Jute Rope Wrapped Balls
Maybe you call them Jute Balls, Decorative Rope Ornament Balls, Bowl Fillers, Vase Fillers, or Bowl Orbs. Whatever you call them, it's cheaper to do it yourself!
When I decided to make some, I went to get Styrofoam balls and was shocked at their price! I already had the jute (a hand-me-down from my daughter Jamie) and I wanted this project to be as cost saving as possible. I started searching for anything round, that I could glue some jute on.
This is what I found! At the Dollar Tree. Five of these kid’s balls for 1 buck! Can’t beat that.
Materials to Make Rope Orbs
Here are my supplies. A 20 cent ball and some free jute.
Use Hot Glue Gun
Of course, you will need hot glue and a glue gun. It's amazing how quick and easy this Decorative Rope Ball project is! You may want to use some Hot Glue Finger Protectors to make this job safer and quicker!
I chose this free cheap jute, but you could easily use a different kind of rope, maybe even colored jute or twine to match your decor.
Oh, wouldn't these be pretty in holiday colors for Christmas? This home decor project can be made quickly, for very little money.
The whiffle balls were so incredibly cheap, but you may already have Styrofoam, or other kiddie plastic balls on hand. I think it would be great to have different sized plastic ball orbs.
Small Whiffle Ball Jute Orbs
Voila! One rope wrapped orb complete using very little jute and not much time.
This is what the plastic rope wrapped ball looks like on its side. Don't you love how easy it looks to do?
Thrift Store Bowl Fillers
While in Nashville visiting Jamie, we went to Music City Thrift Store. I picked up these twig bowl filler orbs for $1.99
What a great deal I got on the twig bowl fillers! I like the variety they offer!
Vinyl Record Bowl for Orbs
Jamie’s husband Andy has a fondness for vinyl album. He’s a DJ. He made me this bowl for my birthday.
When I got back from Nashville, I was trying to decide where I should display my new vintage album bowl. So I started playing around with putting the decorative balls in it.
I added the balls I got at the thrift store. Don't you love the way the black and the brown look together?
gail
Mel the Crafty Scientist
Love your blog and this project with jute - so fun! Just wanted to let you know I featured you in my roundup of jute craft projects here. Feel free to check it out if you want and hope you like it! : )
-Mel the Crafty Scientist
carsuch
Or, those stress-relieving rubbery things you're supposed to squeeze in your hand? I guess the possibilities are endless, right? 🙂
carsuch
Wonder if it would work to use old tennis balls to cover with jute? hmmmm ....
shoestringliving
Great project! I showcased you in my blog.
Jess @ Just a Blink
What great imagination!
Stephanie Lynn
They look great! I always raid the kiddie section - I've used these for fabric rag balls as well! Great job!
Laura Ingalls Gunn
What a great project! You are a clever and crafty girl. Happy Spring!
Grace @ Ruby Moon Designs
Awesome! I love that bowl too!
Blessings, Grace
Queen Bee
Hi Gail,
I see you figured out that Thrift Decor Chick gave us all a peek thru FB!!
It was actually the back patio that I "ruined"...and we are trying to sell our house, So you can imagine the tongue lashing I received.
Thanks for letting me tag along!!
Jen
Amy @ peppertowne.com
Nice bowl...I love that idea.
Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage
Oh I love jute!! Thanks!
a girl in a gorilla suit
love. love. love this idea!!!
Cari
I scored some old styrofoam Christmas ornaments at a garage sale. I got them just over a penny a piece! I knew I could do something with them and now I finally know what!
marty (A Stroll Thru Life)
Love the twine balls. So cute and I love the twig ones too. How cute is that to turn the record into a bowl. Love it. Beautiful. Hugs, Marty
Kara@ Creations by Kara
Great minds must think alike. I just bought the EXACT same balls on Tuesday so I could make some jute spheres. Wish mine were done like yours are!
Anne
Thanks for the tip - I need to stop by the Dollar Tree! I've been wanting to make some jute balls but I just couldn't bring myself to spend so much money on styrofoam balls.
luluvillage
"the harder you try- the more difficult it becomes" -
too funny, too true!
Prior
Gail,
very ingenios use of the wiffle balls. I love the look of your diplays and the price! Lezlee
Kelly @ Make It Sparkly Mama
Wow, great idea! I love the idea of using wiffle balls and that album tray is awesome!
