Stringing cranberry and popcorn garland often invokes thoughts of holiday seasons past, when families created their own Christmas decorations. Caution: for the safety of wildlife and birds, do not use shellac if you plan to hang strings outdoors. Cranberry garlands are popular, and fruit may add attractive spots of color to the garland. Flanigan has written for various publications, including WV Living and American Craft Council, and has published several eBooks on craft and garden-related subjects. This year's popcorn garland I tied with tiny red ribbon (not thread) on a 3 ft. tree with white lights & nothing else. Cranberry and popcorn garland gives the tree a country chic look. 1. Repeat with more garlands and tie them together to make a big one. To make stringing cranberries easier, use waxed dental floss or try waxing the needle and thread with beeswax. It’s great for Thanksgiving and/or Christmastime, bring colorful cheer to the home or front door. It’s a natural decoration that can be used to embellish the tree or mantle, and once the holidays are over it can hang outside for the birds to enjoy. In a large Ziploc bag, toss fresh cranberries with white craft glue until each berry is well coated. Alternate berries (3 to 10) with each piece of popcorn. Easy Faux Sugar Dipped Cranberry Garland. Stretch the cranberry and popcorn garland out on your work surface. "I used to make 15 Cheerios & 4 fresh cranberry garlands! Hold the can of … Thread onto the string with your needle. Email address is not in a correct format. Leave at least 5 or more inches on each end to secure your garland in that space once it is complete. Turn the garland over carefully and coat the backside of the garland with the acrylic sealant in the same manner as before. Thanks you for joining the Cranberry Club, Your password has been reset successfully. Then, starting from the top, drape your popcorn garland loosely around the tree. Shake the can of acrylic sealant spray vigorously for several seconds. To avoid staining, do not place the garland directly on lightly-painted surfaces or linens. Your password must contain 6-12 characters, a capital letter and a number. 1-2 12-oz. Stale popcorn works best for decorations. To prolong the life of the garland, try spraying shellac on the cranberries after stringing them. (For pinecones or acorns: use a power drill and a very fine bit that will drill a hole just big enough for the wire. I love how the fresh cranberries add a festive pop of red to the faux evergreen garland. Allow the garland to fully dry, then add it to your tree or hang on your wall and enjoy! To avoid staining, do not place the garland directly on lightly-painted surfaces or linens. You can make popcorn stale by leaving it out for at least 24 hours before stringing it with cranberries. Step 2 Shake the can of acrylic sealant spray vigorously for several seconds. This makes it easier to manage, not only for me but also for any young ones that might be helping. Place the cranberries into a large bowl to make it easier to access them as you string and take the squishy ones out. Thread your rope or twine through them. If no frugivorous birds are spending the winter in your area, however, berries or fruit pieces may end up rotting on the string long after other treats are consumed, and strings of nuts may be a better choice. Place a knot after the last piece. Your recipe review has been submitted. Once your garland is the length you want, finish with another knot. Now, … Parchment paper or silicone baking mat. Please enter your information below to join the Cranberry Club. I like to cut the string into 3-foot lengths. Dispose of garland after a day or two, before berries get soft. To preserve garlands through the holidays, spray with acrylic sealant and leave to dry for 12 hours. 1. Start by preheating your oven to 220 degrees and slice your oranges … 1 bag of fresh cranberries (12 oz) Bakers twine or Jute Twine. You can also use a needle and thread to make the garland. The garland was so easy to make! Thread the twine through the yarn needle. Add a few silica gel packets to the container before storing it away to help prevent moisture from building up in the storage container. You must agree to our terms & conditions. Instead, allow the homemade decoration to act as food for wildlife. Let the garland dry for 4 hours. I made each little garland about three feet long (and tied them together later), so you will need approximately six feet of string for each three foot garland. add a pretty design, alternate cranberries with popcorn, stringing about one cranberry for every four or five kernels of popcorn. Twice! Allow the garland to dry between shellac applications and be sure to flip it over to get all sides. 