Make a Christmas Kissing Ball with Blod Floral

Friday 13 December 2024

A Christmas Kissing Ball is a hanging decoration originally created by the Victorians. Made using symbolic foliage, aromatic herbs and mistletoe they create a gorgeous scent into your home and are said to bring good fortune. Making a Christmas Kissing ball is a lovely way to relax and usher in a touch of nature into your home.

What you Need….

A square of chicken wire approx 25cm x 25cm
Sustainable sphagnum moss – try the garden centre or your local flower market
A bundle of winter foliage - pine, conifer, pittosporum, holly, fern
A bundle of fresh herbs – bay, rosemary, thyme, marjoram
Any dried flowers or stems you might have, Limonium is good
Final Flourishes – rose hip, thistles, seed-heads, winter berries, and don’t forget the mistletoe!
Ribbon
Secateurs
A hairpin

Method

1. Shape your moss into a firm ball, about 10 -12cm in diameter.

2. Wrap the chicken wire around the moss ball and twist the ends of the wire together to form a tight cage.

3. Dunk the ball into water and squeeze out the excess.

4. Hang the ball up with ribbon at a good height for you to work on.

5. Prepare your materials by cutting each stem to a uniform length of about 12-15 cm.

6. Clear the bottom 5cm of any leaves so that you have a nice clear section to insert into the moss.

7. Begin to push your stems into the moss ball. Think about an even distribution of your materials and keep going with the foliage until you can no longer see the moss. Don’t forget to fill the underneath.

8. Add your final flourishes.

9. Thread a length of ribbon through a hair pin and push it up into the bottom of the ball to create a tail.

10. Hang up your Kissing Ball and enjoy!

Don't have the time to make your own Victorian Kissing Ball? If you're based in North or North West London, Kate at Blod Floral can deliver these beautiful creations to your door in time for Christmas. Just drop her a message @blod_floral by Tuesday 17th December to arrange your custom festive foliage arrangements!