DIY: Homemade Holiday Garland

Lean into the timeless tradition of homemade garland making this holiday season—giving a new, festive life to common household items and a few fresh bags of produce from the grocery store.

SUPPLIES NEEDED

• Thin sewing needle
• Variations of thread—embroidery floss, twine, or your favorite colored/patterned thread
• Scissors
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Sharp kitchen knife
• Newspaper or old cloth
• Plain popcorn (two 12 oz bags), fresh cranberries (two 12 oz bags), and/or four navel oranges
• Zinsser shellac spray (optional)

ORANGE

1. Preheat your oven to 200°F.
2. Thinly slice three unpeeled oranges, approximately 1/4 inch thick, and place them on a parchment
   paper-covered baking sheet.
3. Using a paper towel, press out excess juice from the orange slices.
4. Place in the oven and bake for four hours, flipping halfway through to avoid burning.
5. After four hours, remove the oranges from the oven and let them sit until they are cool to touch.
6. Measure and cut your thread to the length desired for your garland.
7. Thread your preferred string through the sewing needle and tie a knot at the end.
8. Push the needle (front to back) through the flesh (not the rind) of an orange slice. Then, from the back of the orange slice, push the needle through so the thread is once again at the front. Continue this process until the string is full of orange slices.
9. When finished, tie a knot at the end of your string.

CRANBERRY

1. Measure and cut your thread to the length desired for your garland.
2. Thread your preferred string through the sewing needle and tie a knot at the end.
3. Select plump, ripe cranberries—discarding any mushy berries—and push the needle through the cranberry, sliding it to the end of your string. Continue until the thread is full.
4. When finished, tie a knot at the end of your string.
5. Your fresh cranberry garland will only stay good for a few days. To preserve it through the holiday season, you can spray it with shellac. Lay the garland on a flat work surface (use newspaper or an old piece of cloth to avoid unwanted staining), shake the sealant can, and spray the full length of the garland. Let it dry for one hour before turning the garland over and spraying the other side.

POPCORN

1. Several days in advance, pop the popcorn in a microwave, open the bag, and set it out to cool. The slightly stale popcorn will make it less prone to breakage during the threading process.
2. Measure and cut your thread to the desired length for your garland.
3. Thread your preferred string through the sewing needle and tie a knot at the end.
4. Start adding popcorn. Push the needle through the center of a piece of popcorn and slide it to the end of your string. Continue this process until the thread is full of popcorn.
5. When finished, tie a knot at the end of your string.

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