Handmade Gifts: Pom Pens

 

Love super cute pens?

Love super cute pens that are super cheap that you can make yourself and give as gifts?!

Meeee toooo!

Handmade Pom Pens!

I gotta stop right here and give some credit to my friend Crystal who showed me how to make these lil cuties back in the ’90’s. (What?!)

These things are so easy and so super cute and dudes.. they are super frugal.

First thing’s first, grab some pens. I am using some leftovers of the 100 pens that I ordered to use for the Mad Libs at our wedding. You can get a package of 20-25 pens at the dollar store…for a dollar.

Next, grab some yarn and pick out some ribbon. I grabbed a huge sampler pack of cutesy ribbons at Joann’s for 7 bucks (with a coupon).

Take apart the pens and set the ink aside.

I grabbed some skewers from my “random crafting” drawer and put the pen tips on the skewers…

…and spray painted them. I used Rustoleum’s Metallic Gold Spray. Only the best gold spray in the world. Believe it.

While those are drying, glue the ribbon to the pen using hot glue. If you are a total mess with hot glue or if you are left handed, you might want to do some practice squirts on some paper or something. This is by no means a full trigger pull. This is more like a 1/4 trigger pull.

Start by wrapping the ribbon at the bottom (the side closest to the ink) keeping the ribbon parallel with the end of the pen for one wrap around. When you start the second wrap, angle the ribbon slightly, dab a spot of glue and continue to wrap in a diagonal motion until you get to the end of the pen.

I found it was easier to apply the glue in thin lines directly onto the ribbon at about an inch at a time. When you get to the other end of the pen, cut the ribbon at an angle and glue it down. Once the pom is on there, you will barely be able to see where the ribbon ends.

Next up, poms.

Wrap your yarn around your hand, or fork, whatever.

I thought a fork pom was too small so I wrapped the yarn around my hand 40 times, then slipped it off carefully and tied the middle tightly with a piece of yarn.

Then cut the loops, boom, pom pom!

Find the knot in the middle of your pom, add a dab of glue and stick that right on the end of the pen.

Once everything is dry, reassemble the pens.

That’s it! So easy! I made ten of these in one night in front of the TV. Super simple. You can pair them with some dollar store note pads, wrap them with a ribbon and you have a cute handmade gift for a friend or family member.

I plan on making over 20 of these and with the sampler pack of ribbon I grabbed, I think its going to be more than enough.

Wishing you all happy crafting and happier gift giving!