time. Roll it around in your hand and look for the lumps or bumps or unsmooth areas and start snipping. This will be the most laborious part of your project, and it will make the most difference to the quality appearance of your Cuddle-pillar. I trim with a rounded move of my large scissors, following the contour of a ball that I am looking to achieve. Be patient and meticulous! 

The shorter you trim the pom pom, the fuller it will be, just be sure to initially wrap the pom pom very full when you make it, so you will have the ability to trim as much as you need, to get the shape you desire. 

Once you have gathered a nice pile of finished pom poms, its time to assemble the Cuddle-pillar. This could not be more simple to do. 

I chose to glue the eyes on prior to assembling the body, but you can attach them after, if you prefer. It might be easier to control the facial expression if you add the eyes after the body is fully assembled.

Glue eyes in place, setting into the fibers by separating them with your fingers prior to adding a spot of glue, then placing the eye in to secure it in place. Allow to dry completely before assembling together with body pieces.

Thread the large-eye needle with a long double-strand of matching yarn; knot securely at the end with several knots (so it will grab well as you stitch through the pom poms to connect them). 

Begin with the pom pom you have chosen for the "head"; with your fingers separate an area to safely insert the needle without snagging the ends of the pom pom threads; (directly between the eyes if you have already attached them, as I did). Run the needle & thread throught the center of the pom pom, making sure it grabs hold securely, and the knot hides itself deep into the center. 

If you end up snagging yarn fibers with the thread on the way through, don't fret! You can easily trim the offending fray or pull it out completely!

See? Its gonna be okay!

Keep adding pom poms to the body, separating the fibers to make it easier to insert the needle and thread without damaging the ends.

Continue adding each pom pom, one at a time, separating the pom pom threads and running the needle & thread through the center of each pom pom, adding it to the string. 

Once you have added your last pom pom, take the needle and thread back through that last pom pom and pull thread snuggly, making sure your pom poms are not floppy and loose. 

We don't want a loosey-goosey Cuddle-pillar, do we?!! 
Heavens no!

Pass the needle and thread back through that last pom pom a few times to make sure its well connected. Knot off at the center of the pom pom where it will be hidden. 

Legs:
If you want legs for your Cuddle-pillar, these are the cutest there could ever be. It will keep him from being super cuddly, but it will give him character that makes him come to life!

Using your fingers, separate yarn fibers on the center underside of each pom pom, gluing a chenille stem across the center, from one side of the Cuddlepillar to the other.

The excess amount of glue that overflows the chenille stem should be enough to help you hide the chenille stem and secure yarn fibers by pulling them together from each side of the chenille stem.

Repeat with each of the body pom poms, attaching a chenille stem that overhangs to either side of the body. 
(Do not attach legs to the head)

Using embroidery thread in colors to match or contrast your pom pom colors, thread wrapping the chenille stems will create exactly the whimsical look I'm going for!

Starting about one-inch from the end, place a tiny dab of tacky glue and attach the end of the embroidery thread of choice. 

Wrap almost entirely to the end, then bend upwards to form a small "U" shape, keeping embroidery thread attached. Place a tiny dab of glue at the meeting point of the end and just above the wrapped end; wrap the embroidery thread around both the end and the main chenille stem, creating a loop. Continue wrapping up the leg towards the body, covering the chenille stem completely. *If you want to secure the wrapping even better, place a scant dab of glue on the chenille stem and spread thin, prior to initial wrapping of colored embroidery thread.

To make a thicker upper leg, continue wrapping embroidery thread in layers, until you like the look of it, finishing the end by trimming the embroidery thread end and and gluing it at the top end, hiding it inside the body pom pom with a tiny dab of glue. 

Repeat this process for each of the legs, using various colors of embroidery thread to coordinate with your colors.

Embellishments:

If you want to add more whimsey to your Cuddle-pillar (not that its necessary  of course!) you can add a ribbon bow to the neck or tail-end, knit or crochet a tiny scarf,  Perhaps a bow tie for a special occasion your Cuddle-pillar plans to attend? Its all up to you!

You can add hearts or flowers or tiny ladybugs and any special trimmings you can think of...There is no wrong way to dress a Cuddle-pillar!! 


With Sugarplum Hugs & Rainbow Kisses!
Deanne 

Be sure to leave a comment if you have any questions or suggestions! 

Bling'd Bottles & Jars

I have a "thing" for bottles and jars. I'm not sure if its the glass, or the fact that its a container, but whatever it is, its an obsession, and I'm on my way to needing a 12-step program to get over it! My husband thinks they are multiplying and I can't say that he's mistaken?

