How to Make Cheerleadering Pom-Poms

Lawrence Herkimer, considered by many to be the '"founding father of cheerleading," was the first to copyright the pom-pom. You can make inexpensive pom-poms out of garbage bags that can be found in most grocery stores. While most garbage bags come in black and white, you can search party stores and seasonal stores to find colored trash bags that will add flair to your pom-poms.

Things You'll Need

  • Package of 13-gallon garbage bags (10 for each pom-pom)
  • Scissors
  • Tape (electric or duct)
  • Markers (optional)
  • Glitter (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Buy a package of 13-gallon garbage bags. Take 10 garbage bags (per pom-pom) out of the box and lay them flat. Do not unfold them; simply unroll them so that they are flat on the ground. Use different colors of garbage bags for a more interesting look.

    • 2

      Stack the garbage bags on top of one another and trim 2 to 3 inches off both ends so each bag looks like a rectangle (with no closed ends).

    • 3

      Fold all 10 bags evenly in half (so that there is no overlap).

    • 4

      Cut strips at one end of each garbage bag. The strips do not have to be equal in width, but you want to be able to fit about 10 to 12 strips across the bag. Cut the strips to the point on the bag where you want the handle to begin (roughly 4 to 6 inches from the fold).

    • 5

      Roll the bags from one long end to the other long end (this is similar to rolling up paper starting from the side to create a tube).

    • 6

      Tape the pom-pom handle (i.e., the 4 to 6 inches that is not cut) with electrical tape or other strong tape.

    • 7

      Decorate as desired. Use glitter or markers that draw on plastic. You can also fluff the strips by rubbing them quickly between the palms of your slightly moistened hands.