Valentine’s Day Kissing Ball with Pink Roses

Instead of the usual flower bouquet for Valentine’s Day, why not consider a romantic kissing ball instead? This post will show you how to make a simple kissing ball for Valentine’s Day using pink flowers, a straw, and hot glue.

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A few years ago, if you had told me I would tasked to make hundreds of kissing balls for Valentine’s Day, I would have laughed at you.

I didn’t even know what a kissing ball was before then.

But thanks to a very talented floral designer, I learned what a kissing ball was and how easy they are to make. 

A little backstory behind this post.

Before becoming a blogger, I worked as an Interior Designer for an exclusive resort.

Thankfully, I wasn’t the full-time florist, but I managed the floral department for a few years and helped out with big occasions such as holidays and weddings. 

One year, during Valentine’s week, we were tasked with making a kissing ball for every new guest and room arrival for the entire week.  We needed so many kissing balls during that week that it became too big of a project for the two of us and quickly required all hands on deck from every design team member. 

Everyone had to learn how to make a kissing ball.  We took shifts to get them all done. 

In the past, Kissing balls were usually made for weddings, but you can make any version of a kissing ball for any holiday or special occasion.

Below are the steps I was taught by this very talented florist on how to make a unique floral arrangement known as a kissing ball. 

For my version, I used faux roses in shades of pink to keep costs down and make them last much longer than real roses. Pink and red roses are the most popular flower colors for Valentine’s Day. 

For this project, you will need a few floral supplies:

• 4″ Foam Ball
• 2 Pipe Cleaners
• Floral stems of tiny rose buds and other small flowers
• Ribbon
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Chopsticks or bamboo skewer sticks
• Straw

A kissing Ball is also known as a Pomander.

If you want to hang your kissing ball, you must make a ribbon hanger for it.  

To create a secure ribbon hanger for the kissing ball, the ribbon must be attached without pulling out of the foam ball due to the weight of the flowers. The simple solution is to carry the weight of the flowers through the middle of the foam ball. 

Surprisingly, this is just so easy to do!

First, insert the chopstick or skewer through the middle of the foam ball to create a tunnel.

Next, slip the straw over the chopstick and reinsert it through the hole you just created. Push the straw all the way through, then cut off the ends.

This creates a smooth tunnel to insert the pipe cleaners through the center of the foam ball. 

Most pipe cleaners are not long enough to insert through the foam ball and wrap it around its outside. To make a longer pipe cleaner, twist the ends of two pipe cleaners together. Then, insert the much longer pipe cleaner through the straw to the other side, wrap each end around the foam ball to the top, and twist the opposite ends together.

You can then guide a cut length of ribbon underneath the pipe cleaners to make the decorative hanger.

Without the straw inserted into the foam ball, the pipe cleaner would cut through the ball when the weight of the flowers is added.   

For a version of this same hanger with live flowers, you must purchase a wet foam ball and soak it overnight in water before inserting the straw, pipe cleaners, and flowers.

Add the rose buds and flowers.

To keep the foam ball steady while inserting the rose buds, I used a small paper cup to hold the ball.  Starting at the top of the ball where the ribbon hanger is, I inserted the tiny stems of the pink roses, covered in hot glue, into the foam ball.

The first kissing balls were covered in mistletoe during the holidays, which gave the kissing ball its name.

As I mentioned before, pink and red artificial roses are the most popular choice for Valentine’s Day florals.  That doesn’t mean you can’t include other colors of roses or your favorite flower in a wide range of colors to make a custom designs for a kissing ball. 

A more unique and custom design could include daisies or tulips in the Spring months.  Colorful succulents and lilies in the summer would be beautiful, and a combination of autumn leaves and mums in the Fall. 

A kissing ball can be a unique floral arrangement to enjoy any time of the year. 

To finish this kissing ball, I added some rose stem leaves, small white flowers, and small loops of ribbon.

Kissing balls can be displayed by hanging them on the backs of chairs, on hooks in a bookshelf, or on doorknobs. Smaller versions look amazing displayed in a small vase or container, like the galvanized bucket below. 

Pin For Later

Although it has been a couple of years since I made a kissing ball, I still think they make the most beautiful rose arrangements. They are a wonderful way to say Happy Valentine’s Day. 

“Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

Other posts to check out:

Fun and Creative Beaded Pens

Red, White, and Blue Pom Pom Garland

Straw Hat Spring Wreath