How to Cover a Styrofoam Ball With Satin Fabric

eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

Things You'll Need

  • Styrofoam ball

  • Satin Fabric

  • String

  • Fine-tip marker

  • Hot glue or superglue

  • Straightedge or rotary cutter

  • Scissors

  • Parchment paper

Cover Styrofoam balls in satin fabric to create lightweight, decorative ornaments.

Styrofoam balls are commonly used as the core of Christmas tree ornaments. Covered in decorative fabric, these lightweight orbs can hang on trees or other delicate house fixtures without causing damage. The key to successfully covering a Styrofoam ball with satin fabric lies in geometry -- a piece of fabric not carefully shaped to the contours of the ball will buckle rather than lie flat. But executed properly, decorating a Styrofoam ball with smooth satin fabrics can yield an elegant homemade keepsake.

Advertisement

Step 1

Similar to the sections on this basketball, subdivide Styrofoam ball into six equal segments.

Wrap string around center of ball. Holding string tight, draw a line on the ball using string as a guide. Rotate ball 60 degrees, and repeat. Rotate ball 60 more degrees, and repeat. The goal is to subdivide the ball into six equal segments.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

Step 2

Wrap parchment paper around half of Styrofoam ball. Trace the lines of one segment, to yield an oblong, ovular stencil shape on the parchment paper.

Step 3

Cut stencil out of parchment paper.

Advertisement

Step 4

Lay satin fabric flat, and place parchment paper stencil flat over satin fabric. Using straightedge knife or rotary cutter, cut around stencil to cut out satin segment. Repeat for the five other segments.

Step 5

Apply hot glue or superglue around the outside edges of satin fabric, and place fabric on ball, using lined segments as a guide. Repeat for the five other segments.

Tip

If it's not a smooth satin cover you seek, try covering the Styrofoam ball with cut-out satin flowers. Just apply a dab of glue to the center of each flower and add to ball until it's completely covered in 3-D flowers.

If desired, glue decorative ribbon or rope to hide seams.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

references