How to Make Pompoms Used by a Cheer Lady

Many women are concerned about their fitness. Finding entertaining ways of exercising is a challenge. A cheerleading routine is a full and enjoyable workout. Often cheerleading routines require the use of pompoms. You don't have to spend a lot of money on this cheerleading prop. With some basic household items you can make pompoms and begin exercising. Put on a comfortable short flared skirt, grab your homemade pompoms and give a C-H-E-E-R.

Things You'll Need

  • Garbage bags
  • Sharp scissors
  • Duct tape
  • Plastic ribbon
  • Cardboard
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Instructions

  1. Garbage-Bag Pompoms

    • 1

      Lay the garbage bag flat. With a sharp pair of scissors, cut the bag in half horizontally.

    • 2

      Slit each half with the scissors along the folds until there is only one fold left on each half. Lay the two halves of the garbage bag over the top of each other, lining them up along the folds. Smooth out any wrinkles. Cut the garbage bags so that they are even, but do not cut the sides that are folded.

    • 3

      Smooth the garbage bags flat again. Check to make sure that the two folded sides are lying evenly on top of each other. The folded sides are the top. Cut thin slivers from the bottom going toward the fold, stopping the cut at 4 inches before the fold. Cut slivers along the entire length of the bottom. Try to keep the strips you are cutting thin and even.

    • 4

      Gather the folded sides together in your hand and twist until it they make a thin cylinder shape about 4 inches long. Apply duct tape all along the 4-inch twisted cylinder to make the handle of the pompom. Make as many pompoms as you require to do your cheerleading routine.

    Ribbon Pompoms

    • 5

      Wrap your ribbon around your arm, anchoring the ribbon on your thumb and then around your bent elbow each time you wrap it. This is the same action commonly used by people to wind an extension cord. Wrap the ribbon 50 times around.

    • 6

      Remove the wrapped ribbon from your arm, carefully maintaining the wraps. Hold the top folded end firmly in your hands and twist together so that it makes a thin cylinder shape about 5 inches long. The other end should be a loop. Apply duct tape around the twisted cylinder shape. Put two pieces of cardboard, each cut 5 inches long and 1 inch thick, over the cylinder and cover in duct tape. This forms the handles of the pompom.

    • 7

      Cut the other end of the ribbons so that there is no longer a loop. Ribbons should feather out to create a pompom. Make as many pompoms as you desire.