Christmas Garland or Wreath
Rating: easy
One of my favourite memories and Christmas traditions from when I was a kid is getting all wrapped up and heading down to a frosty riverbank in Durham with my mam and sister. We’d forage holly and berries from the hedgerows then take our goodies home and use them to create festive garlands and wreaths.
You will need: ◻ Plain faux garland ◻ Craft wire or floristry wire ◻ Zip ties To decorate: ◻ Dried orange slices
◻ Cinnamon sticks
◻ Baubles
◻ Pine cones
◻ Holly and berries ◻ Winter foliage picks ◻ Fairy lights (optional) ◻ Hook, hammer and nail (optional)
1. Lay out your garland and separate your decorations into piles (step A).
2. If you’re using fairy lights, wind them around the garland, making sure you have an even spread of lights.
3. Time for some decorations! Focus on the arrangement of your trimmings first, and work in groups of three. Gather a trio of decorations at a time and make sure to space them evenly along your garland (step B).
4. To secure the decorations in place, loop a piece of craft or floristry wire through each one, twist the two ends together, then wrap the wire around the garland. Arrange any greenery around the decorations to make sure the wire isn’t too visible.
5. Continue until your garland looks just right. Then, if you want to turn it into a beautiful wreath for your front door, simply use some more wire or a zip tie to join the two ends together. Add a nail or a hook to your door, if necessary, or hang your wreath from your door knocker, if you have one. Otherwise, it’s time to drape your garland over the mantelpiece, stand back and admire it.