Natural Christmas Decorations

[EcclesCake]

I do not have a creative bone in my body but need to make some Christmas decorations, hanging things and things to go on a mantle piece.

I've looked on the web and have been overwhelmed with tat. Can anyone suggest good websites for crafts or suggest decorations that I could make.

Oranges studded with cloves, cranberry and popcorn garlands have all been done before so I'd like some alternatives.

TIA

[NoMercy]

Get some pinecones from your local woods and spray paint them silver and gold.

[237SJ]

My friend goes down to the woods a gets ivy vines. She drapes them over the mantlepiece and interweaves christmas lights through them. It looks lovely. She also hangs dried orange slices and cinnamon sticks with string from draped ivy.

[rowanwitch]

get some oasis blocks and trays soak well and just fill wityh loads of greenery like holly and anything else you can find... trail ivy from the bottom and then get some small baubles and wire them into little bunches.. wite the binches onto wooden skewers and poke into the oasis between the greenery spike lemons, limes and tangerrines and add those too.

Make greenery wall hangings from 'oasis garland bases'


chillies string well

fircones sprayed with florist glitter and bowls of gold sprayed walnuts and almonds mixed with red and green wrapped sweets

decorate your tree with bunched of wired chillies, salt dough shapes tied on with coloured ribbon, and gold painted or glittery cones just red or white lights

also dried flower heads from 'everlastings' can be strung into garlands.. raffia bows and rosettes look nice

[EcclesCake]

Thanks guys, pine cones will feature somehow, probably as a door wreath with other foraged material but absolutely no spray paint or glitter is allowed.

I like the idea of chillis, they are definitely on the list along with the salt dough/ginger bread decorations with boiled sweet 'windows'.

I've never had much success drying orange slices without using an AGA or a dehydrator, any suggestions?

[ladyalex]

I managed to dry out orange slices in a very low (ordinary electric) oven for several hours.

[237SJ]

I don`t know how my friend dries the orange slices. I`ve just emailed to ask her so I`ll let you know if she replies. She doesn`t have an Aga or any special equipment. She`ll probably just say she sticks them in the airing cupboard or something! She`s just one of those creative types that manages to knock up really nice things from nothing very much.

[EcclesCake]

Thanks 237SJ. I think when I've used an ordinary oven the slices haven't been completely dry and have gone mouldy because of the residual moisture, perhaps I should persevere.

[rowanwitch]

when they are nearly dry try them in a tray of borax

it works for flowers and may lewave them with a crystalline frosting

Globe artichokes, teasels, and birch twigs are good too

[EcclesCake]

Persevere and preserve! A brilliant idea, thanks Rowan.

The garden is full of artichokes and cardoons and I think I've seen some teasels, I can see a plan coming together!

[rowanwitch]

don't forget pots of poinsettias, red roses, carnations, gold chrysanthemums, and candles....

[EcclesCake]

Candles definitely but unless the flowers are from the garden they won't be allowed, I'm hoping I'll be able to find rosehips and seed heads though.

[rowanwitch]

springy twigs woven into wreaths...
can you sneak to the park for some extra twigs and berries

[237SJ]

By the way I got an email back from my friend. She said the same as ladyalex. She puts the orange slices in a very low oven. She puts them directly on the wire rack so that the air can circulate and dry them from both sides. She hangs the slices along with the cinnamon from the edges of her mantlepiece and the warmth from the fire spreads the scent around her living room.

[Eve]

Holly is a bit predictable but I love it. Dad goes out and gets some every Christmas.

How about decorating fire logs somehow? Maybe drape some ivy round.

[sallybb]

Natural greenery as already mentioned , wire together, clusters of nuts (in shells) stuck together, orange/cinnamon slices, cheap to make on a low heat in the oven, if you have any rosehips in the garden or hedgerows, pick now before the birds eat them,(store somewhere cool until needed) teasles and other interesting seed heads, natural or sprayed, and a hint of tartan ribbon.

[EcclesCake]

Thanks 237SJ, I think in the past I've put the orange slices on baking sheets as it is easier to get them in and out of the oven, having the heat circulating will make a big difference.

Thank you to everyone else for your suggestions.

[sophie_1003]

You can make baubles by using a papier mache technique but with string instead of paper; you can leave gaps between the string as well so it looks icy. I'm trying to find some instructions on the internet at the moment but am not having much success!
Another good one is threading popcorn onto cotton and using it in place of or as well as tinsel; looks really effective!

[sophie_1003]

Ahh sorry just realised you'd already mentioned the popcorn idea!

[sophie_1003]

http://itsacreativewo...to-string-bauble.html

Instructions for string bauble.

[EcclesCake]

Sophie, I love the baubles and think they might be acceptable for what I need to do. I'd seen some that used string and they were a bit twee and too 'perfect' the ones in your link have the homespun look that I'm after!

Brilliant, thanks!!!