DIY Yarn Balls. Sounds boring, useless, a waste of materials and time, and it sounds complex. Well, its not.

These DIY Yarn Balls are simple, quick, useful, completely customizable, easy, fun..... I could go on and on, but i don't want to sound like a liar, or like i have too much time. Which i don't. Basically, it's a ball of yarn and paper. And you don't have to leave the house or speak to other members of the human race.

One random, boring Saturday night (i was alone, of course) i decided i wanted to be creative and make something. I was inspired. So, like any normal person, i looked to the internet to provide me with something entertaining to do. It then did so.

What popped up was one of those Rainbow Loom Bouncy Balls that everyone makes. Well, i couldn't find my old rainbow loom set (it was probably for the better, anyway, who knows what i would do with it if i had found it) but i did find some yarn. And paper. And then my imagination started doing its job.

After a few failed trial runs, i present to you: DIY Yarn Balls (i know, horrible name, but whatever)

These are good decorations, ornaments, cat toys, really whatever you want/need.

Step 1: What You'll Need

Required Items for this Project:

Yarn (The thicker, the quicker, the bigger- also, any color)
Scissors
Tape
a single sheet of standard printer/lined paper (the bigger the paper, the bigger the ball of yarn, also could use styrofoam ball)
5-10 minutes

Optional:

Pen
bag containing whatever (replaces paper- also, things like catnip, orange or lime zest, etc)
Spray that smells good

Warning: if you use a spray, DO NOT use ink- it will stain everything, and it wont be pretty.

Step 2: Prepping the Paper

The paper is the center of the yarn, kinda like styrofoam for the rubber band planets some people would make then hang over their bed. Anyway, if you want to, at the beginning of this step you can write a note or spray the paper with some sort of smelly spray to make it smell good later.

Now, take the end to your yarn and tape it to the paper. This will ensure the ball wont unwrap, and that the yarn will be in a prime place for wrapping. Now crumble the ball in your fist, like you hate it. The yarn should stick out like a tail from the center of the ball.

Step 3: Wrapping the Yarn

Now take that loose tail (that is still connected to the big ball of yarn you're using, mind you) and wrap it around the ball of paper. Now, i know what you're thinking (because i can read your mind, of course): Do i wrap my fingers to the ball? and the answer is that depends- would you like the ball to be attached to you forever?

Anyway, wrap the yarn around the paper, rotating it every few loops around the paper to get a sort of uneven or messy look, and to cover the whole of the ball. Once you've gone and covered most of the paper, make sure you cannot see it at all by going over the little clips of paper showing through.

Step 4: Tying It Off

Now, this is the easiest step (thats why i messed it up). Simply cut the yarn and tape the loose end to the ball of yarn. Simple, right?

I taped the end before cutting, which made it hard to have the very end of the yarn firmly attached and it might fray after awhile.

So, make sure to cut the yarn BEFORE you tape it.

Step 5: .....Viola!

You're done! Simple, elegant, easily customizable.. its everything i said it would be, right? Now, before i bore you to death, go do something fun with them!

I just wanted to add- this is my first Instructable, and i will be entering it in a few contests, etc., so if you have any suggestions, please please please do tell.

Well, that's my DIY Yarn Balls (i know, great name, right?)

Also, just pretend my dog is a cat since I don't have one. He acts like one anyway though, so it shouldn't be too hard.