Posts Tagged ‘tutorial’

Eco-friendly and reminiscent of childhood holidays, making your own garland can be a rewarding experience – with or without the kids to help. Short on patience or time? A garland doesn’t have to go round and round and round the tree. Shorter ones can be used over doors and windows, around lampshades, on the mantel, along shelves, etc. Here’s a list of just a few (some otherwise destined for the trash) of the many items that can be used.

• Fruit – apples, cranberries, citrus, apricots
• Cinnamon sticks
• Pinecones or bundled pine needles
• Popcorn
• Tree leaves, bay leaves or rosemary
• Nuts – chestnuts, acorns
• Thread spools
• Large beads
• Buttons
• Wine corks

 Use a large needle to thread onto wire. A rotary tool or regular drill with a small bit can drill holes in nuts. Small fruits can be threaded whole; slice and dry larger fruits like apples or citrus. Thread buttons in one hole and out the other so they show better and take up more space. Finish off the ends with a bow or ornament.

Limit each garland to perishable or non-perishable items. Non-perishable garland, save and use again. Write a date on it and who made it, and you can add a new garland each year. Perishable garland can be draped on trees and bushes for winter food for our snowbirds (the feathered kind).