Moss balls are a very easy DIY project. They are pretty decorations to use inside and outside. Follow my step-by-step instructions to create your own moss decorations.
Welcome sweet visitor,
I am so happy you are here.
Are you in the mood for a fun, easy, five-minute craft project? A quick and inexpensive DIY project?
Oh that’s wonderful.
You have come to the right place.
You see, I have been in a creative mood lately. Maybe it is the promise of a new year. Maybe it is knowing that it soon will be spring. Maybe it is just the urge to sit out a cold winter day and make stuff.
I can’t help it. My hands have to stay busy.
I created today’s project for my winter garden. It would work very well for some late winter / early spring decorating inside too. I decided to make some winter decorations for my outdoors. And the material of the day turned out to be moss.
Luscious green – promising the freshness of spring – moss.
I started with making some super easy decorative moss balls. And then I used the rest of my moss to make a moss wreath. And then I turned it all into a glorious moss centerpiece on my little garden table.
Moss balls are a must-have decorating accessory. Just like any other decorative ball they are great for using as vase fillers in a glass vase, to add some weight and interest to a little decorating vignette, to shine in pretty dough bowls. They simply bring some extra texture and color to your decor.
Moss balls in particular are a favorite of mine because they look so fluffy, and colorful, and they bring nature inside. That bright green color just speaks to me. Oh, and they are super easy and cheap to make. What is there not to love?
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So let’s get to it. Let me show you how to make decorative moss balls
How to Make Moss Balls
What you’ll need to make moss decorations
- moss (preferably fresh but faux will work too), quite a lot of it
- ball or wreath form
- something to adhere the moss to the form
Let me help you a bit more.
Where to find moss
Real, fresh moss can be found in garden centers. They start selling it around Christmas time here because floral moss is frequently used in fresh Christmas decorations too. I buy it layered in a little crate, and if I keep it moist it lasts a long time. It looks a lot like this box with fresh moss I found online
Depending on where you live and on the regulations there, you could scavenger fresh moss in the forest too. I usually don’t like to do that for projects that require a fair amount of the stuff. Let’s leave the wild moss for the wild animals, shall we?
Faux moss can be found in craft stores and online. For projects like moss balls and a moss wreath, it is easiest to buy faux moss on a role or in a sheet, just like the fresh moss.
Moss ball and wreath forms
There are many options for your base forms to consider when you make moss decorations. You can basically use what you have on hand. A quick and easy choice is for making moss balls is to use styrofoam balls like this one, or this green floral ball. You can also use tennis balls, toy balls, or even scrunched-up aluminum foil balls Iike I did). Anything with a good sphere shape will work.
For the DIY moss wreath, I used a straw wreath form, but a foam wreath or one made from a pool noodle would work too.
Whatever form you have or can find will work. You will just have to adjust the way you adhere to moss to your form.
About that…
Adhesives to use in creating moss decorations
When you are making your moss decor, you basically simply cover your form with bits from your sheet moss. Depending on whether your form is hard or soft you’ll have to adapt how you attach the moss to the form.
For hard surfaces (like my homemade aluminum ball forms) you can either glue the moss to the form or wrap something around it. If your moss isn’t too wet then spray adhesive, liquid glue or even hot glue will work. You can also use florists wire or even elastic bands to tie the moss to the ball form. I used floral wire in a contrasting color because I liked the effect. If you want to hide it, simply use green wire.
To adhere the moss to the straw wreath form I used floral U pins. Takes a bit of force, but it is the easiest method and they can be used over and over again.
How to make Moss decorations
When you buy fresh moss at the garden center it usually comes in crates and there are several layers of moss stacked in the crate.
Carefully remove the moss and try to leave the pieces intact as much as possible.
Prepare your wreaths and ball forms. I always use straw wreaths for a project like this because they already have a bit of volume and they hold up beautifully.
For the moss balls, you could use styrofoam balls if you have them. I didn’t, so I wrinkled-up plastic bags in a ball shape and covered them in aluminum foil.
