Posted by Les Mauvaises Herbes
Making your own natural Christmas decorations is as easy as pie, and very often much prettier than what you can find in stores. There's nothing like garlands of evergreens, dried citrus, clusters of rowan berries, cranberries, and popcorn. Plus, since natural garlands are made of organic materials, their environmental impact is almost zero!
No need to go to the store: you probably already have everything at home, at your local grocery store, or outside :)
Why make your own decorations?
Minimalism and waste reduction are two of the noblest reasons to make your own decorations. Not supporting "made in China" and unsustainable products are equally good reasons. Making your own decorations also allows you to personalize the holiday season to your taste, impress guests, and spend quality time with family or friends :P
Dried citrus ornaments
Pretty much a staple when it comes to homemade holiday decorations. This type of ornament is somewhat reminiscent of the old tradition of giving fruit at Christmas. Citrus fruits are often recommended, but very good results can also be achieved with pears and apples. It's a good time to give your old soft apples a second life!
You will need:
- citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruits, lemons), apples, or pears;
- ... and a lot of patience! Haha.
Procedure
- Cut the fruit into 1/4 inch thick slices. Then spread them out on a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the fruit from sticking.
- Preheat the oven to 150°F.
- Dry the fruit in the oven. The drying time varies between 5 and 6 hours approximately (yep!).
Psst, psst: some fruits, including lemon, tend to blacken when drying. This is normal. After 5 or 6 hours of drying in the oven, some fruits like grapefruit may still be a bit soft. You can still remove them from the oven and continue air-drying them for a day or two.
Forest Garlands
Forest garlands are our favorites. They almost replace a Christmas tree in a house, they are so beautiful. They can be hung horizontally or vertically. They can be composed of several elements, including conifer branches, dried fruits, pinecones, etc. We really like to mix dried flowers and conifers; it gives a soft touch to the holidays. Here are our favorite elements:
- thuja branches;
- pine branches;
- pinecones;
- clusters of rowan berries;
- dried citrus;
- dried flowers of all kinds.
You will need:
- hemp or jute string;
- decorations of your choice;
- a TV series, a good movie, or a friend and lots of gossip :P
Cranberry and Popcorn Garland
The cranberry and popcorn garland is a big holiday classic in Mariane's family. In addition to being ultra-eco-friendly, this garland can be reused year after year if cared for and handled carefully. It can also be hung outdoors after the holidays; it will bring great joy to the little birds in your neighborhood! Otherwise, they can be composted (be careful to choose a thread without synthetic material).
You will need:
- sewing thread;
- a needle;
- fresh cranberries;
- popcorn kernels (plain and unsalted);
- a pot with a lid;
- a little dexterity and patience, haha
Step 1: Pop the corn kernels
- Measure ⅓ cup of corn kernels and place them in the pot so that there is only one layer, meaning all the kernels should touch the bottom of the pot.
- Turn the heat to medium-high. Stay by the pot and regularly roll the kernels.
- When the first kernel pops, cover and continue to regularly roll the kernels until they have all popped.
- Transfer the popped kernels to a container and let them cool.
Step 2: Stringing cranberries and popcorn
- Prepare a thread 1 to 1.5 m long, pass it through the eye of the needle, and tie a knot at the end of the thread.
- Once the popcorn has cooled, string it and the cranberries, alternating between the two, until the garland reaches the desired length.
Happy crafting!
