craftgrrl | Holiday Ornament Project--Help Needed

I was in Pottery Barn this afternoon and found this awesome ornament that I want to make. Unfortunately, it's not in the online catalog, so I don't have a picture.

It consisted of a whole bunch of loops of beads, maybe the diameter of a penny or smaller, stuck to a ball in the center. The ball was much heavier and more solid than styrofoam. I couldn't see it, because the bead loops were too thick. It looked a little like a pom-pom, with sparkly bead loops instead of straight pieces of whatever-they-make-pom-poms-out-of. The whole thing was about the size of an orange.

How would I stick the bead loops to the ball? And what kind of ball do you think I should use? A little rubber bouncing ball?

Any advice appreciated. I'm way late on making holiday gifts.

Oh, I also saw the cutest little frames...they were maybe 2" x 3", with a half-inch border of lines of cylindrical beads on a tiny bit of padding. The sample "picture" was a simple "To: From:" gift tag. Elaborate gift tag! It also had a little 2 mm-wide velvet ribbon with a little bow at the top. The beads were either silver or gold. $6! Of course, buying the materials and making it will probably cost more than $6, but it's all about the fun of doing it, right?

I haven't ever beaded; these seem like nifty projects to learn on.