Tissue paper pom-poms are a fun touch to add to your decor for any occasion. They work for baby showers, wedding receptions, birthday parties and practically any other event. I used poms above the dessert table at my wedding reception. I was a 100 percent DIY bride, and when it came down to that last detail, I was too tired and overwhelmed to take on making my own poms. But if I had known how easy and quick they are to make, I would have definitely made my own.

Here is a photo of the dessert table at my wedding. The poms definitely add a fun pop of color to this area, don't you think?

These photos were taken by a very talented Kansas City based photographer, Rusty Wright of Rusty Wright of RJ Stills Photography. (I suggest you check out his wonderful his wonderful wedding photography if you're in the market, or just for fun!)

Anyways...back to the poms.

My friend Katie is having a baby shower this summer, so I offered to make the poms for the decor. I was happy that I finally had an excuse to make my own poms.

Here is what you'll need:
+ 10 sheets of the same color tissue paper  (Most people suggest 8 sheets, but I found they turned out best with at least 10 sheets.)
+ Scissors
+ Monofiliment or fishing line (for hanging the poms)
+ Bendable wire (I used 24-gauge)

And here are the simple steps for pom making:
1. Stack 10-12 sheets of tissue paper. I bought paper at Paper Source on the Plaza. If you haven't been there, I suggest you check it out...tons of great stuff to choose from!

2. Make 1 1/2-inch wide accordion folds, creasing with each fold.

3. Wrap your wire over center of folded tissue; twist until tightly secured. With scissors, trim ends of tissue into rounded or pointy shapes.

4. Separate the tissue layers, pulling away from center one at a time. Once pulled apart evenly, fluff the sections until you are happy with the fullness.

5. Tie a length of monofilament to wire for hanging.

I will post photos on my blog after the shower to show you how they looked as part of the decor.

TIPS:
+ I found the poms look better when you cut the rounded (or pointy) shape pretty deep instead of just the ends.
+ The first pom I made was a dud. I made it too big and didn't cut the rounded ends very deep, and it turned out poorly. I made some adjustments on my second pom, and they all turned out great after that.
+ To make a smaller pom, follow the same steps but simply cut down your tissue paper to a smaller rectangle or square.
+ I made a multi-colored pom using 4 sheets each of 4 similar colors (a fun alternative to a solid colored pom).

Other pom decor ideas:
You can also make a cute pom banner or vertical hanging poms like these:

 Audrey Kuether is the creative force behind Oh So Lovely, a Kansas City-based graphic design, photography and event planning company. She specializes in wedding design, photography and styling and planning. She lends her entertaining expertise every month for KC Magazine's Web-only "Entertaining Made Lovely" blog.