Today we’re sharing a special DIY by Sally Shim. Sally’s been contributing to Oh Happy Day for over a year, and now I’m excited to announce that she just released a new book: Pretty Packages (you can order it by clicking here
Felted Ball Garland by Sally Shim
Crafting felted balls requires few materials and is a great addition to a gift when you have a little time on your hands. All you need is wool roving, dishwashing soap, and water and you can make felted balls of all sizes. Wool roving can be found at knitting or craft stores. If you don’t have time to make felted balls, you can use store-bought mini pom-poms. This DIY makes 1 garland with 5 or 6 felted wool balls. Bright Idea: Instead of stringing the felted balls, you can glue individual felted balls in a random pattern on the wrapped box. Mix two or more colors of wool roving to create multicolored felted balls.
Supplies: Wrapped gift, A few handfuls of wool roving Cotton embroidery thread, 1 tbsp dishwashing soap, Small bowl containing 1 cup/240 ml hot water, Spoon, Small bowl of cold water Embroidery needle
Step 1: Add the 1 tbsp dishwashing soap to the small bowl with 1 cup/ 240 ml of hot water. Stir the dishwashing soap and hot water with a spoon until it is mixed well. Tear off a small handful of wool roving (approximately one-eighth of the total roving); the ends will be frayed when you make the tear. Gently dip the wool into the soapy water. You want the wool to be slightly damp, but not fully wet.
Step 2: Gently rub the wool between your hands, forming a ball shape. Once a ball shape is formed, dip the wool into the small bowl with cold water.
Step 3: Continue to rub the wool while adding more pressure.
Step 4: Alternate between rubbing the wool and dipping the wool into the hot soapy water and the cold water until the ball feels firm and dense. Repeat this process to make the desired number of felted balls. Let the felted wool balls dry for 24 hours.
Step 5: Thread the needle with the embroidery thread and use it to string the felted balls, leaving enough of the thread at each end to wrap around the gift and secure with a knot. Trim the thread ends.
(Giveaway is now CLOSED. Our winner will be contacted via email. Thanks!)
And here’s how to win a copy of Pretty Packages for yourself:
1) Visit Sally’s site to read more about Pretty Packages.
2) Comment below on why you’d like to own this book!
The giveaway ends on 9/22 when the winner will be chosen at random.
Photos by Madelene Farin
Lucy Heath
September 16, 2014
Why wouldn’t I want this book?!?
Claire
September 16, 2014
Gift wrapping is one of my favorite things to do and one of the reasons I love to give gifts! Spending a little extra time to make the wrapping fun and personalized, means so much! I’d love to own a copy of this book and try out all of her great ideas.
cloudcalculator
September 16, 2014
I really want to win the book because it will cheer me up…and give me ideas to pass on the cheer by giving pretty packages to people..
Julie
September 16, 2014
What a fun book! Makes giving gifts more personal and special!
Elle
September 16, 2014
The gift wrap is almost as important as the gift. Would love this book!
ver
September 16, 2014
i feel that when you’re giving someone a present, part of the excitement is tied into the presentation. this book would be so helpful in giving new ideas and inspiration!
Laura
September 16, 2014
I would love to own this book because I adore giving presents, and the presentation creates wonderful anticipation. I would love more ideas!
Kristen
September 16, 2014
What a beautiful and inspiring book!
Denise
September 16, 2014
PICK ME PICK ME PICK ME!!! 😀 😀
A marvelous book of creative ideas on gift wrapping! I would love to own this book so that I can inspire others to put in creative effort in gift wrapping too 🙂
Katie Rubin
September 16, 2014
Because pretty things make me happy!
heather a
September 16, 2014
I love a beautiful and creatively wrapped gift! Reminds me of my mom who used to wrap the most beautiful presents with big colorful bows.
Alyssa Nerio
September 16, 2014
This book would be great for me. A couple years ago I got told I wrap presents horribly. The past year or so I haven’t heard a complaint. I’m always looking for new ways to wrap things.
Taylor
September 16, 2014
I’d love to learn how to inexpensively decorate gifts instead of using pricey gift wrap!
Emily M
September 16, 2014
This looks wonderful. I’ve been in a bit of a boring rut with wrapping, and I’d love some fresh ideas!
JenJ
September 16, 2014
I would love to own this book! I always seem to be wrapping presents and I’d definitely put the book to good use trying out new ideas! The book looks wonderful!
Nancy D
September 16, 2014
It’s my mother-in-law’s 60th birthday in November and she’s the most creative woman I know who enjoys making pretty things! This would be perfect for her !
Amy
September 16, 2014
I’ve never written a comment on any blog before, EVER! But something about this book draws me in. Judging it by its cover! I mostly wrap presents these days with my sons many easel paintings, but the ideas in the book seems truly unique. I’ve alwYs wanted to try wool ball felting and this has convinced me to actually try it. Thank you already!
mindi
September 16, 2014
i need all the inspiration i can get in this department!
cheers!
Rachel
September 16, 2014
I love wrapping gifts and have a pretty good ribbon selection. However, I’d love to learn new ideas/materials to incorporate into my wrapping. This book looks like it would do the trick!
Angela Ethier
September 16, 2014
I love wrapping presents! And I’m always looking for new ideas. I think a lot of the time, I spend way more time and effort wrapping the gift, than I do on the gift itself. My favourite time of the year is Christmas. Every year I choose a new theme to wrap all of my presents to!
Ashley
September 16, 2014
Oh my gosh! I really cannot wait to try this!!
-Ashley
http://www.ashleykiraand.blogspot.com
Noa Lazar
September 16, 2014
Love it! I would love to have this book, because just seeing the cover made me smile and inspired me to make stuff today!
Thank you, and Thanks for a great blog.