The reason I collect so many bottles and jars, is because I can think of a gazillion things to make, using them as the foundation. I hate the idea of stuffing a land-fill with perfectly good jars! Not only do I feel guilty, but I feel as though I am wasting a genius product. Enter, the jar obsession! lol

So, when I made Chicken Picatta the other night, I used an entire miniature jar of capers...I hadn't even emptied the contents of the tiny jar before the crafting ideas started to flood my mind. "I have got to make something wonderful with this adorable tiny jar..." my mind began to conjure.

With a stash of rhinestone chain, and a full tube of E600 glue, I began to form a solid plan...

SUPPLIES:

Glass jar or container

Rhinestone Chain in various sizes and colors 

E6000 glue

UV resin 

(or ICE® resin, Glossy Accents® or other glaze)

Strong Scissors to cut rhinestone chain

1. Starting at the base of the jar, squeeze a small line of E600 glue around the base, all the way around the circumference of the jar, cut rhinestone chain to size when you get close to the end of the "round" and can estimate the ending point. Make sure that the first row is setting evenly on the bottom of the jar to assure the level lines up the jar as you go. You can rest the jar on a table and use the side of your scissor blades (or a straight edge of some sort) to gently press along the top of the rhinestone chain to make sure it is level with the table top).

*Tip: I use Dollar Store scissors that I purchased for $1.00 that cut through the chain backing easily, and I don't have to fret about ruining good scissors!

*Tip: Be sure to cap your glue asap so you don't lose too much...as you know if you use E6000, it likes to "ooze" out after you have squeezed your amount, so be quick!

2. Squeeze a thin line of E6000 above each row you have just completed, and carefully add the next line of rhinestone chain. I did the first two rows and then let it dry for 10 minutes to secure in place. (You can continue without allowing to dry, if you are very careful to keep the rows aligned straight)

3. Depending on the shape of your jar or bottle, you might encounter waves and dips in the shape of the glass. In my mini capers bottle there is an indent of the glass at the top before the screw neck top. I used smaller diameter rhinestone for this area to accent the shape even more. You will find yourself playing with colors and sizes to come up with the most pleasing results. There is no wrong way to do this! 

4. If you want to embellish the bottle even further, you can glue vintage brooches or earrings on top of the rhinestone chain to create lovely focal points. Use your imagination and let it run wild!!

5. My capers bottle had a nice small lid which I covered with rhinestone chain in the same way I did the jar, being careful to keep the bottom row level along the edge (you can place it on a flat surface to help, if necessary). I continued glueing more rows of rhinestone chain, leaving the very top of the lid empty, to add an image later. 

(bottom of jar)

5. Using a small scrap of velvet, cut a circle to the size of the glass base of the jar. (When I do this next time, I will trace the base onto the fabric BEFORE I glue the rhinestone chain in place!) I did the same thing with the inside of the lid.

(My circles aren't exact but are close enough to get the job done. Tracing before decorating the bottle would have been much easier!)

6. I used E6000 to glue the fabric circles to the jar base and lid, but you can use Fabric-Tac® or Aleene's® Tacky Glue for this part if you prefer. The E6000 has a tendency to bleed through the fabric, (which mine did slightly) so the other glue variations may work best for this application.

Tip: Don't be like me and forget to thoroughly de-stink your jar! I washed my caper jar, but didn't smell it to make sure it was fresh smelling...so I spent time carefully de-odorizing it with soap after it was finished...not exactly the best order to do things, so use your smarts better than I did!

7. I cut out a small image (lovers by a swan lake) that I found on the internet...(if you don't plan to sell your items you can "borrow" images by right-clicking on an image and "save as" to your computer)...if there are copyright images, you cannot sell them without permission from the image owner.

*Tip: I printed the image (from my computer) onto glossy photo paper, because it holds up best with the resin. Regular paper, cardstock, stationary & magazine print images need to be sealed with Mod Podge® (or another sealing medium) in order to protect the image from absorbing the resin and looking yucky! 

8. After gluing the image securely to the top of the jar lid, I added one more row of narrow rhinestone chain to the top of the lid, gluing it carefully in place to encircle the image and hide any irregular edges around the circle. 

9. If you haven't yet discovered UV Resin, here it is in all its glory! I absolutely love this stuff!! Lisa Pavelka's Magic Glos® is one option and in my opinion, it is a crafters dream come true! Though it can be a somewhat pricey, you don't need very much, and you can buy it in small quantities. It cures in direct sunlight or with a UV curing light in just a few minutes. (You can find UV resin here: Lisa Pavelka's Magic Glos available in various sizes). 

