Poms Away!!

Come into Brownstone the day after a major holiday and you're sure to see at least one of the girls poofing a tissue paper pom or up on the ladder hanging them from the ceiling above the front desk. These bright and festive poms have become a fast fixture in all of Brownstone's seasonal decorating mainly because of how simple they are to make and how quickly they change a mood. One month the poms are brown and orange for fall foliage, the next, festive red and green in honor of the Christmas season and if you were to walk in today you would see romantic pink and red for Valentine's.

All that is needed to make your own tissue paper poms is a little tissue, a pipe cleaner, some ribbon and a bit of patience.

• First layer 8-12 sheets of tissue paper in a stack on a flat surface. The more tissue you use the fuller your pom will be {I recommend using 10 sheets when using traditional 20x30 inch tissue} but if you are using the larger paper, a few extra sheets are not a bad idea.
• Next, you are going to fold the entire stack of tissue lengthwise, back and forth, accordion-style into 1.5 inch folds.
• Now, bind the middle of your tissue paper stack with a piece of wire or a pipe cleaner.
• If you plan to hang your pom, now would be the time to tie a long piece of ribbon or fishing line to the pipe cleaner. If you plan to attach your pom to the wall or use it in a centerpiece without hanging, just ignore this step and move on.
• The next step is what really gives your pom its personality. While all the tissue is bound together tight you are going to trim the edge into either a point or curve. The curved scalloped edge is a softer look and adorable for baby showers or wedding decor. But the pointed edge is a bit more festive and fun, especially with the bright colored poms.
• Now comes the fun part. Fan out the tissue and start separating the tissue, one sheet at a time. Be careful not to rip the paper, but if an accident should happen, don't stress, once the pom is fully poofed out it is difficult to notice the little imperfections.

Congratulations! You've mastered the art of tissue paper poms and now you are ready to experiment with all the color and size combinations you and your friends can come up with! Because make no mistake, one they see you can make these tissue paper balls of fun, they will all want your help decorating for their next party!Keep Crafting,
Jennifer