Jute, yarn, and twine decor balls- tried it out Thursday

I tried out what seems to be a simple craft and FAILED! I have been wanting to add some more non seasonal, everyday décor to my collection and thought the jute and twine balls would be just the thing. I made a couple by coiling some jute around a Styrofoam ball and gluing it down and wrapping the ball. These were easy enough, but if I ever make more of these I will try to use as little glue as possible, because I really don’t like seeing the lines and gobs of glue between my rows of jute. I also made one the same way with yarn.

Here is where the FAILURE comes in. I got some balloons and proceeded to make some twine balls with cotton twine and Mod Podge. Here’s what I started with.

I realize it would probably be cheaper with glue and water, but I’m lazy and thought I’d skip a step so I used Mod Podge. Only one of four really turned out well. One of them was really deformed and not at all even. This one pictured below that I tried with yarn still looks like something shedding out of its skin. I guess I used too much Mod Podge.

Yet another one apparently did not dry all the way or never hardened enough and it is now sagging under the weight of the other balls I put on top of it in a vase.

The solution to all of this- Big Lots! I got tired of burning my fingers with the hot glue/ wrapped versions and after trying yet another twine/yarn version with glue and water that failed to harden enough (I’m guessing I thinned the glue too much or used too little this time), I went to Big Lots and purchased 3 décor balls for 8 dollars so I could finish my decorating project (which I’ll share in a few days.) These were large enough to justify the expense. You can’t even buy three styrofoam balls this size for 8 dollars. Sometimes DIY does not save money or time enough to justify the money saved!

I’ll be linking to these great parties:

Think Pink Sundays*Keep It Simple Sunday*Under the Table and Dreaming* Sundae Scoop*Creative Bloggers Party and Hop* Craftomaniac Monday*Making the World Cuter*Just Something I Whipped Up at TGC* Masterpiece Monday* Motivate Me Monday*Inspire Me Monday*Market Yourself Mondays at Sumo’s Sweet Stuff* Pink Hippo Party*More The Merrier Monday*Running With Glitter*Twenty Minute Tuesdays*Take a Look Tuesday* Handmade Tuesdays* Tuesday Time Out* Tell Me Tuesday*Tuesday Talent Show*My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia* Tip Junkie*Get Your Craft On*Whatever Goes Wednesday*Hooking Up with HOH* Wow Us Wednesday*Blissful and Domestic* Blue Cricket Design*All Things Inspired*Handy Man, Crafty Woman* Tea Rose Home*Share the Wealth* Dragonfly Designs*My Girlish Whims*Wow Me Wednesday* Show and Share* Fireflies and Jellybeans* Someswhat Simple Strut Your Stuff*It’s Sew Stinkin Cute Craft Thursday*Thrifty Thursday*Creative Juice*Transformation Thursday* A Crafty Soiree*Tidy Mom*Simply Sweet Home*Simply Designing*Chic on a Shoestring Flaunt It Friday*Fingerprints on the Fridge*BFF Open House at The Answer is Chocolate* Creation Corner* Sassy Sites FFA*Tatertots and Jello*Funky Junk’s Saturday Night Special*Be Different Act Normal* Delicately Constructed Fridays*Friday Frolic*UnCommonly Yours