Two Twenty One

How to Make Tissue Paper Pom Poms

Step-by-step tutorial showing you how to make tissue paper pom poms! Tissue paper pom poms are the perfect, inexpensive party decoration.

After I posted our gender reveal party, many of you wanted a tutorial on how I made the tissue paper pom poms. Well, today’s your lucky day– it’s tissue paper pom pom making time, people.

Not only will I show you how to make tissue paper pom poms, I’m going to show you how to get 5 easy to make tissue paper pom-poms (1 large, 2 medium, 2 small) out of one $.99 package of tissue paper.

These are really easy to make once you get the hang of it. It’s also a good mindless TV watching crafting activity. But you have to “watch” something you don’t really have to pay attention to since you’ll need to watch what you’re doing with making the poms. I “watched” old Grey’s Anatomy episodes on Lifetime while I made the majority of mine for the gender reveal party.

How to make tissue paper pom poms!

Supplies for Making Tissue Paper Pom Poms

tissue paper (I use 10 sheet, 20 inch by 20 inch)… Hobby Lobby
NOTE: Since publishing this tutorial, Hobby Lobby has changed the tissue paper to 8 sheets and $1.29 per package. Not cool, in my opinion.
floral wire
scissors
ruler

supplies needed for tissue paper poms

If you can’t find 20″ x 20″ tissue paper that’s fine. The standard size seems to be 15″ x 20″. You can still make tissue paper pom poms from that size, you just won’t end up with the exact 5 pom poms that I was able to make.

How to Cut and Fold

Flatten out the tissue paper. Divide the 10 tissue papers into half– so 5 and 5 in each stack. Set one stack to the side.

pom pom tutorial

Fold the tissue accordion style.

tissue paper pom tutorial

Once folded, cut the strip into two pieces. One should be 6 inches.

tissue pom tutorial

And the other should be 14 inches.

how to make poms

Take the 6 inch piece. Fold it in half hamburger style (if you don’t know what I mean, Google “fold paper hamburger style”).

tissue paper poms-poms

Cut it along the fold, so you will have two sections with 5 sheets of paper in each section. Since these will be the smallest pom-poms, I refold them, accordion folds style, only smaller than the original fold (see photo after the photo below).

making pom poms

Grab the other remaining section that you put to the side in the beginning. Fold it accordion style. Cut it in half so you have two 10 inch pieces.

In the end, you should have the following from one package of 20 inch by 20 inch, 10 sheet tissue paper.

1- 14 inch
2- 10 inch
2- 6 inch

tutorial on how to make tissue paper poms

How to Secure and Fluff

The next steps are to be repeated for each section of tissue paper.

Grab your floral wire, center it in the middle of the tissue paper (use the ruler if you aren’t good at eye balling– no shame).

FYI, you don’t have to use floral wire. I actually used 22 gauge jewelry wire for the pom-poms I made for our gender reveal party because I was out of floral wire and didn’t feel like running to the craft store for more. Just make sure your wire isn’t too flimsy.

making tissue paper pom-poms

Twist the wire tight.

tissue paper pom-poms how to

Then, grab your scissors and round out the corners of the tissue paper.

how to make a tissue paper pom pom

The end result should look like this when fanned out.

tissue paper pom-pom directions

Start GENTLY, I repeat, gently pulling the top layer of tissue paper up and toward the center. Remember, this is thin tissue paper, not metal. It will rip if you’re too forceful with it. It helps to start pulling at the bottom of the tissue paper layer, not the tip.

pom-pom instructions

Next, bring the top layer of the other side up and to the middle.

tissue paper pom pom instructions

Now, repeat until all 5 layers are fluffed. Bend the wire so the tissue paper pom-pom lays flat. Cut if necessary. Or if you plan to attach the poms to something, leave the wire the way it is. You can just wrap the wire around whatever you’re attaching the pom to.

tissue pom pom instructions

Note:  If you happen to tear a piece of your pom-pom while making it, don’t freak out. It’s not the end of the world. A lot of the time it will just blend in. I usually grab my scissors and cut it a little so it doesn’t look so jagged.

tissue paper pom pom how to

If you don’t care about having varying sizes of poms, just make 4 medium sized poms. If you want fuller poms, use more than 5 layers of tissue paper.

Remember, practice makes perfect so don’t get discouraged if your first couple pom-poms don’t turn out correctly.

You can use the tissue paper pom-poms to decorate for a bridal shower, baby shower, wedding, birthday, or for any party decoration! The possibilities are endless. I used them on our dessert buffet and as a centerpiece for our dining room table. You can check out more photos of our gender reveal party here.

gender reveal party

Find out how to make a tissue paper pom-pom and fan backdrop here!

Gingerbread first birthday party! Perfect for a December birthday!

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Print
How to make Tissue Paper Pom Poms
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
35 mins
 

Step-by-step tutorial on how to make tissue paper pom poms. Lovely and inexpensive party decorations!

Servings: 5 tissue paper pom poms
Ingredients
  • 1 10 sheet package 20-inch by 20-inch tissue paper
  • 1 package white floral wire
Instructions

  1. Flatten out the tissue paper. Divide the 10 tissue papers into half-- so 5 and 5 in each stack. Set one stack to the side.

  2. Fold the tissue accordion style.

  3. Once folded, cut the strip into two pieces. One should be 6 inches. And the other should be 14 inches.

  4. Take the 6 inch piece. Fold it in half hamburger style (if you don't know what I mean, Google "fold paper hamburger style").