Using the Magic Glos, I carefully poured the UV resin onto the lid cavity with the rhinestone border holding it in place. I carefully added enough so that it began to mound up into a rounded semi-dome shape. Be very careful not to over fill the area or it will run down the sides of your lid! Its a delicate balance between not too little and not too much...you'll get a good feel for it after you do it, but be slow and careful, Goldilocks!!

I used my nail salon gel-polish drying unit (that I purchased in 1988 and only used twice for nail manicures)...I've kept it all these years...not sure why since my nails are crafter-short...but lookie here, now I am putting it to excellent use!! Using my dryer unit, I cured the jar lid for approx 6-8 minutes and it was hard as glass! You can find hand held UV resin curing tools on Amazon here: UV resin cure light

*Alternate Resin Glaze Options: 

If you don't have UV resin, you can also use ICE® resin, which is a regular air-dry resin that can also be used to create "dome" shaped finishes. You can find it in specialty craft stores or here: 

Another alternative medium to use to finish the top of the jar is Glossy Accents®. It is an air-dry textured medium that dries clear and hard. It doesn't create a dome shape but creates a very glossy shine and solid protection for your image. *Be careful not to shake the bottle or you will create air bubbles that are difficult to remove! Glossy Accents® is sold in the scrapbooking section of craft stores or you can find it here: Glossy Accents

Voila!

Such a fun and fabulous sparkly treasure to place on your dresser or bedside table to remind you how wonderful you are!!

Let me know what you think!

With Sugarplum Hugs!

Deanne

Happy Bluebird Pom Pom Critter

(FREE TUTORIAL by Deanne Crim)

I am obsessed with vintage style crafts. The kind that remind me of days gone by...whether its my own days gone by, or the days of antiquity, I am inspired and always intrigued. It isn't unusual to find me sprouting crafts that have a vintage flair.

Vintage Pom Pom toys were a popular item created and sold by Steiff® from the 1920's through the 1950's. Birds of all styles were very popular, as well as bunnies, chicks, and other animals. My endeavor to re-create my own version of these well-loved toys & decorations, begins with this adorable "Happy Bluebird" to welcome Spring!

Happy Bluebird is crafted with handmade pom poms and thread-wrapped chenile stems, for the arms and legs. The eyes are made of polymer clay and various coloring options, then domed with a liquid UV resin called "Magic Gloss by Lisa Pavelka®". You can find my free tutorial on how to make the faux glass eyes here: 

Sugarplum Village Faux Glass Eyes Tutorial

I will be sharing free tutorials on an entire series of  pom pom critters, so be sure to check back and see what the next menagerie addition is!

SUPPLIES:

Medium Weight Yarn (colors of your choice): 

Light Blue for the head and body and the wrapping for the arms. 

White for the spots on the chest and top of head

Bright Yellow for the wrapping of the legs/feet. 

*You can use any weight yarn of your choice, even thin baby-weight #1 will work fantastically, you will just have to wrap more of it to make the pompom full since its so thin. Just make sure that the yarn has a soft feel to it so your pom pom characters will be cuddly and soft. 

This Happy Bluebird was made from a more expensive-ish yarn in the specific color I wanted, but in projects to follow, I found that Red Heart® Super Saver Yarn works masterfully! It comes in a gazillion colors and is ultra affordable, at just $3.19 per skein (full price at my local Joann craft store). With coupons it is a steal!! You will see in this continuing Pom pom series that I am single handedly keeping Red Heart® yarn company in business! lol

Waxed Cord or Strong Carpet Thread w/ Beeswax coating

This is to tie the pom poms together. The waxed cord is perfect, though I occasionally break it thru my brut strength (lol). You can also used dental floss but I don't know how it will hold up in the longrun. I purchased my waxed cord at Joann's craft store, however I have seen it everywhere that craft supplies are sold, or hardware stores. 

Chenile Stems (pipe cleaners): 

I use cotton chenile stems purchased through Amazon.com from a manufacturer here in the United States, BJ Long. 

You can find a link to the Amazon.com page HERE

The chenile stems come in two sizes (I use both sizes, depending on the size of the pom pom critter or doll, and the thickness of limbs I am trying to make. I most often use the larger size for the medium sized critters such as the bluebirds). 

