This year marks the 100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! To help celebrate this glorious spectacle, we've recreated the colorful chorus of characters in miniature - perfect for a holiday centerpiece. Our Thanksgiving Pom Parade tutorial shows you how to fashion the iconic helium balloons from felt and pom-poms. While it's a feast for the eyes, it is not a production for spectators. So, gather your supplies and "Let's have a parade!"
Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 8 hours
Additional Supplies:
Felt Template (click to download)
Black Posterboard
Floral Styrofoam Blocks
Stick Pins
Hole Punch, Regular and Small - optional
Tweezers - optional
Directions:
The Pom Turkey leads the parade and full instructions for his assembly can be found here. All necessary supplies are in the shoppable list above, including poms for his Head and Body. If you have made the Turkey previously, omit Butterscotch and Chantenay felt from your supply list.
1. Print Felt Template onto matte side of freezer paper at 100%. Cut along dark dashed lines to separate each parade character.
2. One character at a time, cut along light dashed lines to separate template by color. Iron freezer paper template (wax side down) onto designated felt color. Cut out and peel away paper. Be sure to keep each character's felt pieces together.
ELVES
3. Each Elf consists of the following components:
a. POMS: (1) Medium Almond and (1) Medium Red, Mustard or Marine
b. HAT, HAT TRIM + STAR
c. EYES + NOSE: Cut using template or with hole punches - regular size for nose and small size for eyes.
d. EARS
e. BUTTONS: Cut using template or small hole punch.
f. ARMS + LEGS: Use wire cutter to trim Green tinsel stems - (2) 1 1/2" and (2) 1 1/4".
4. Very carefully, use sharp scissors to clip a small portion from Head and Body poms. This makes a flat surface for attachment. Use hot glue to attach Head (Almond) pom to Body (Red, Mustard or Marine.)
5. Use tacky glue to attach felt elements as shown below. Hat Trim is glued around Head, just below Hat. Tweezers might be helpful for gluing on very small felt pieces.
Hat should match Body. Hat Trim and Buttons should be in contrasting felt color.
6. Use awl to make holes slightly below waist on either side.
7. Apply small amount of hot glue to either end of 1 1/2" stems. Insert one end in crease between Head and Body. Insert other end into holes, bending to form Arms with elbows.
8. Use awl to make holes at bottom of Body. Add hot glue to one end of 1 1/4" stems and insert into holes for Legs. Bend slightly outward.
POLICEMAN
9. Policeman consists of the following components:
a. POMS: (1) Small Almond and (1) Large Marine
b. HAT + HAT TRIM
c. EYES: Cut using template or with small hole punch.
d. MITTENS
e. BUTTONS: Cut using template or with small hole punch.
f. STAR
g. BELT + BUCKLE
h. MUSTACHE + FEET: Use wire cutter to trim Black chenille stems - (1) 1" and (2) 2 1/2".
10. Very carefully, use sharp scissors to clip a small portion from Head pom. Use hot glue to attach Head pom to Body.
11. To create Hat, wrap and glue rectangle with slits into a cylinder. Fold over cut sections (like a box) and glue in place to create domed shape.
12. Use tacky glue to attach Hat and other felt elements as shown below. Hat Trim is glued on bottom edge of Hat.
13. Bend 1" stem in half and then curl ends outward to form Mustache. Hot glue to Head.
14. Bend 2 1/2" stems in half to form rounded Feet. Twist free ends together. Use awl to make holes at bottom of Body and insert twisted ends.
SNOWFLAKE
15. Snowflake consists of the following components:
a. POM: (1) Large Saltwater
b. SNOWFLAKES + DIAMONDS
c. CIRCLES: Cut using template or regular hole punch.
16. Use tacky glue to attach felt elements in a manner similar to example below. This balloon is less specific and can be embellished in any snowflake pattern.
FELIX THE CAT
17. Felix the Cat consists of the following components:
a. POMS: (2) Medium Black
b. EARS
c. OUTER + INNER EYE: Cut inner eye using template or small hole punch.
d. MUZZLE
e. NOSE: Cut using template or regular hole punch.
f. ARMS, LEGS + TAIL: Use wire cutter to trim Black chenille stems - (2) 1 1/2", (2) 1 3/4" and (1) 2".