Sarah @ Thrifty Decor Chick
UM...the balls from the $1 store are brilliant! Do you know how much those foam balls are that I used? (I had had them for years but STILL!)
Infarrantly Creative
I always struggle with making them look purdy too. You are a girl cut from the same cloth as myself. I can totally see my juting wiffle balls. HAHA
Kansas Amy
I posted a blog award for you over on my blog, come check it out!
http://creativeinkansas.blogspot.com/2010/03/beautiful-blogger-award.html
Peggy
Gail,
Thanks for the note! It has now been updated... No, my heart is not in Alaska. It is beautiful up there but right now I am lovin' Indiana! Just saw the most gorgeous sunset and was able to keep the door open for it! Woo hoo! Naww, my heart is where ever my sweet baboo is. (I am so glad hubby doesn't normally read any comments I make, hee hee!)
Cherish @ My Cup of Tea
Love it!!! I think my fave is still seashell balls!!!
http://images.google.com/images?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=s&hl=en&source=hp&q=seashell%20ball&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi
Sharon@KeenInspirations
A unique and thrifty idea for your jute balls! As many of those as we have "flying" around here, I would never have thought of using them for centers. I couldn't believe how expensive the styrofoam balls were either...so I used some clearanced (large) Christmas Ornaments. You can see them here when you have a minute.
http://keeninspirations.blogspot.com/2010/03/decorative-balls.html
Megandvd@Beauty in the Attempt
Love them...and love the album bowl is so fun. My uncle would love that! I think I created a few album bowls by accident when I was younger...gotta love "experiments."
Cheers~
e
Kim
Those turned out cute - it was smart to use those kids balls.
The DIY Show Off
You're so clever! Great price - beautiful accessories! They look awesome!
Roeshel
Es
Haha that is too funny-- I made sheet music balls using those same wiffle balls last week! Have yet to post it though. Great minds... 😉
Es
Haha that is too funny-- I made sheet music balls using those same wiffle balls last week! Have yet to post it though. Great minds... 😉
all thingz related
Looks GOOD! Glad to see you used Rebekah's idea of using the balls from $Tree!! I can't wait to tell her...she will be so excited!
~Bridgette {allthingzrelated}
angie
The album bowl is just too much, love it. I've always wanted to make one, but the fumes in the house would be overwhelming. Think you made the right choice of the bowl and balls!
Robyn
Such an awesome THRIFTY IDEA! I LOVE it! I agree, the super cool Lp black bowl totally makes the balls POP and vice versa!
Kathy
I work in Nashville and have never been to Music City Thrift! What is wrong with me?!!! I'm googling it now and going at lunch!
Love the jute balls, but especially like the vinyl record tray. Brilliant idea!
Becky@Beyond The Picket Fence
Your twine balls turned out perfectly and I love the mix of balls you used in the bowl. I used to make record bowls as a kid. Got in trouble a few times for melting down my parents albums--oops!
Cheri
Smart thinking. I have a few of those laying around in our yard. Who needs styrofoam!
handbags*n*pigtails
Great idea Gail! Thanks for sharing. And i was just kidding about calling you a slacker. It was worth the wait!:)
Sarah
Peggy
I seriously like these! I know what you mean about having decorator issues, ha ha!! It's taken me 20 years of marriage to finally define my "style" which my hubby defines as eclectic. I call it world traveller! 🙂 And do you know what is so sad, I just realized we made these with my preschoolers (taught for a few years) back in the 80's. We used paper mache paste and used small balloons for the form. Once they were dry we popped the balloons.. Wa la! Thanks for reminding me!! (it must have been the wiffle bat balls...)
Once again thanks for the post!
Ginger
Love how you taught us how to make these balls
.Thank you so much for sharing so many tips & tutorials.
Pam
I bought plastic balls over a year and a half ago to do this same thing with and have yet to do it. I will have to go ahead and get that one since I have a wire bowl I really want to display some in. Thanks for reminding me.
Suzanne
Your jute balls look fantastic and I love them against the black of the vintage album bowl. I've never seen a bowl like that. They are fabulous!
- Suzanne
justanotherhangup.blogspot.com
Cha Cha
you are such a smart cookie, my kids better look out, momma is going shopping in their ball stash today. I love your decorative balls and that bowl is to die for. thanks for inspiring me.
Cha Cha
Treasia Stepp
I love how you've displayed them all. I've wanted to make some of those myself but as you said the Styrofoam ones are ridiculous. Thanks for giving me another idea.