3. Rest the pliers against the paper towels temporarily so the drill can "bite" into the acorn just under the cap. This year, we used raw cranberries to make a holiday wreath! Start by stringing the cranberries one by one. I placed one of the strands on my flocked pencil tree I picked up at Wal-Mart last year. Place the container in a cool and dry location. Cut a length of twine to the length of garland that you want to make. To make this more of a family project that’s friendly for kids, we simply use toothpicks to stick through the raw cranberries. Place another towel on top of the oranges and pat them dry to remove as much moisture as possible. If not, you may disable cookies; however, this may affect your experience on the site. To prolong the life of the garland, try spraying shellac on the cranberries after stringing them. Eco-Friendly Christmas Decor – Make a Cranberry Garland If you’re interested in making a small step toward a more eco-friendly Christmas, try making a cranberry garland. Don't preserve cranberry and popcorn garland if using it outdoors. Protect the surface you are working on by covering it with a two sheet-thick layer of newspaper. 2. Always read and follow the directions found on the bottle of sealant spray. Step 4: When decorating your tree, string any lights first. Unfortunately, these homemade decorations just don't last as long as their mass-produced counterparts. One skein Red Hear Super Saver yarn and 1 package of 500 pony beads will create a garland for a 6’ Christmas tree. bags Ocean Spray® Fresh Cranberries, Fresh popped popcorn, acorns, whole cinnamon sticks, pinecones, etc., optional, Very fine drill bit (just wide enough to make a hole for the wire), optional. If I should wait, how long? Popcorn Cranberry Garlands: Once again, measure the space you will be using the garland in to make sure you cut enough twine for your garland. This website uses cookies to enhance your online experience. Cinnamon sticks can be threaded through their natural opening in the center of the stick. Let dry for at least 12 hours before using the cranberry and popcorn garland. If you wish to continue, click okay. Place paper towels on the work surface to catch acorn debris. I’ve already shared my dried orange slice ornaments that I made, including easy instructions on how to dry orange slices. By using our website, you agree to our privacy policy. Last week I shared a Quick, Easy, and Cheap Christmas Mantel Idea for a fireplace with a television above it. Standard decorating advice is to plan 9’ of garland per foot of tree height. Sprinkle in a generous amount of white sanding sugar and toss a second time to coat. Join now and start contributing and following all things cranberry! Flanigan completed two writing courses at Pierpont Community and Technical College. Includes hands-on directions on how to make a cranberry-popcorn garland (you supply the materials). I used some left-over red spray paint and sprayed the ring red. Sew a garland of popcorn and cranberries, in any pattern you like. I hung the cranberry garland on the small fireplace in our basement media room. That’s literally all there is to it. Then raise the pliers from the work surface so the drill can get through the acorn.). Use natural, not microwaveable popcorn and a fine needle. You should have a single layer of thread. If you wish to preserve the garland to use next year, spray the entire garland with shellac. Check out Easy DIY Pom Pom Garland and Tree Skirt Secret to find out how you can easily make one of your own. The bay leaves are also sturdier so they help keep the sage in place. To keep cranberries looking pretty, spray garland with shellac before hanging (this should only be done for indoor garland as wildlife will snack on string hung outside). If desired, alternate cranberries with other items like popcorn, whole cinnamon sticks, or wooden beads. Remove the paper towels and place the oranges on the baking sheet. Cookie sheet. I found this cranberry garland at the after Christmas sale at Hobby Lobby last year for $5 and found a perfect use for it. With Christmas two weeks away, will the garland look as good as it would if I made it today or should I wait? Thread the needle and make a large knot about 6 inches from the end of the thread. I plan to take them outside after Christmas for a nice tasty treat for the birds. Enjoy the crisp and tangy taste of fresh Ocean Spray cranberries straight from the bog. Knot one end of the string and add Ocean Spray® Fresh Cranberries one at a time by piercing through the center with the needle. This last decoration is simple but will add a splash of color to your tree. Keep the cranberries on a plate for about 2 hours to become dry. See the full instructions that follow on how to make Christmas popcorn garland: Place the popcorn in one bowl and the cranberries in another for easy access. 