18. Very carefully, use sharp scissors to clip a small portion from Head and Body poms. Use hot glue to attach Head pom to Body.
19. Use tacky glue to attach felt elements as shown below.
20. Use awl to make hole at lower back of Body. Add hot glue to end of 2" stem and insert for Tail. Bend to desired shape.
21. Bend 1 1/2" stems in half. Fold over one half to form hands. Use awl to make holes on either side of Body. Add hot glue to unbent end of stem and insert in holes for Arms.
22. Bend 1 3/4" stems in half. Fold over one half to form feet. Use awl to make holes at bottom of Body. Add hot glue to unbent ends of stem and insert in holes for Legs.
WIGGLE WORM
23. Wiggle Worm consists of the following components:
a. POMS: (in order) Small Swan, Lemonade, Tangerine, Red, Lavender and Marine
b. OUTER EYE, INNER EYE + NOSE: Cut using template or with hole punches - regular size for outer eyes and small size for inner eyes and nose.
c. ANTENNA BALL: Cut using template or regular hole punch.
d. ANTENNA: Use wire cutter to cut White chenille stems - (2) 1/2".
24. Use hot glue to attach poms. Glue poms in varying heights to create "wiggle" effect.
25. Use tacky glue to attch felt elements as shown below.
26. Use awl to make holes on top of first pom. Add hot glue to end of chenille stems and insert for Antennae.
27. Use hot glue to attach Antenna Ball to end of Antenna. Glue another Ball to opposite side. Hold together as glue dries to enclose end of chenille stem. Repeat for second antenna.
SANTA
28. Santa consists of the following components:
a. HAT, HAT TRIM + BALL: Cut Ball using template or regular hole punch.
b. EYES + NOSE: Cut using template or hole punches - small size for eyes and regular size for nose.
c. BEARD
d. MITTENS
e. BUTTONS: Cut using template or small hole punch.
f. COAT TRIM
g. FEET: Use wire cutter to cut Black chenille stems - (2) 2 1/2".
29. Very carefully, use sharp scissors to clip a small portion from Head pom. Use hot glue to attach Head pom to Body.
30. To create Hat, wrap and glue cone. Fold over tip and hot glue in place. Use tacky glue to add two Balls (stacked for volume) to folded tip.
31. Use tacky glue to attach felt elements as shown below. Hat Trim is glued on bottom edge of Hat.
32. Bend 2 1/2" stems in half to form rounded Feet. Twist free ends together. Use awl to make holes at bottom of Body and insert twisted ends.
Balloon Assembly
33. Use awl to make holes in embellished characters. Make holes in bottom of poms for standing balloons and holes toward front for crawling balloons. Add hot glue to end of floral stem and insert.
34. For additional simple balloons, like the classic Macy's Stars, use awl to make holes in bottom of pom shapes and add floral stem.
Parade Construction
35. To make a skyline for pom balloons to "float" above, cut Black posterboard in half lengthwise.
36. Line up floral styrofoam blocks. Blocks should be equal in length to length of Black posterboard. Trim either the posterboard or blocks to get a match. To create a longer display, combine multiple sheets of posterboard.
The posterboard in this example is 28" long. I added a few extra pieces of cut styrofoam block to equal 28".
37. For added fun, draw and cut out a skyline along top edge of one piece of posterboard. Do not cut below height of styrofoam blocks to keep them hidden. Trace silhouette onto second piece of posterboard and cut out.
Alternatively, use poster markers to draw skyline - no cutting necessary.
38. To make end caps, cut two more pieces of posterboard similar in height to first pieces and two inches wider than width of styrofoam block.
39. Fold over end caps 1" on each side. Draw and cut skyline from center section.
40. Use stick pins to pin end caps to two styrofoam blocks. Then pin skyline sides (mirroring each other) in place. Posterboard and pins will hold blocks in place.
41. Trim floral stems as desired and insert into blocks to create effect of floating parade balloons!
For some added flare, sprinkle felt or paper confetti around parade scene. This is a great way to cover tops of styrofoam blocks!
Now that I've got you in the holiday spirit, keep making pom balloons! The Pom Parade Palette comes with extra pom-poms, so get creative or make a second set. Happy Holidays!
Thanks to Camille for designing and writing this tutorial! You can follow her on Instagram @notsomodernmillie or visit her website. Stay tuned for more tutorials!