Wrap the wreath form and your ball form tightly with the moss sheets. Work in patches. I use florists wire to adhere the moss to the wreath. Fill up gaps with floral U pins. These pins are also perfect for adhering the moss to your homemade or styrofoam balls.
That’s it. Your basic moss decorations are ready. Now you can decorate them with berries, pinecones, acorns, or anything that suits your fancy.
DIY winter decorations with moss
I bought myself a whole crate of moss at the garden center and ended up making two wreaths and a couple of moss balls.
While I was at the garden store some nice winter plants with red berries sort of stuck to my hands too…
Funny how these things always happen
I filled some old fruit crates with the red berries plants. Looks good, right!?
Decorating with moss balls
I placed my moss balls on two little urns. They would have looked good placed together on a dish, or in a bowl too.
I think that little crown finial I found in my stash just finishes it off ever so nicely.
My moss balls look great in my garden. But I think I could just as easily have used them inside. I think they would be perfect for some late winter / early spring decor in the living room. Speaking of winter decorating. I have shared lots of ideas about how I decorate my home after Christmas in another post.
Decorating with moss wreaths
One wreath I hang above a little shelf. This basic moss wreah was decorated with large red berries. I used the floral U pins for that too.
The second moss wreath was placed on a large urn. For added height I stuck some bright read branches in the middle. I used a bit of dried Spanish moss to fill the gap.
This wreath was decorated with small curly twigs with tiny red berries.
The whole grouping of moss decorations together forms a nice statement. I love winter yard decorations like this. Outside the fresh moss will last a really long time and these decorations can stay up until spring has arrived.
How To Care For Moss Decorations
Speaking of how long these moss decorations will last…
As I said I placed my DIY moss balls and my fresh green moss wreaths outside under the roof of my patio. I won’t have to do too much to make them last a long time and to keep them green. The moisture outside will be enough for the moss to thrive.
If you place your moss decorations inside you will have to give them some TLC. Mist them with water at last weekly, and more often if the air inside is very dry. Just a light mist of water from a spray bottle will do.
Just a little corner on our terrace in winter. Took me less then 30 minutes to pull it all together. I love these easy and inexpensive moss decorations.
Got any winter decorating going on at your place?
Marianne Songbird is the founder of Songbird, where she hopes to inspire everyone to create a home they love, one DIY project at a time. She shares anything from craft ideas to home decor inspiration and from DIY projects to decorating hacks. Originally from the Netherlands Marianne and her husband Lex are currently renovating a 250-year-old farmhouse in Germany.
Crafty Cripple says
Gorgeous outside decorations. I admire anyone who goes all out with winter festivities. Personally I'm too much of wimp to be doing such things with wet and cold plant life. Therefore I admire you so much more because you are stronger than I ever will be.
Brenda @Cozy Little House says
It all looks wonderful! I've been concentrating on the outdoors too.
Brenda
Blondie's Journal says
Marianne~~
I love what you have done outside…especially with the moss. How creative you are. I love the wreath too. What sort of moss is it that you are using?? I have only seen dried Spanish moss that we have here. Yuk!
I had to laugh about wanting to have St. Nicholas out of the country before Santa arrives!! How true! 😉
Have a lovely week!
xoxo
Jane
jeanette says
zo jij bent aardig creabea geweest met je prachtige creaties! ziet er heel winters en sfeervol uit! ik ben ook gek van die oude houtjes, die hangen bij mij winters ook aan de luikjes buiten. ik ben ook wel iemand van eerst sint en dan de kerstman. ik begin vaak wel voor sint te versieren maar de kerstboom komt pas na de sint. het nadeel is ik ben 8 dec jarig en wil m`n huis dan helemaal kerstproof hebben, tja en die dagen na sint zijn dan net te kort om alles om te toveren, dus ik doe vaak wel wat voorbereidingen. jij ook een hele gezellig sinterklaas! ben benieuwd naar je surprises!
groetjes,
Jeanette
nannykim/spindlecottage says
mmm, all so pretty!! We have already had our little St. Nick festival and tonight had a wonderful Christmas concert. I guess our church likes to start the advent season with a bang 😉
Something White says
Hoi Marianne,
wij hebben eigenlijk nog teveel andere dingen aan ons hoofd om echt aan Kerst te denken, maar gisteren heb ik wel nog vlug wat 1e Advent-deco gemaakt. Het was me – door alle drukte – gewoon ontschoten dat gisteren de Advent al begon 🙂
Mooie dingen toon je hier weer. Een echt sfeervolle ´wintergarden´!