These particular chenile stems are very soft, like the old fashioned ones, not like the ones sold in craft stores today, which are synthetic fibers and have a more "hairy" texture, which is a bit more difficult to thread-wrap and cover. However, the regular ones can certainly be used on your projects successfully, if you have a few on hand, it just may take some careful wrapping to hide the fibers. 

Aleene's Tacky Glue or Fast Dry Tacky Glue: 

This is always my craft glue of choice. You cannot beat Aleene's to do the job and hold things in place over time.

Eyes:

I find that these characters look adorable without eyes. I went back and forth deciding whether or not to include eyes or leave them off. Once I made the faux glass eyes using polymer clay though, the decision made itself.  They turned out with so much personality and character that I had to use the polymer clay faux glass eyes! 

*You can also use 6mm, 8mm or 10mm black beads for the eyes (sewing or gluing them in place), which gives the characters a very sweet look. For kids crafts you can use simple circles cut from felt then glued in place, or inexpensive  googly-eyes purchased from the craft store (the ones with wobbly black pupils in the middle of the plastic domed eyes). 

**Keep in mind, if you use faux glass eyes or beads, the pom pom toy will not be suitable for smll children to play with, as it presents a choking hazard!! Please use felt circles for small children's gifts!!

Embellishments:

I made a small pom pom "Flowered Egg" as an accessory for my Happy Bluebird and gave him a small bouquet of paper millinery flowers for his favorite "Chick". 

I purchased the millinery flowers from my local mish-mosh-awesome-fabric-craft-store; SAS Fabrics, here in Phoenix Arizona. You can find millinery flowers to purchase online, or make your own paper flowers. Check youtube for video tutorials.

Display Stands:

If you do not intend for your pom pom critter to be a toy that can be held and played with...(yes, adults want to play with their pompoms too!)...It is a great idea to make a stand for your critter. 

I like to use small round wooden discs (available at every craft store) in various sizes depending on the size of the pompom character, for display stands. You can either glue the feet of your critter in place on the top of a painted wooden disc (embellished with felt, fabric, lace, trim, etc. if you desire), or you can pre-drill two holes, spaced an inch or so apart at the center (approx), and use ribbon or wire to securely tie the feet to the disc, coming up through the holes from underneath, then wrapping and twisting around the "ankles" and "feet" of your critter. 

If you use ribbon, you can bring it up from the bottom, through the holes, and tie a pretty bow to secure in a more optional manner, where it can be removed. Glue will always secure the best, but it will leave no options...once its glued, its there for good!

TOOLS: 

Sharp Scissors (to cut yarn & trim pom poms)

Wire Cutter or Kitchen Shears (to cut chenile stems)

Corsage Pins (for securing poms in place while glue dries)

Clover® PomPom Maker Tool

(You can find it on Amazon.com: Here)

OR 

Here is a link from the blog Homeade-Gifts-Made-Easy.com for various sizes of:

FREE Cardboard Pompom Templates

If you think you might enjoy this craft project, I strongly suggest purchasing Clover® Pompom maker tools, because you can whip out pompoms in no time flat! I have been astonished at the production level I have been able to achieve! I have made pompoms since I was a kid (many many moons ago), and the Clover® tools are sheer GENIUS!! 

I cannot tell you how much faster they get the job done then the old cardboard template "donuts" I used in the olden days! Better yet, the Clover® tools are extremely affordable! Other than the largest size, they come with two sizes to a package, and are under $10.00 at my local Joann's craft store. 

If you have a Joann's store near you, or you're able to purchase from them online at Joann.com, not only can you use one of their endless 40% off coupons, they also carry all of the sizes, which range from 3/4" up to about 6". 

Pom pom sizes can also be adjusted based on how much yarn you trim off. Each tool will actually create various sized pompoms, including much larger then their description mentions. If you wrap the pom pom maker very full it will produce a pompom much larger then the tool itself. 

Let the Crafting Begin!!

HEAD: 

1.  Using the Clover® yellow colored pom pom maker (size 1-5/8") 

wrap approx. 8-10 rounds of white yarn at the top center (only) of the pom pom maker tool (or cardboard template). This will form the tuft on the top of the head. Cut the yarn leaving a 1/2-inch tail that you can hold in place with your fingers while you add the blue yarn to the pom pom maker and wrap over the white area. Once you trim the pom pom the extra length with get trimmed away.