Genie
September 17, 2014
so my gorgeous best friend made me a big bundle of presents for my birthday – all beautifully wrapped in Marimekko paper! This book would be an amazing help to wrap gifts for her upcoming birthday!
Michael Nand
September 17, 2014
I would love this book because gift wrapping really finishes off a present. AND there are loads of ideas you could turn into pretty decorations too!
Magali
September 17, 2014
I would love to win this book because I absolutely love love love gift wrapping. My husband and I already have a deal for when we buy the house. Part of the basement will be dedicated to his homebrewing and the other to my gift wrapping station!
Jen
September 17, 2014
I love giving unexpected presents, and am always looking for clever wrapping ideas with various items on hand — this looks like it would super-charge my ideas and efforts!
wolfie
September 17, 2014
For my twin girls birthdays!
Cora
September 17, 2014
This is awesome! Wrapping presents makes me so excited for holidays and birthdays. I’m always putting just as much thought and effort into the presentation as I do for the gift itself. I’d love to explore Sally’s book to get some inspiration; in the case of gifts, you really can judge by the “cover”! I’m way excited to get my hands on this book!!
Alicia Shelley
September 17, 2014
This book looks so cute! With my small business of indie nail polish I’m always trying to find cute and thoughtful ways to send out my packages to customers. I think this would be perfect because it will give me simple ideas without going too over the top or budget. And I’m sure my customers will love the wrapping!
Marie
September 17, 2014
Hi! I hope this is open internationally! Would love to own this book because I want to tap into my inner Martha Stewart and unleash some creativity. Sometimes I don’t feel too excited about a project if I am just doing it for myself and would just keep the end product. But if it’s for somebody else, whether a friend, a relative, or my significant other, I tend to really get into it. So, I want more inspiration for stuff I could give to people, even if it’s just the packaging. 😀
Julie Jones
September 17, 2014
This book looks absolutely gorgeous! I’m sure it would offer endless inspiration to me, as wrapping gifts creatively always makes me happy 🙂
Julie
September 17, 2014
because gift wrapping is half the fun! the other half is seeing the person’s face as they unwrap!
so for once in my life, let me get what I want, lord knows it would be the first time!
JENN
September 17, 2014
My brother and SIL are expecting their 2nd baby in a few weeks and I plan on making big sister gifts for my niece. She will be staying with my mom for the first two weeks and I plan on giving her a small gift each day she’s there. This book will be perfect to wrap all the little things I got for her.
Danirob
September 17, 2014
I recently purchased an expensive felted ball garland to use as a pull chain for ceiling fan. I am going to use this tutorial to make another one for hopefully a fraction if the cost!
Sarah B.
September 17, 2014
This book is amazing. It is everything I have been looking for. Two things that I really enjoy are 1. crafts and 2. giving gifts. There is nothing that I like more than seeing someone faces when your surprise them with a gift. And for me it is not just about the gift, but the work put in to making the gift look amazing! If people judged gifts by there wrappings, then all the gifts that people would receive with some of these cute, crafty ideas would say “BEST GIFT EVER!” Also, if you are not just giving an individual a gift in a personal setting and have to bring a present to an event or a party, this would definitely make your gift stand out amongst everyone else’s on the gift table. If I saw a gift that was made with some of these designs, I would be thinking “Oh Man, I really want to open that gift first!” This book just calls to me; I need this book. Whether I win or not, I am getting this book!
NancyY
September 17, 2014
Because gift wrapping equals a little low-stakes, high reward creative endeavor – who doesn’t love a beautifully wrapped package?
Patricia
September 17, 2014
Because i’m a sucker for super pretty packaging. I’ve just started delving into my creative side last year, and am loving it! I love wrapping gift boxes as much as i love making them. So this book would really help me a lot to amp up my game when it comes to packaging.
Malia
September 17, 2014
I love wrapping presents, but need some new inspiration! Sally’s always got such cute ideas.
Joani
September 17, 2014
My goal for this Christmas is to finally have gift wrapping that matches the level of thoughtlessness I put in the gifts I give — so I need this book to help me make that happen!e
Katie
September 17, 2014
I love the impact of pretty packaging. It’s totally unnecessary, but it’s an extra touch that shows you put effort into the gift-giving.
Katherine Cheng
September 17, 2014
I make letterpress cards at home as a hobby. I would love to get ideas from the book on how to package my cards and make gift tags for them when I give the cards away as gifts to my family and friends!
Meegan
September 17, 2014
I love pretty wrapping!
Rebecca
September 17, 2014
I love wrapping gifts, I have a gorgeous collection of vintage wrapping papers and always try to get creative with tags and bows.
I would love this book because it looks so lovely and would give me so many new ideas…
If only everyone could get a copy so they would stop using gift bags altogether.
Em
September 18, 2014
What a cute idea.
I always love playing around with different gift wrapping ideas. It’s such a nice way to show how much you care for people.
Kimberley
September 18, 2014
I love using unique ways to wrap gifts and this will certainly provide some inspiration!
Kathryn
September 18, 2014
Such a great look! I’d love to get a copy- I’ve always loved packaging almost more than gifts themselves haha!
Susi
September 18, 2014
I love to wrap gifts and such so this book would be so great. 🙂
Anaïs
September 18, 2014
What a great book!! My husband always makes fun of me when I spend ages trying to find new ideas to wrap the presents we will offer…this book would definitely give me the best ideas and, judging by the cover, make our lives more colourful!!
Congratulations for this nice project!
Robin
September 18, 2014
Wow! Gorgeous book! Would love to have it in time for the holidays! It would make all those presents under the tree look extra festive this year.
Janet
September 18, 2014
I could use more creativity in my gift wrapping so this book seems like that would help 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway!