How to Make a Christmas Kissing Ball
Skip the mistletoe and hang a beautiful Christmas kissing ball that you made on a budget using fresh greens and some holiday decor. Learn how to make a Christmas kissing ball in a few easy steps!
While mistletoe has been all the rage, Christmas kissing balls are making a huge comeback in a big way.
Have you seen them sold at your local nursery, market, or big box store?
Kissing balls are so pretty with festive winter greens, holiday decor and some fancy ribbon.
But they can be pretty pricey if you buy them pre-made.
So today, I’m sharing how to make a Christmas kissing ball using fresh winter greens. It’s easy to do and will look better than purchasing it pre-made.
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What is a Christmas Kissing Ball?
Kissing balls are ball shapes that come in a variety of sizes with bunches of holly and evergreen foliage that hang from the ceiling.
These beautiful green balls can be accented with festive holiday decor, ribbon, berries, and pine cones.
And the beauty of making it yourself, is you can design it to your Christmas aesthetic for the season.
Where Do You Hang a Kissing Ball?
There are a few great spots to hang a pre-made or DIY Christmas kissing ball.
- Porch
- Bay Window
- Above a Mantel
- High Doorway
- Architectural Opening
- From a Chandelier
Wherever you choose to hang it, be sure to leave some headroom beneath so nobody knocks into it!
Do You Need to Water a Kissing Ball?
If the kissing ball is made with fresh winter greens the answer is yes.
I recommend soaking the floral foam sphere before making the ball, as well as hydrating the winter greens.
In addition, it’s best to keep it out of direct sunlight if possible and to water the ball every few days before it dries out.
How often will depend on your microclimate and where the ball is maintained.
It’s not necessary to keep it soggy, but the greens will last much longer if they are kept hydrated.
You can learn all about how to care for fresh winter greens when using them in your holiday decor here.
How to Make a Christmas Kissing Ball Homemade
If you’ve never made a kissing ball before, it might seem a little daunting at first.
But once you visualize how the ball is made together with actually making it, it’s fairly easy to do.
Supplies Needed
While you’ll need to gather some fresh greens like pine, juniper, or holly, there are also a few floral supplies needed to make a Christmas Kissing Ball.
Here’s what you need.
- Round Floral Foam Sphere
- Thick, Sturdy Wire
- Popsicle Stick or Sturdy Stick
- Ribbon
- Evergreens (like pine, juniper and holly)
- Additional Accents (optional)
Directions to Make a DIY Christmas Kissing Ball
I think the toughest part to making a kissing ball is ensuring the floral foam sphere remains on the wire.
Because you can’t just thread a wire through the sphere or it will fall off with the weight of the greens.
But I’ve got a little trick for you to keep it on and make the ball sturdy so it doesn’t break or fall.
Once you read through how to make the kissing ball sturdy, the rest is easy to do.
You ready? Ok let’s go!
- Soak floral foam ball until it is moist.
- To secure the ball on the hanging wire and hold the weight of the greens, run the wire all the way through the center of the ball. The best way to do this is by taking a skewer, thin stick or screwdriver and drive it through the sphere to make a lane for the wire. You can try directly running the wire through but I find it easier to wrap it around that same stick thread it through the ball.
- To anchor the sphere on the base so it doesn’t just drop off, wrap that wire around a popsicle stick or very sturdy brandh from the landscape at the bottom so the stick lays perpendicular and supports the ball when hung. Don’t let the stick be much longer than the width of the sphere, or it will stick out of the ball. We don’t want to see that.
- Next, make a loop of wire at the top to make hanging the ball easier.
- Then cut greens of equal length on a 45-degree angle and remove the foliage that will be stuck in the ball.
- Fill the ball by adding the cut ends into the spheres and randomly keep adding greens until it is full.
- At the top of the kissing ball, tie ribbon, and hang. If you want to hang ribbon from the bottom, you can do that too!
How to Make a Christmas Kissing Ball
Equipment
Materials
Instructions
- Soak floral foam ball until it is moist.
- To secure the ball on the hanging wire and hold the weight of the greens, run the wire all the way through the center of the ball.
- Then wrap that wire around a popsicle stick at the bottom so the stick lays perpendicular and supports the ball when hung.
- Make a loop of wire at the top to make hanging the ball easier.
- Cut greens of equal length on a 45-degree angle and remove the foliage that will be stuck in the ball.
- Fill the ball by adding the cut ends into the spheres and randomly keep adding greens until it is full.
- Tuck in pinecones and berries to add texture and dimension. This step is optional but I love it so much more with them!
- At the top of the kissing ball, tie ribbon, and hang.
Want to Learn How to Decorate With Fresh Greens for the Holidays?
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This 40-page guide is full of simple DIY holiday decorating ideas that includes how to cut, care for, and design with fresh greens, as well as tips to purchase and incorporate faux greens with your holiday decorating style to create a cozy, beautiful, and organic vibe.
From porch styling to cozy centerpiece and tablescape inspiration, wait until you try these budget-friendly holiday decorating ideas using fresh greens for every room in your home.
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Looking For More Christmas Decorating Ideas?
Wait until you see these holiday decorating, entertaining, and food ideas to create a cozy home for Christmas.
- 23 Inspiring Christmas Aesthetics for 2022
- First Christmas in Our New Home Tour
- Last Christmas in Our Home Tour
- 6 Delicious Dinner Ideas for Christmas
- Christmas Tree Ornament Storage Hack (Tiktok Made Me Do It)
- 6 Clever Christmas Dinner Easy Table Decorating Ideas
- Where to Buy the Best Faux Christmas Trees
- Where to Buy the Best Faux Winter Greens and Florals
- Christmas Decorating Trends for 2021
- 13 Simple Christmas Decorating Ideas for Your Home
- How to Make an Advent Wreath
- Winter Gardening With Outdoor Planters
- 5 Clever Ideas for the Prettiest Christmas Table Settings
- 17 Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas
- Easy Christmas Cookies
- Rustic Farmhouse Christmas Decorating Ideas
- Easy Outdoor Planters for Winter
- Budget-Friendly Winter Outdoor Planters
The 10 Days of Christmas
Did you catch the 10 days of Christmas where my friends and I shared daily inspiration to get you psyched up and ready for the holidays?
From Christmas decorating ideas to gift-wrapping ideas, these posts have you covered with lots of creative and budget-friendly ideas.
In case you missed it, you can catch the 10 Days of Christmas lineup here:
- Day 1 – Christmas DIY Ideas
- Day 2 – Front Porch Decorating Ideas
- Day 3 – Christmas Tree Ideas
- Day 4 – Christmas Table Decor Ideas
- Day 5 – Christmas Cookies and Sweet Treats
- Day 6 – Christmas Decorating Ideas
- Day 7 – Bloggers’ Favorite Christmas Idea
- Day 8 – Gift Wrapping Ideas
- Day 9 – Wreaths & Front Door Decor
- Day 10 – Winter Greenery
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Enjoy a beautiful day! xo
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