  5. Cut it along the fold, so you will have two sections with 5 sheets of paper in each section. Since these will be the smallest pom-poms, I refold them, accordion folds style, only smaller than the original fold (see photo after the photo below).

  6. Grab the other remaining section that you put to the side in the beginning. Fold it accordion style. Cut it in half so you have two 10 inch pieces.

  7. In the end, you should have the following from one package of 20 inch by 20 inch, 10 sheet tissue paper.

    1- 14 inch
    2- 10 inch
    2- 6 inch

  8. The next steps are to be repeated for each section of tissue paper.

    Grab your floral wire, center it in the middle of the tissue paper (use the ruler if you aren't good at eye balling-- no shame).

  9. Twist the wire tight.

  10. Then, grab your scissors and round out the corners of the tissue paper.

  11. Fan out the tissue paper on each side. Start GENTLY, I repeat, gently pulling the top layer of tissue paper up and toward the center. Remember, this is thin tissue paper, not metal. It will rip if you’re too forceful with it. It helps to start pulling at the bottom of the tissue paper layer, not the tip.

  12. Next, bring the top layer of the other side up and to the middle.

  13. Now, repeat until all 5 layers are fluffed. Bend the wire so the tissue paper pom-pom lays flat. Cut if necessary. Or if you plan to attach the poms to something, leave the wire the way it is. You can just wrap the wire around whatever you’re attaching the pom to.

Recipe Notes

If you happen to tear a piece of your pom-pom while making it, don’t freak out. It’s not the end of the world. A lot of the time it will just blend in. I usually grab my scissors and cut it a little so it doesn’t look so jagged.

If you don’t care about having varying sizes of poms, just make 4 medium sized poms. If you want fuller poms, use more than 5 layers of tissue paper.

Remember, practice makes perfect so don’t get discouraged if your first couple pom-poms don’t turn out correctly.

Want to save this post for later? Pin it here:

How to make tissue paper pom poms!

 

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Comments

  5. Ashley says

    Hey! Love these and currently making them. But what is hamburger style? I’m stuck there . My husband says he thinks you refold the 6″ piece then cut it. I took from the directions that you fold it in half like a taco , cut , then refold. If you fold the 6″piece in half then cut you have 2 3″ pieces. Please help! Thanks so much .

    Reply

  7. Jackie says

    Will they be flat on one side or fluffy on both? I’m hanging mine from the ceiling and stuff and want an all around fluff!! HELP

    Reply

  9. renitha says

    I am making pom poms for a baby shower. my small and medium pom poms are coming out perfect, but when I try to make a large one it does not come out right. There is a gap on the sides and it looks like layers instead of being fluffy like I see yours and many others I have seen on tutorials. I am using 20×20 sheets. Please I need help. I don’t know what I am doing wrong when I try to make larger pom poms.

    Reply

    • Chelsea @ two twenty one says

      Hmmm, maybe use more than 5 sheets since you’re using larger tissue paper. The more stacked sheets you use, the fuller the pom poms will turn out. Try 8-10 sheets of tissue paper for the larger pom poms. Hope this helps!

      Reply

  10. kathy carwell says

    Seems to be a silly question…but since these are rectangular sheets of tissue paper and not square, what size tissue paper do I use for 14″ pom poms?
    Thanks

    Reply

  12. Alexa says

    I love the colors you used, but I can’t find them 🙁 which store should I go? I;m specially looking for the mimosa yellow. Thanks for your help.

    Reply

  14. osnat says

    Help please,
    I just love them but having trouble to bring them to a ball . The ends are not getting together and there’s a gap like it want close and come to a ball shape. I’m using 20x20or20x26 paper, what I’m doing wrong?
    Thanks

    Reply

  19. Marsha says

    I was surprised to see these are still being made. I was 15 yrs old when I stood in my cousins wedding and we made them for decorations for her Bridal Shower. I am now 71 yrs old so you know they have been around for many years. They made a gorgeous pom poms,.

    Reply

  27. Jen Goode says

    I’ve always wanted to try to make paper pom poms, these are beautiful! Thank you so much for submitting your project to this week’s Monday Funday Party. We’re featuring your project this Sunday!

    Reply

  29. Ashley ~ 3 Little Greenwoods says

    Oh these colorful pom poms totally make me happy! I love their colors and their fluffiness. Thanks so much for sharing your creativity at the The DIY Collective this week! Please come back next week to show off your latest project!

    Have an awesome week!
    ~ Ashley

    Reply

  32. sandi says

    How do you make the ones to hang on string from ceiling that is a flower on both sides , not flat on one side?

    Reply

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  41. Anna says

    Ooo! I am throwing a baby shower in a few weeks and I have been wanting to make these but did not know how. Your directions are so clear and the pictures are great – I am sure I can figure it out now!! Thanks!

    Reply

  44. Lori says

    I just made a beautiful fluffy two-sided (round ball shaped) one out of a single pack of the Hobby Lobby paper that’s 8 sheets of 20 x 20 inch paper–cut the opened stack of 8 sheets in half, so you have two stacks of 8 sheets that are 10 x 20 inches. Then cut 5 inches off of both stacks and put one on top of the other (you can use this to make two little ones), so that you have a single stack of 16 sheets that are 10 by 15 inches. Accordion fold, fasten in the middle with wire, and unfold just like the half-ball shapes, doing one side then the other. Makes a very nice, good sized fluffy one.

    Reply

  46. Sarah says

    WOW, these are amazing and so cheap to make! I bought these and was so confused how to make them for my daughters birthday. I wish I had seen this sooner but I will be trying this next time!

    Reply

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