Hartelijke groet,
Marjolijn
sarah { abeachcottage } says
loved seeing your outside decs, great post and enjoyed my visit!
manon 21 says
Une belle ballade dans ton jardin.
Amicalement,
manon
my day says
hoi Marianne,
hier lopen sinterklaas en kerst voorbereidingen een beetje door elkaar heen, maar de boom gaan we pas zetten als de sint weer het land uit is.Je hebt al mooie decoraties gemaaakt,heerlijk sfeertje zo buiten.
Fijne week,groetjes Ingrid.
Lori says
Marianne, that all looks gorgeous!!! i wish i could do things like that outside…but it would soon be covered in piles of snow…i love how you used those little pops of red…it looks so festive!!!
Sandy says
Everything looks beautiful, thanks for sharing. I love how you made the moss covered balls, tooo clever.
Sandy
Happy Nester says
Your outside decor looks wonderful.
This is my first time to your blog, I am going to look around a while.
Miss Marple says
Heerlijk, wat ziet het er weer gezellig uit bij jullie! Ik was eigenlijk van plan geweest, om het afgelopen weekend alvast wat met de kerst te beginnen. De Sint kennen ze hier niet zo…maar het is er niet toe gekomen, volgend weekend zal ik er ook niet toe komen, ik zal dus alles in de laaste twee weekenden voor de kerst doen…
Hele lieve groetjes – Irma
lia says
Ja hoor, bij mij wel geen sint maar wacht wel tot hij het land weer verlaat. En jouw decoraties zien er geweldig uit. Die rode besjes doen het altijd goed. Heel leuk.
groetjes Lia
t brocante sfeertje says
Hai,via,via kom ik op je blog.Wat n mooie foto's zeg!Voorheen vond ik t zo vervelend dat winkel de Sint zo'n beetje oversloegen en je in winkels alleen kerstdeco zag.Nu ik zelf n winkel heb moet ik toegeven…..ahum alleen bij de vorige opening pepernoten.Groetjes,Ingrid
Stephenie says
The glitter must be in the air!!! I've been knee high in glitter to..
I must say everything you've done looks soooooooo pretty.. Hope all is well…
sTephenie
Marianne says
Hallo Marianne,
Wat ben jij een bezig bijtje! He ziet allemaal prachtig uit. We vieren geen St. Nicolaas, maar de kerstboom komt pas na zijn verjaardag in huis.
groetjes,
Marianne.
Sea Angels says
How absolutely gorgeous, You have inspired me to do some outdoors stuff xxxxx
Happy Advent
Hugs Lynn xx
Susan Crabtree says
simply beautiful!
Alisa says
Marianne, you are just so talented at this! It's beautiful!
I've started gathering up bits of moss, sticks and pussy willows for my front porch too.
Robin's Nesting Place says
Wow, your wreath is gorgeous! I love the natural things you use in it!
Nobody Puts Mama In A Corner! says
Beautiful decorations! So lovely and so festive! Putting me in the spirit of Christmas!
Mama Holli
Maryann @ Domestically-Speaking says
So pretty – Love all the "pops" of red!
Elly says
Hè, wat een heerlijk welkom! Het staat allemaal prachtig! En natuurlijk helemaal super met al die rode besjes, ben er gek op, hahaha!!! De Friese doorlopers hangen er ook erg leuk. Je bent lekker crea bezig geweest, complimenten!
Hier eerst de Sint en daarna volop kerst, maar ik moet eerlijk bekennen dat er al wel zo af en toe iets kersterigs het huis binnensluipt hoor!
corry says
Oo, als ik naar je sfeervolle foto's kijk, krijg ik zo'n zin om meteen zelf aan de slag te gaan!
Christine says
love your moss projects. what type of moss did you buy- loose, or the roll kind?