Potpourri Air Freshener Craft
This Potpourri Air Freshener Craft is a lovely handmade gift for Mother’s Day, birthdays, or any time kids want to make something special for someone they love. The finished air freshener can hang in a closet, bedroom, or craft space and adds a soft, pleasant scent. It is a simple project with a pretty finished look, but adult help is recommended when using the hot glue gun.
Tips
- Choose potpourri with larger pieces so it does not easily slip through the yarn openings.
- If needed, add a little extra yarn while wrapping the balloon to make the air freshener sturdier.
- Ribbon can be used instead of lace for a colorful finish.
Supplies
- Small round balloon
- Cotton yarn
- Liquid starch
- Disposable bowl
- Potpourri with large pieces
- Lace or ribbon for trim
- Cord or extra yarn for hanging
- Newspaper
- Hot glue gun
Instructions
- Cover your work surface with newspaper.
- Blow up the balloon to about 3 inches wide. Tie it off and hang it over the newspaper so drips can fall safely below.
- Pour about 1 cup of liquid starch into a disposable bowl.
- Cut the yarn into 1 yard pieces. Dip each piece into the starch, then wrap it around the balloon in different directions.
- Keep wrapping until the balloon is covered evenly with yarn. Small openings are fine, but make sure the spaces are not large enough for the potpourri pieces to fall through.
- Let the yarn-covered balloon dry completely overnight.
- Once dry, pop the balloon and carefully pull it out through one of the openings.
- Snip a few strands of yarn near the top to make a larger opening.
- Push the potpourri into the yarn ball through the opening.
- Use hot glue to secure the cut strands back into place. Adult help is needed for this step.
- Decorate the top with lace or ribbon and attach a cord hanger.
- Hang your finished potpourri air freshener in a closet, bedroom, or other small space.
Fun Facts
Potpourri comes from a French word that was used to describe a mixture of dried plant materials. People have used dried flowers, herbs, and spices to make their homes smell fresh for hundreds of years.
Potpourri is often made with rose petals, lavender, cinnamon sticks, citrus peel, and cloves.
Patterns, Templates and Printables
This craft does not require a printable template.
Teacher Friendly Educational Extension
This craft is a fun way to talk about natural materials and scents. Children can compare different potpourri ingredients and describe what they smell. You can also use this activity as a writing prompt by asking kids to create a gift tag or a short note to go with their finished project.
Supplies
Cotton Yarn
Small, Round Balloon
Disposable Bowl
Potpourri with Large Pieces
Lace for Trim
Newspaper
Hot Glue Gun
Instructions
Blow up the balloon to about 3". Cover your surface with newspaper and hang the balloon above it.
Pour a cup of Liquid Starch into a disposable bowl.
Cut yarn into 1 yard pieces. Dip into starch and wrap around balloon. Continue until you have the balloon evenly covered with yarn. You will have spaces with the balloon showing through but make sure they are small enough that big pieces of potpourri will not fall out.
Let dry overnight.
Pop balloon and pull it out.
Snip a few strands of yarn near the top of the ball. Push potpourri through the opening. Use glue gun to close strands.
Decorate with lace and make a hanger out of cord.
