Balloon Raffia Vase
Grab a balloon and turn it into some jaw-dropping décor!
To start this project you want to inflate a balloon.
Next, you want to take a piece of wire and measure it so that it goes from one end of the balloon to the other. Add a little extra to the length. This will essentially be used to create a frame around the balloon.
Once you have one piece measured, cut several more wire pieces that are about the same length. Be careful not to get the wire ends close to the balloon or they may pop it.
Twist the ends of the wire pieces together so that they stay attached.
Spread out the wires and round them so that they are the shape of the balloon.
Tie the wires tightly around the balloon making sure they are evenly spread out around it.
Next, you want to grab a package of raffia and cut it into long lengths. Secure the ends together with painter's tape.
Fan out the raffia while holding the taped ends.
Place the balloon into the middle of the raffia.
Pull the strands up to the top of the balloon. All sides of the balloon should be covered.
Hold the top of the raffia strands together with a rubber band.
To create the raffia vase, I used a plastic yarn needle and threaded it with a piece of jute twine. Make sure the twine is doubled over and it is nice and long.
Next, gather little bundles of the raffia together.
Weave the jute twine around and under each bundle. Make sure the wires are included in the bundles to help give the vase strength.
Keep doing this until you go all the way around the balloon.
Once your first row is done, you want to move more towards the middle of the balloon and do the same thing. Make little bundles and wrap the twine around them. Try to keep the bundles spaced out about the same as the bottom ones.
After making several rows, you want to do a row that separates the bundles. Grab half of one bundle and half of the one next to it and wrap the twine around the new bundle. This will create a diamond-shaped pattern. Do several rows like this.
To add a little color, I then went back and made a few rows with some gold craft yarn. I used it, in the same way, I did the jute twine. You can add these rows near the bottom or middle, whatever you think looks nice.
To add even more color, I took a beautiful blue color that complimented the gold and added a few rows of it.
Once you have all of the rows in a pattern you like, it is time to create a neck for the vase. To do this you are going to use the same raffia we have been using.
Tie the raffia to one of the wires to start and then weave it in and out going around and around. Make sure to pull it tight as you want to make the opening fairly small.
After going around several times, tie off the raffia and cut off any extra.
Spread out the wires and snip them off.
Turn the vase over and trim off any excess at the bottom so that the vase will sit well.
To trim off the excess wire at the bottom, spread it out and trim it as close to the bottom as possible without cutting any of the raffia or your weaving.
Finally, pop the balloon.
This pretty vase is now living on my boho, screened-in porch. I'm really happy with how it turned out. It definitely has a boho vibe to it, and it was really simple to make. I hope you feel inspired to try this project.
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It's so cute. I don't like balloons that aren't the mylar so if I can do it with mylar balloons that would work. Thank you for sharing.
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It's beautiful, but I also like the other one on the table did you make it also. They're both so pretty.
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