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    Home » Repurposed Items » Decorative jute balls

    Decorative jute balls

    Published by Gail | Published May 18, 2022 | Updated December 8, 2022
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Easy project, fill your vase bowl or basket with these DIY rope wrapped whiffle balls. An inexpensive way to change up your decor for the seasons. So many possibilities of balls, twine and rope! #MyRepurposedLife #homedecor #DIY #rope #orbs #bowl #basket #vase #filler via @repurposedlife

    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

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    Reader Interactions

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    1. Mel the Crafty Scientist

      May 19, 2013 at 6:43 pm

      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

      Reply
    2. carsuch

      August 10, 2011 at 1:45 am

      Or, those stress-relieving rubbery things you're supposed to squeeze in your hand? I guess the possibilities are endless, right? 🙂

      Reply
    3. carsuch

      August 10, 2011 at 1:43 am

      Wonder if it would work to use old tennis balls to cover with jute? hmmmm ....

      Reply
    4. shoestringliving

      March 30, 2010 at 4:16 am

      Great project! I showcased you in my blog.

      Reply
    5. Jess @ Just a Blink

      March 29, 2010 at 6:35 pm

      What great imagination!

      Reply
    6. Stephanie Lynn

      March 25, 2010 at 8:21 pm

      They look great! I always raid the kiddie section - I've used these for fabric rag balls as well! Great job!

      Reply
    7. Laura Ingalls Gunn

      March 25, 2010 at 5:00 pm

      What a great project! You are a clever and crafty girl. Happy Spring!

      Reply
    8. Grace @ Ruby Moon Designs

      March 25, 2010 at 3:51 pm

      Awesome! I love that bowl too!

      Blessings, Grace

      Reply
    9. Queen Bee

      March 22, 2010 at 9:43 pm

      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

      Reply
    10. Amy @ peppertowne.com

      March 22, 2010 at 5:43 pm

      Nice bowl...I love that idea.

      Reply
    11. Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage

      March 22, 2010 at 4:39 pm

      Oh I love jute!! Thanks!

      Reply
    12. a girl in a gorilla suit

      March 22, 2010 at 4:28 pm

      love. love. love this idea!!!

      Reply
    13. Cari

      March 22, 2010 at 4:04 pm

      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!

      Reply
    14. marty (A Stroll Thru Life)

      March 21, 2010 at 4:48 pm

      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

      Reply
    15. Kara@ Creations by Kara

      March 19, 2010 at 4:58 am

      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!

      Reply
    16. Anne

      March 18, 2010 at 6:49 pm

      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.

      Reply
    17. luluvillage

      March 18, 2010 at 2:03 am

      "the harder you try- the more difficult it becomes" -
      too funny, too true!

      Reply
    18. Prior

      March 18, 2010 at 12:19 am

      Gail,
      very ingenios use of the wiffle balls. I love the look of your diplays and the price! Lezlee

      Reply
    19. Kelly @ Make It Sparkly Mama

      March 17, 2010 at 11:27 pm

      Wow, great idea! I love the idea of using wiffle balls and that album tray is awesome!

      Reply
    20. Sarah @ Thrifty Decor Chick

      March 17, 2010 at 4:14 am

      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!)

      Reply
    21. Infarrantly Creative

      March 17, 2010 at 2:46 am

      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

      Reply
    22. Kansas Amy

      March 17, 2010 at 12:51 am

      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

      Reply
    23. Peggy

      March 17, 2010 at 12:46 am

      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!)

      Reply
    24. Cherish @ My Cup of Tea

      March 16, 2010 at 11:23 pm

      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

      Reply
    25. Sharon@KeenInspirations

      March 17, 2010 at 2:54 am

      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

      Reply
    26. Megandvd@Beauty in the Attempt

      March 16, 2010 at 10:31 pm

      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

      Reply
    27. Kim

      March 16, 2010 at 10:00 pm

      Those turned out cute - it was smart to use those kids balls.

      Reply
    28. The DIY Show Off

      March 16, 2010 at 9:48 pm

      You're so clever! Great price - beautiful accessories! They look awesome!

      Roeshel

      Reply
    29. Es

      March 16, 2010 at 9:15 pm

      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... 😉

      Reply
    30. Es

      March 16, 2010 at 9:15 pm

      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... 😉

      Reply
    31. all thingz related

      March 16, 2010 at 9:06 pm

      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}

      Reply
    32. angie

      March 16, 2010 at 10:52 pm

      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!

      Reply
    33. Robyn

      March 16, 2010 at 6:28 pm

      Such an awesome THRIFTY IDEA! I LOVE it! I agree, the super cool Lp black bowl totally makes the balls POP and vice versa!

      Reply
    34. Kathy

      March 16, 2010 at 4:55 pm

      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!

      Reply
    35. Becky@Beyond The Picket Fence

      March 16, 2010 at 4:19 pm

      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!

      Reply
    36. Cheri

      March 16, 2010 at 4:18 pm

      Smart thinking. I have a few of those laying around in our yard. Who needs styrofoam!

      Reply
    37. handbags*n*pigtails

      March 16, 2010 at 2:20 pm

      Great idea Gail! Thanks for sharing. And i was just kidding about calling you a slacker. It was worth the wait!:)
      Sarah

      Reply
    38. Peggy

      March 16, 2010 at 2:17 pm

      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!

      Reply
    39. Ginger

      March 16, 2010 at 2:01 pm

      Love how you taught us how to make these balls
      .Thank you so much for sharing so many tips & tutorials.

      Reply
    40. Pam

      March 16, 2010 at 1:41 pm

      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.

      Reply
    41. Suzanne

      March 16, 2010 at 1:40 pm

      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

      Reply
    42. Cha Cha

      March 16, 2010 at 1:39 pm

      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

      Reply
    43. Treasia Stepp

      March 16, 2010 at 1:38 pm

      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.

      Reply

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    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

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