Part of the joy of the holiday season is making your own decorations. I like the old-fashioned crafts using natural elements. Today’s Christmas craft is a fresh cranberry and bay leaf garland. This holiday craft is easy and fun. It would be a great children’s craft. Just remember that fresh cranberries will not last 3 weeks hanging on the tree. It’s best to make the garland about 3 days before Christmas or your holiday party as the berries get soft.
All you need is a needle with a larger hole, a thicker thread (not regular thread), fresh cranberries and bay leaves. You can use waxed dental floss for the thread which you probably have in the bathroom or can get at the dollar store. I got a package of fresh cranberries at Aldi for 99 cents. Walmart had fresh bay leaves for about $3. If you can’t find bay leaves, I would suggest popping plain popcorn (no flavors or butter) and substitute that for the leaves. Popcorn is probably in your pantry and is another inexpensive natural element.
Start by pushing the needle through a cranberry, add two more cranberries, and then a bay leaf. If you don’t have bay leaves or popcorn, you can just make a cranberry garland. Repeat the pattern for the length you desire.
If you are planning to put it on the Christmas tree, I would suggest making several garlands instead of a huge one. It is easier to make and hang. Use it on the tree, hang it on a wall, or use it to decorate your Christmas table. Be creative – you can use the garland anywhere to add a red colorful addition to your decorations. I’m using the garland on the wall behind my dining table using removable Contact hooks.
Last year it was the background for my Advent centerpiece celebrating the four Sundays before Christmas and a special candle for Christmas Day. It’s a very simple project of 4 custard dishes filled with salt, a candle in each dish and a few decorative balls. The silver reindeer candle holder holders a larger candle for Christmas day. I like the spark of color the garland adds to the white and silver centerpiece.
If you like birds, squirrels and the other wildlife that lives around you, take the garland down after 3 days and hang it outside on bushes and trees. The birds and squirrels will love it. For this purpose, I suggest you use cranberries and popcorn (plain) in your garland. It’s attractive and edible for your outside friends.
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…pretty and should smell nice!
I don’t know if I can find fresh bay leaves but I really should string the last of the TG cranberries. Maybe I could make a garland for by my bird feeder. Thanks for a good idea!
The birds would love it! You can just do cranberries.
Lovely Christmas creation ~ berrie and leaves ~ sooo creative and elegant ^_^
Happy day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
This is such a cute idea – and would look lovely in my kitchen. Thank you for sharing your idea xx Maria
You’re welcome Maria. Happy Friday!
So lovely and creative! HAPPY hoLIDAYS!
thanks Kelleyn – Merry Christmas!
Look at that perfect cranberry leaf garland. It’s like a monsoon blew through here when I try to make Christmas garlands, usually with popcorn which tempts the occasional visiting pup. But do I ever make a mess. Funny about the bay leaves, it took me a week of tries to get some for pea soup I’m making and when I finally did, the glass container fell out of my car and hit the garage floor sending glass shards everywhere. Now I think bay leaves are cursed.
You are hysterical – that’s too funny! I needed a smile. Thanks Jeanna!
This is beautiful, I bet the bay leaves smell great. Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty
Very colourful and easy! Thanks for sharing!
What a pretty idea. I like the combination of cranberries and bay leaves. I can imagine it is very therapeutic to make as well. #MMBC
What a brilliant idea – looks really good and works well on the wall X #mmbc
I love this crafty idea! Thanks for sharing!
I hope I find whole cranberries tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestion and instructions, Carol. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you!
A great idea – bay eaves smell great! But I don’t know if I want to give up my cranberries for the cranberry sauce I make from scratch (need 3 packages for that). Have a very merry Christmas and full with merriness and fragrance! Hope to connect back with you on Dec. 30!
Merry Christmas – see you on the 30th!
There is something so lovely about using fresh, natural materials in garlands and decorations! your Fresh Cranberry and Bay Leaf Garland looks gorgeous, Carol, and I bet it smells lovely too. Thank you so much for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party. Hope to see you at the Christmas edition of the party which is open now! I’m featuring this post at the party this week! Merry Christmas!
Thanks so much for the feature April! Wishing you a blessed holiday!