Snow Garland with Cotton Balls and String | Creating a Winter Wonderland

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Who knew something so simple could be this magical? Snow garland is my new favorite thing.

I mean, isn’t it dreamy? And all it took to make this snow garland was one Christmas movie, (While You Were Sleeping), a hot glue gun, one bag of cotton balls, and some nylon thread. I watched the movie, sipped coffee, and put together these strings of “snow”.

Originally when I saw a similar garland it was made with wool balls. Making the wool balls sounded time consuming. Rolling and rolling. And Purchasing them added up fast. I saw some on Etsy selling 200 for $75. Yikes! This project only cost me $1.99, because I had the thread already on hand.

How to make snow garland

These are so darn simple! It’s a perfect mindless project that you can do while having a great conversation, watching a movie, or listening to a podcast. Kind of similar to my Decorate with Gift Tags 6 Different Ways craft or the popular Paper Christmas Trees. Other great ones to do while watching a movie.

1. Cut string the length you want it to hang. (I used this -> nylon string because it’s on the stronger side, but use whatever you want or have on hand!) I did mine almost touching the floor.
2. Taking a larger needle, thread string. Don’t tie or knot, you’ll be securing the cotton balls with a dab of hot glue
3. Taking a cotton ball, pull apart into four pieces, rolling each one back into a ball form. Do this to several cotton balls so you have a lot to work with when threading. I did about 40 strings of garland and only used 3/4 of one bag!
4. thread cotton balls onto string

5. Secure cotton balls to string with a dab of hot glue. I placed my “snow” pieces about a foot apart on the string, with a total of about 5 to 7 on each string. After placing the hot glue on the string, pull the cotton ball over glue and let dry in place.

6. Repeat these steps with as many garland strings as you need to complete your project.

Tips so they don’t tangle

These can tangle! I found that you don’t need to hang them very close together. Keeping them around a foot and a half apart seems to be the key to making sure they fall back down straight and not become hooked together.

How to hang

First off, if you’re not following along with all my crafting and DIY on Instagram, you need to jump over real quick and hit follow! Then you’ll be crafting with me in real time. And believe me, we have a ton of fun!

Now that we have that business covered, it’s onto hanging these garlands!

I used command strip refills. (I should have stock in command strips because I use them for alllll my crafts.) You don’t need the hooks for this project, just the adhesive backs.

Because these garlands weight practically nothing, and you don’t need much to get them to stick to the ceiling.

Here’s what I did:

1. Cut the command strips into fourths

2. Remove the film from one side and attach the end of the garland string onto the sticky surface. They place a dot of hot glue over the top to make sure it’s secure.

3. Once dried, remove the film backing and stick to the ceiling.

Put together your snowy winter wonderland

First, figure out how large an area you want to make your wonderland. We chose the stairs headed to the basement and the basement landing. I staggered the garlands out, standing back often to see if I was placing them evenly and not adding too much garland in one area, making it garland heavy.

I was giddy putting it up because it looked amazing! Sometimes it’s the simplest things that make my heart jump for joy. And what was even better than the magical snow? My daughter seeing it for the first time. She clasped her little hands together, her eyes lit up with pure joy and she said, “Mom! It’s a winder wonderland!” She spent the next hour singing about snow while she twirled around on the landing. It was precious.

More Budget Friendly Crafts

Want some more beautiful Christmas craft ideas that cost next to nothing but pack a big design punch? You’ve got to try your hand at making a dried orange garland. These easy paper Christmas trees are also stunning and so easy to personalize! And these dry mason jar snow globes have been such a hit!

Have fun crafting and making your home a winter wonderland!

Print Recipe

Snowball Garland

This snow garland cost $1.99 to DIY, and it turned our basement into a winter wonderland. All you need is some string, cotton balls, glue, and a little time.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time2 hours hrs

Total Time2 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Course: Christmas

Author: erynwhalen

Equipment

• Hot Glue Gun
• Larger needle

Ingredients

• Nylon string or any string you have on hand
• 1 bag of cotton balls
• Command strips refills only

Instructions

• Prepare the String
  
  Cut the string to your desired length. (I made mine almost touching the floor.)
  Thread the String
  
  Use a larger needle to thread the string. Do not tie or knot it; you’ll secure the cotton balls with hot glue.
  Make Cotton Balls
  
  Pull apart cotton balls into four pieces and roll each piece back into a ball. Prepare several cotton balls at once. (I did about 40 strings and used ¾ of one bag.)
  Thread Cotton Balls
  
  Thread the cotton balls onto the string. Place them about a foot apart, with 5 to 7 pieces per string.
  Secure Cotton Balls
  
  Dab hot glue on the string and pull the cotton ball over the glue to secure it. Let it dry in place.
  Repeat
  
  Continue threading and securing cotton balls until you have enough garland strings for your project.
  Tips to Prevent Tangling:
  
  Hang the garlands about a foot and a half apart to avoid tangling.
  How to Hang:
  
  Prepare Command Strips
  
  Cut command strips into fourths. Remove the film from one side and attach the end of the garland string to the sticky surface.
  Add a dot of hot glue over the top to ensure it’s secure. Let it dry.
  Remove the film backing and stick to the ceiling.
  Arrange Your Wonderland
  
  Determine the area you want to decorate (e.g., basement stairs and landing).
  Stagger the garlands, standing back often to ensure even placement.
  

Crafting something magical out of simple materials is at the heart of everything I share.

Whether it’s transforming cotton balls into a snowy wonderland or bringing a cozy farmhouse feel to everyday life, each project is inspired by my love for creating beauty in the ordinary. If you’ve enjoyed this snow garland tutorial, I’d love for you to visit my About Eryn page to learn more about the person behind these ideas. There, I share my journey of homesteading, crafting, and building a life full of meaningful moments. It’s the perfect way to get a deeper connection to the stories and inspiration that shape the projects and recipes I share here.

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