{"id":9811,"date":"2021-12-08T08:06:47","date_gmt":"2021-12-08T13:06:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/?p=9811"},"modified":"2021-11-18T10:23:48","modified_gmt":"2021-11-18T15:23:48","slug":"holiday-crafting-bami-ballen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/blog\/2021\/12\/08\/holiday-crafting-bami-ballen\/","title":{"rendered":"Holiday Crafting:  Bami Ballen"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"447\" height=\"600\" data-attachment-id=\"9812\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/blog\/2021\/12\/08\/holiday-crafting-bami-ballen\/bamiballen\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/bamiballen.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"794,1066\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;LeEtta&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1636971364&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"bamiballen\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/bamiballen-298x400.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/bamiballen-447x600.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/bamiballen-447x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9812 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/bamiballen-447x600.jpg 447w, https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/bamiballen-298x400.jpg 298w, https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/bamiballen-112x150.jpg 112w, https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/bamiballen-768x1031.jpg 768w, https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/bamiballen-107x144.jpg 107w, https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/bamiballen.jpg 794w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 447px) 100vw, 447px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\">aka Surprise Balls<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I am not sure where I first learned the name Bami Ballen.  When I searched for them by that name after having obtained my first store bought Bami Ballen, I could find precious little online.  There are a few more people calling it by that name now, but mostly they are sold as surprise balls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Surprise balls are comprised of a wound up ball of crepe paper ribbon surrounding trinkets and treats inside.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>YOU WILL NEED<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Crepe paper streamers<\/li><li>Trinkets<\/li><li>Ribbon<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>One crepe paper streamer of the type you can pick up in a craft store was all I needed for each of these.  The resulting bami ballen are a little smaller than some store-bought versions, but not much.  They are a pretty normal ornament size, and can be hung on a tree as decoration until it is time to unwind them.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>To make them, you just wind the crepe paper round, adding a bunch of layers in between each trinket.  I use the trinkets to help me build out the shape.  Eventually, you will be able to compress it into a ball shape with your hands, if your ballen is a bit wonky shaped.  I suggest keeping slender items like fortunes, jokes, and fortune fish to the outsides where they can easily wrap around the ball shape.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you have wrapped up all your crepe paper, then secure the whole thing with a ribbon that can also serve as a hanger loop.  I tend to gift mine with a little explanatory tag, just in case the recipient has never heard of them before.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>aka Surprise Balls I am not sure where I first learned the name Bami Ballen. When I searched for them by that name after having obtained my first store bought Bami Ballen, I could find precious little online. There are a few more people calling it by that name now, but mostly they are sold&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/blog\/2021\/12\/08\/holiday-crafting-bami-ballen\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Holiday Crafting:  Bami Ballen<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[257,198,48],"class_list":["post-9811","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","tag-christmas","tag-crafting","tag-holiday"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":11047,"url":"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/blog\/2025\/12\/02\/might-do-christmas-crafts\/","url_meta":{"origin":9811,"position":0},"title":"Might Do Christmas Crafts","author":"leems","date":"December 2, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Sitting and meditatively doing a craft that will become a Christmas present or bauble is one of my favorite preparations for the holidays. I used up the supplies I bought to recreate and\/or supplement the beaded ornament I inherited from my grandmother (Inspired by vintage ornaments). Now I have been\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/blog\/category\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/6480509221_d318b2fac1_w-150x100.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9793,"url":"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/blog\/2021\/12\/01\/holiday-crafting-crackers\/","url_meta":{"origin":9811,"position":1},"title":"Holiday crafting:  crackers","author":"leems","date":"December 1, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"We have been spreading our love of Christmas crackers to family and friends for a few years now. They used to be harder to find in the southern U.S., but are now made for just about every holiday and found in almost every home decor shop and catalog. This year\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/blog\/category\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/christmascrackerscutpaper-142x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/christmascrackerscutpaper-142x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/christmascrackerscutpaper-142x150.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/christmascrackerscutpaper-142x150.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9908,"url":"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/blog\/2022\/11\/28\/inspired-by-vintage-ornaments\/","url_meta":{"origin":9811,"position":2},"title":"Inspired by vintage ornaments","author":"leems","date":"November 28, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"I have a lovely pony bead and pin ornament that my grandmother made long ago and it inspired me to try my hand at this holiday craft. All that is needed is a Styrofoam ball, straight pins, Pony beads, and patience. Pony beads or three-cornered beads are still obtainable online,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/blog\/category\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1638571228760-138x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1638571228760-138x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1638571228760-138x150.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1638571228760-138x150.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1638571228760-138x150.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4857,"url":"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/blog\/2013\/12\/13\/oh-hey-i-forgot\/","url_meta":{"origin":9811,"position":3},"title":"Oh hey, I forgot","author":"leems","date":"December 13, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"It was the Bean's 7th blogiversary yesterday!\u00a0 Did I even have it on my calendar?\u00a0 So, lets take a trip back in time with some posts from long ago. In the beginning I was talking about Crafting Out Loud, a craft fair that I joined for three or four events:\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/blog\/category\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"wooden dolls","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/wooden-dolls.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9853,"url":"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/blog\/2022\/01\/04\/upcycle-crafting\/","url_meta":{"origin":9811,"position":4},"title":"Upcycle crafting","author":"leems","date":"January 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"You may have noticed the uptick in crafty blogging lately. I did a whole bunch of making prior to the holidays. Some of the the makes were for gifts and some were for decoration. I really enjoyed myself and I feel like I am returning to a more makery me.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/blog\/category\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/image001-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/image001-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/image001-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/image001-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/image001-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/image001-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9851,"url":"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/blog\/2021\/12\/14\/are-these-spa-gift-crafts\/","url_meta":{"origin":9811,"position":5},"title":"Are these spa gift crafts?","author":"leems","date":"December 14, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Each holiday season I get more and more into crafting presents instead of buying presents. I also get more into gifting things that can be used up and made useful. These are a few crafts that, if you have the materials, are quick and easy to make and gift. Cuticle\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/blog\/category\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/image009-1-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/image009-1-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/image009-1-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/image009-1-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/image009-1-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/image009-1-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9811","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9811"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9811\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9816,"href":"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9811\/revisions\/9816"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9811"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9811"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theleemsmachine.com\/bean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9811"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}