DIY Party Puffs & Topiary with Deco Mesh

Precious puffs for your summer festivities. These easy-to-make curly Poly Deco Mesh poofs or puffs make any gathering festive!  Choose the deco mesh that matches your color scheme or theme. We've created a whole series of decorations in this yummy pink, orange and cream color way.  

This is the last tutorial in our sweet summer birthday series featuring these matching decorations. Click HERE to see the original post featuring our  Sweet Summer Birthday party ideas with tips on what to serve. Or HERE for our Curly Deco Mesh Wreath tutorial with matching  Happy Birthday Banner free printable!

These festive puffs hanging above our sweet summer birthday buffet. Here is how we made them.

SUPPLIES

To purchase these products from www.mardigrasoutlet.com, click on the individual product link below.

• 1 roll 21-inch Poly Mesh Roll: Vertical Line Cream OR 1 21-inch Poly Mesh Roll: Metallic Cream and Gold
• 1 roll 21-inch Poly Mesh Roll: Metallic Orange
• 1 roll 21-inch Poly Mesh Roll: Vertical Line Pink OR 1 21-inch Poly Mesh Roll: Light Pink
• 1 roll 21-inch Poly Mesh Roll: Metallic Gold
• 1 package 3-inch Wire Balls (any color works)
• 1 package 24 Gauge Paddle Floral Wire (any color works)
• Scissors
• Wire Cutters

Estimated cost per poof you create is about $7.00. The above materials will make about 6-8 poofs with some leftover mesh.

You can use any number and combination of colors you desire!  We have a great selection of metallic, patterned mesh, solids, vertical lines and more!  Each poof takes about half a roll of 21" mesh to create, so feel free to try out several different color combinations.  Check out our extensive collection here: Poly Deco Mesh.

You can also use 10" mesh rolls to create party poofs. The 10" wide rolls will leave you with smoother, finished edges on both ends since you don't have to cut the strips in half like you do with the 21" mesh rolls. One 10" mesh roll makes one poof with a bit leftover. To check out our selection of 10" Mesh, please click here: 10" Poly Mesh Rolls.

STEP ONE

Cut 7-inch wide strips of each color of mesh you would like to use.  If you are using 21 inch mesh rolls, then you will need to cut each strip/curl in half. If you are using rolls of 10 inch deco mesh ribbon, you do not need to cut the strips in half.

We cut about 5 strips of each color mesh to get started and then cut more of each color as needed. The exact number of strips you need will depend on the width of your strips and how tightly you curl them. We used about 30 to 40 strips total in our poofs. This means that if you create a 4 color poof, you will need about 5 to 6 strips of each color that you will then cut in half to create 1 poof (approx. 1 yard of each color.)

STEP TWO

Using wire cutters, cut strips of paddle wire about 3 to 4 inches in length. You will need one piece of paddle wire for each strip of mesh you wish to attach to your poof (approx 30-40.) Feel free to cut the wire strips a few at a time as you go.

STEP THREE

Grab a mesh strip of any color and roll it into a loose curl.

STEP FOUR

Pinch the curl in the center, creating a V shape.

STEP FIVE

Use a strip of paddle wire to attach the curl to your wire ball.

REPEAT!

Continue to add curls of each of your colors to the ball in the same fashion. Keep working the ball form from all sides with mesh curls until it is full and fluffy, and the central wire ball form is no longer visible.

Once complete, there are numerous ways to install these poofs for your next get-together.  You can hang them on string from the trees for a festive garden party, hang a cluster of poofs indoors to light up a corner, or create topiaries to frame a dessert table like we did for our summer Sweets Birthday Party Buffet!

DIY DECO MESH POOF TOPIARIES!

Wow! Two tutorials in one! To turn your curly poofs into topiaries, you will need the following additional supplies:

SUPPLIES

Click the links below to purchase at www.Mardigrasoutlet.com, where applicable.

• 1 Small/Medium Terracotta Pot per topiary
• 12" Wooden Dowel per topiary
• Scissors
• Matt knife or other knife
• 1 roll Crinkle Sheer Fabric: Pink 
• 1/2 a Dry Floral Foam Brick per topiary

STEP ONE

Trim down a floral foam brick using a knife until it stands in your terracotta pot with the top just reaching the rim. Place the floral foam into the pot. Trim down the sides if it is too wide, or use scrap pieces of floral foam to shore up the sides if the brick has too much wiggle room. You don't want it wobbling around on you!

STEP TWO

Insert a dowel into the center of your floral foam 1-2 inches.  Make sure it is secure. If it starts to wobble, you can always add a bit of glue to keep it firmly in place.

STEP THREE

Attach your poof to the top of the dowel through the wire ball form. Again, secure with glue if necessary. 

STEP FOUR

Cut a small piece of pink crinkle sheer fabric and bunch it around the bottom of the dowel to cover the floral foam brick. Tuck in loose ends and fluff the fabric until it looks just right.

The finished puff topiary on our dessert buffet!

If you wish to hang your poofs instead, just tie a length of string into the wire ball form, and you're ready to go! Try positioning them at various heights to add some pizazz to your display. Deco Mesh Poofs are great for the Indoors or Outdoors, as mesh holds up well to the elements. See a few more images below for ideas on how to install your poofs.

Party curl poofs are great for any season. Check out our selection of 10-inch and 21-inch Poly Deco Mesh Rolls to try out other color options, such as the 10-inch Metallic Moss and Apple shown below.