Thumbtack Decorator Balls

When you need a couple of thumbtacks to hang a poster, or for another reason, its crazy how many you actually have to buy. You cant just buy a tack or two; you have to purchase the whole pack. Its enough thumbtacks to last the average person for a lifetime. So, instead of letting those tacks just sit in the junk drawer why not give them a purpose? Tacks can be used to make all sorts of decorations, and accents on existing decorations. Youll enjoy a project to create beautiful decorator balls to fill vases, baskets, or plates.

Decorator balls are all the rage and have been for many years. They are available in so many different types that it can be challenging just to choose a single type. Wooden balls, glitter balls, map balls, photo collage balls - theyre all beautiful and worthy of displaying in your home. One person might set a single ball on a pedestal whereas another person might display a collection of the balls in a container. But instead of choosing decorator balls from a catalog or website, and paying ten bucks for one ball, make your own with thumbtacks. Since the tacks come in many different colors you can easily create ones that go along with the color scheme of any room in your home.

Purchase one or more Styrofoam balls to create the arrangement that you desire. You can mix various sizes of balls or make ones that are all alike. It can be helpful to paint each ball to be close in color to the shade of thumbtacks youll be using. That way, when youre finished attaching the tacks, the white ball wont be seen between the tacks. Ordinary thumbtacks - the metal type with the flat heads - look gorgeous when you attach them to the Styrofoam balls. When you shop online - or locally - you can find tacks in colors of gold, silver, blue, green, orange, purple, and more. Start by wrapping a tape measure, string, or similar piece, around the center of the ball. Use it as a straight edge to draw a line around the middle of the Styrofoam. Push a tack into the line, put another beside it, and continue until you cover the whole line. The tacks should be side-by-side and as straight as possible. Continue making another row around the ball, and another, until you cover half of the ball. Turn the ball around and do the same to the other half. Pile the finished balls in baskets or vases to display them in the living room, kitchen, bedroom, or elsewhere. Theyre eye-catching, cheap, and add a pop of color to any room.