Recent Posts

Surprise Balls

Last night our friends Aubrey and Blake came over and we made surprise balls, which are some of my most favorite things in the world. Basically it is a ball of crepe paper with ten little prizes and treats wrapped inside. You can do lots of things with them like take one to Christmas dinner and each person gets to unwrap it until a prize falls out. Or for a dinner party have one at each place setting or as a take home favor. They are just so charming. The ones they sell at The Tail of the Yak are like works of art. Ours weren’t as fancy but we did lumps of coal with black crepe paper. We are still trying to master how to do the ones like in the top picture from SFGate.} I’ll to put up a tutorial shortly on how to make them.


  1. please sir

    December 22, 2008

    These look so fun – I’ve always wanted to get one!

  2. Michelle

    December 22, 2008

    Oh looks like fun, they would be such pretty ornaments, like a pinata ornament.

  3. The Maltese Kat

    December 22, 2008

    So clever! I look forward to the instructions. I can’t wait to make these!

  4. Juste

    December 22, 2008

    oh, great idea! i cant wait to try to do them myself:)

  5. Veronica TM

    December 22, 2008

    that’s a great idea! in argentina, where i grew up, we had a similar game during children’s birthday parties. there would be a box wrapped in wrapping paper many times over, we would pass the package around and the person who would unwrap the last paper would win the present.
    lovely blog, by the way!

  6. Anonymous

    December 22, 2008

    Like a grown up pass the parcel! You don’t play pass the parcel at birthday parties in the states?

  7. April ~ Living the Sweet Life

    December 22, 2008

    Love these! It is the little touches like this that make a party memorable.

  8. Rachel

    December 22, 2008

    Oh so cool. I remember you telling me about these and I wish I would have bought a couple at Tail of the Yak. Can’t wait to see your tutorial.

  9. Alice Almighty

    December 22, 2008

    On the edge of my seat! I think these would be a great alternative to an orange at the toe of your stocking on Christmas morning!

    Always, Alice

  10. liz stanley

    December 22, 2008

    yes, the ones at tail of the yak are amazing! can’t wait for the tutorial!

  11. Laura

    December 22, 2008

    These are so lovely! I’d love to know how you made yours. Remind me of the game pass-the-parcel… pass around a wrapped gift and a treasure is hidden under each layer… so old-fashioned and so fun!

  12. Tonia Conger

    December 22, 2008

    cute idea!!!

  13. Robin

    December 23, 2008

    how cute. kind of remind me of the english crackers! i’d love to see the instructions. thanks for sharing!

  14. love.boxes

    December 23, 2008

    So pretty. I love those.

  15. Mooy oh Mooy!

    December 26, 2008

    Oh yes! we need a tutorial!!!!!! So great – I would like to make them as little hostess gifts or neighbor Christmas gifts for next year.

  16. Abbey Goes Design Scouting

    January 5, 2009

    I love surprise balls — Kiosk makes an AMAZING vintage one that I gave my mom for christmas — I also sell a few in my etsy shop… Happy New Year!

  17. Judy

    November 27, 2009

    TOPS Malibu makes Surprise balls and you can send them notes and photographs you want hidden inside. You can choose your gifts. They are quick to ship too.www.topsmalibu.com
    Judy

Comments are Closed

More Recent Posts