2.  Begin wrapping over the white yarn with light blue yarn, filling in the sides and over the top of the white wraps to cover it completely. Continue wrapping light blue yarn until the pom pom maker is full. Wrap the other side of pom pom maker with all light blue yarn. If you are new to making pompoms you can practice making a few single colored ones to get comfortable with the process, but its pretty simple!

3. Trim pom pom loops through the crevice in the Clover® pom pom maker, as described in the package directions. (photo is a different color then the light blue head, in case you noticed and thought your eyes were tricking you...I forgot to take a photo while making the light blue head...oops!) 

Tie a piece of waxed cord, pulling it up through the center of tool and around the total yarn wrapped fuzz ball (as described in tool information or in cardboard pom-maker tutorial); pull very snuggly, and tie a square knot to secure. Tie one additional knot just to be extra safe! Don't fret if your cord breaks, it happens to me all the time when I get to "He-womanish"...start over and you'll be good!

4. Pull apart the pom pom maker tool to release the pom pom. The pom pom will be irregular shape when you remove it, so don't fret!

Grab the cord-tie ends and shake back and forth in the air to fluff and shake loose. 

5. Trim pom pom into a round shape with your sharp scissors, leaving the white wrapped "tuft" of feathers untrimmed so it sticks up like fluffy "bird hair" (okay, "feathers" if you insist!). Go slowly with the trimming...a little goes a long way, and you can't grow it back, so don't be aggressive with your scissors. 

When first starting to trim, I hold onto the cord tie ends snuggly, trimming around and around and around, cutting in a "rounded" action that attempts to create the roundness from all angles. (You'll get better and better at this, the more pom poms you make). As you trim the blue yarn fibers, shaping the head into a round sphere and avoiding the white fibers, you will begin to see the white head tufts rise above the blue nicely. Once the head is shaped nicely you can trim the white tufts neatly, but keep them longer then the other blue yarn to give the bird some character. (I've made several of these and its always amazing to see the individual personality come forth...no two are exactly alike!)

6. BODY: 

Using the yellow Clover® Pom Pom Maker (size 1-5/8") wrap the center section on half of the Pom Pom tool with white, for chest "feathers". The amount can vary depending on how much white you want. Experimentation is your best friend. You will learn a lot by trying different things. Wrap the entire pom pom tool with light blue (or color of choice) covering over the white yarn completely.  Wrap the pom pom tool fully, yet still able to fold back into the trimming "chamber" as directed in tool instructions. (When I make mine, I wrap extra full because I like tight pom poms which trim into nice solid shapes, but you can make loose pom poms with wonderful results, also)

Cut through the loops as instructed in general package directions (or instructions with the cardboard template), and tie with a strong square knot using waxed cord. Add an additional knot for good measure! Remove from the tool and shake the pom pom to fluff.

8.  Trim body into an oval shape (which is easy because the pom poms come out of the tool in an oblong shape!) Just as with the head, avoiding trimming the white yarn "feathers" until the very end, so you have the ability to keep them longer. 

9.  ARMS: 

The chenille stems for the arms must be glued into place on the upper part of the torso prior to attaching the head. 

Separate the pom pom yarn with your fingers at the top of the oval shape, holding the fibers apart so you can glue the chenille stem in place without getting a glue mess everywhere. 

(see photo below)

10. Place a blob of glue at the center of the yarn separation. 

11. Take a chenille stem and decide where the center is more or less. (You will be trimming them eventually, so it isn't critical to be exact...unless of course you are an obsessive perfectionist, which we can discuss later in our 12-step Craft-a-holic Meeting!) haha

12. Lay the chenile stem/pipe cleaner across the parted yarn, pressing it down into the glue to nestle in the yarn fibers. 

13. Add a large blob of glue on top of the center point of the chenile stem where you will be attaching the head.

14. Keeping the tuft feathers on the top, attach the head pom pom by pressing into the glue, holding firmly in place. (You need a fair amount of glue to attach it, but you don't want so much that it makes a hard spot that is easily felt when the glue dries. 

15. Using a long corsage pin, stick the point end through the top of the head and into the body (temporarily), until the glue is dry enough to hold it securely.

16. LEGS:

Turn upside down (to the center underside of the body), and separate yarn fibers with your fingers just as you did for the arms,  then place a blob of glue at the center point, then place the center of a chenile stem into the glue.

17. The overflow glue will allow you to take your fingers and press the surrounding yarn pieces together from front and back, hiding the chenile stem. Hold onto it for a few moments to secure in place.

18.  Allow glue to dry completely.

(okay, so its upside down...but you get the idea!)

