Ragballs are fun and easy to make! They look great displayed in Mason Jars or in Baskets, Bowls and Small Buckets.  Add them inside a Glass Mason Jar Lamp instead of Rosehips, or in addition to your Fixins, for a unique twist! You can even use them as tree ornaments.

First you need small strips of fabric, approx. 1" wide,  any length. Try
homespun fabric, tea-stained muslin, or any worn/soft fabric with plaids
and stripes.

Start by using styrofoam balls (any size) and wrap the strips around it until
the ball is completly covered. If you need to, glue the first strip down to the
styrofoam and anchor it with a straight pin, just until the glue "sets up", then
remove the pin. This is not a hot glue project, as it will melt your styrofoam. Use a white glue, like Aleene's Tacky Glue, it goes on white, but dries clear.

To finish off, glue the end in place or tuck the end under one of the overlaping strips of fabric. That keeps them uniform in size. By using scraps, these can be inexpensive to make.

Here's a tip if you don't have the styrofoam balls. Use very inexpensive fabric for your centers. Start rolling the strip tightly around itself and continue until you have the size you want. Then, wrap the better fabric strips around theinexpensive centers...You won't use as much "good" fabric this way.

For more variations, try finishing them off with a mixture of tacky glue, water, and a few drops cinnamon oil. The water is added to the tacky glue to thin it a little, so it is easier to spread onto the fabric. Dip the strips in the mixture and wrap around the styrofoam ball.

They can also be dipped in scented wax, but be careful that your wax isn't hot enough to melt your styrofoam ball. The wax dip should be done fairly quickly.You are only applying an outer layer, you aren't trying to saturate it.

Mary Roberson~Handmade Heartfelt 
 
http://www.ezshoppes.com/shoppe/?sid=HandmadeHeartfelt

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