19. Eyes & Beak:

I probably should have waited to attach the eyes until the end, but this little guy was screaming to see, so I jumped ahead and glued his eyes on! I used my polymer faux glass eyes to create a whimsical real-life look, but you can also use beads or felt circles to make the eyes. 

Sugarplum Village Faux Glass Eyes Tutorial

For the beak, I cut two small triangles using yellow/gold felt and placed them one atop the other (to form a two sided beak that could be shaped), deep into the fibers (gluing along the straight edge of the beak triangle). The size depends upon the look you want to achieve...some beaks are bigger than others...Use your imagination!

20. The arms and legs are finished off by wrapping with yarn fibers. The arms are done in the same color as the body and head, whereas the legs are done in a golden yellow.

First the legs must be trimmed to the length you want. This is a matter of choice. Sometimes a long gangly legged bird can be adorable, other times a short squatty bird is full of the character you want...its your choice! I made mine about 3-1/2" to 4" long. Bend up about 1" into a "U" shape at the bottom to get an idea of where the foot will be. (I make a big loop at the bottom which will later be formed into a webbed shape foot). 

Place a thin dab of glue on the long leg side of the chenille stem (just above the height where the "U" top measures); Attach the end of yellow yarn there to secure in place. Unbend the "U" shape slightly so you can effectively wrap the yarn around the chenille stem, keeping in mind where your bend will be as you go. and begin wrapping around the chenille stem towards the "U" bend and the end of the chenille stem, covering with yellow. 

Before you get to the very end of the chenille stem, bend the "U" back into upward shape, bringing the end of the chenille stem together with the main leg and wrap around both the end and the leg, forming a loop to secure closed. 

(Sorry I forgot to take the photo...ugh)

Its a good idea to place tiny dabs of glue once in awhile to secure the yarn for years to come, but don't use too much! I am the "GLUE POLICE" and order you to be careful with your glue so you will end up with a fine quality handicraft! Wayward glue drips can ruin a project in no time flat, so be very careful!

Continue wrapping up the leg towards the body in an even manner, going all the way to the very top of the leg. Wrap around the upper part of the leg to form a tapered shape that resembles a "thigh". Once you achieve the look you like, place a tiny dab of glue near the top of leg to hide the end. Trim and hold carefully to make sure the yarn end grabs the glue. Repeat for opposite leg.

22. Carefully bend the loop upward into a "foot" angle, then bend the center of the foot loop inward to form a heart shape (or webbed foot, whichever terminology you prefer!) Voila! you have bird feet!

23. Arms are completed in a similar manner, first measuring and trimming the chenille stems to the chosen length, then using blue yarn that matches the body & head, repeat the process for the legs to wrap the arms. *Make the end loops smaller than for the feet.

As you can see from the photo, the arms have been wrapped slightly thicker than the legs...no real reason other than I think they look better being a bit thicker...just as wings are bigger then skinny bird legs, right?

Final Touches & Accessorizing

This sweet birdie is ready for springtime with his tiny paper flower bouquet (purchased at my local SAS fabric store...if you ever visit Phoenix, you MUST visit my HEAVEN on earth!) and a beautiful decorated Easter egg pom pom...which you can make yourself! 

I used the small Clover® pom pom maker (purple size .75 inches).

To make the tiny egg, begin by wrapping a flower "center" color on the pom pom tool with 3 or 4 wraps of color, then trim off. 

Next add the flower "petals" color by wrapping on both sides of the center color and across the top, covering the "center" color completely but not too many wraps because you need room for "leaves" and also the base cream color.

Add a few wraps of green (or leaf color of choice) on each side of the flower "petal" color.

Then wrap the base/background color of the egg over all of the colored flower wraps, covering completely and wrapping the tool fully but not too bulky to fit back into the pom pom maker tool!

Repeat on the other half of the pom pom maker if you want the design on both sides, otherwise, wrap the opposite side with the background color (I chose off white).

Cut ends and tie with waxed cord, then remove from pom pom maker (per package directions) and trim into a nice tidy egg shape. (You can see the difference in size, comparing the one on the left which was just removed from the pom pom maker, to the one on the right which has been trimmed).  Place the spring egg in the bent arm of your birdie and you are ready for a Fantastical Spring Fling!

"Tweet Tweet!"

I hope you have enjoyed this free tutorial for a Springtime Birdie  Pom Pom making! Please share your thoughts and pics with me here if you decide to dive into the world of Whimsical Pom Pom Pets!

Wishing you Sugarplum Dreams & Happily Ever Afters!!

Deanne xo