'Confirm Password' and 'Password' do not match. Tie a knot in one end of the twine (big enough so it doesn't slip through) and pull the knot up to the eye of the needle. Push the string through the needle and pull through so the ends of the string meet. How To … Use pliers to hold the acorn securely at a slight angle — the top blade on the cap, and the lower blade on the bottom. Use acrylic sealant spray in a well-ventilated area. At the ends, I used 10 cranberries, then a pinecone, then 5 cranberries, repeat to the end, end with 10 cranberries. If your review is approved, it will show up on the website soon. To prolong the life of the garland, try spraying shellac on the cranberries after stringing them. That’s good! I loved them so much that I added a matching fruit garland. For popcorn, simply thread through the center of the kernel. It took less than 45 minutes. Thank you, instructions to reset your password has been sent to your email. I purchased a round styrofoam ring which can be found at most craft stores. In order to get your knot right up against your last cranberry, insert your needle inside the knot before it is completely tight and then use your needle to guide the knot right up against the last cranberry. How to Make a Pinecone and Cranberry Garland. Store the garland in an airtight plastic container after use. Dispose of garland after a day or two, before berries get soft. The pom-pom garland is something I made two years ago. Once the Wilt Pruf dries you’ll notice that it left the garland feeling kind of plastic and shiny. 2. Note: The fresh cranberries won't last longer than a day or two, but you can spray the garland with shell ac to preserve it. Continue to make desired length; secure end with a large knot. Let the sealant dry for at least 12 hours. Place the sliced oranges on the towel on your tray. Dispose of garland after a day or two, before berries get soft. Montgomery County Government: Sharing your Holidays with Wildlife, Simply Good Stuff: Eco-Friendly Christmas Decor – Make a Cranberry Garland. Thread the small sewing needle with the thread. At first I was only going to use sage and cranberries, but when I got to the store I noticed the bay leaves and I thought they would be nice for adding a deeper green tone and different texture to the garland. Once you spray the entire garland, flip it, and spray the other side. And place in the preheated oven. You can connect them later for a … Or, to make a red and green garland, add slices of lime to your cranberry garland; both will dry nicely and last about three weeks. How to make a DIY dried fruit garland made with dried oranges and cranberries for the Christmas tree. Decide about how long you want the garland and cut the jute with approximately an extra 18″. When your garland is long enough, tie a knot after the last cranberry. You can always make long strings of popcorn garland and then, closer to Christmas, make a few shorter strings with cranberries that you string on the tree later. Stock…. While you cannot keep it fresh per say, there are steps you can take to preserve the cranberry and popcorn garland for use in future seasons. Hold the can of acrylic sealant spray about 10-inches above the garland. Start at one end of the garland and coat it with a thin layer of the acrylic sealant. Stretch the cranberry and popcorn garland out on your work surface. Must contain 6-12 characters, a capital letter and a number. Make a knot or two at the end so the cranberries do not fall off after they are threaded. Without sealant, garlands are good for about 3 days. To avoid staining, do not place the garland … Im wanting to do an old fashion christmas tree this year and would love to make a cranberry/popcorn garland. So, if you are going put cranberries on your popcorn garland (or use them in other holiday decorations), be sure that you make them close to your event or closer to Christmas. Amanda Flanigan began writing professionally in 2007. Cranberries will last on garland between 7-10 days. Make sure to spray in different angles and try to get every brand. Continue in this manner while moving down the strand. A confirmation email has been sent to the email address you used to register your account. Start with a long length of thread and a thin needle. To make the garland, poke a little hole in each slice with a knife or toothpick. 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To enhance your online experience 7-10 days last as long as their mass-produced counterparts i loved them much! Small fireplace in our basement media room try spraying shellac on the towel on wall... Will add a festive pop of red to the length you want to make a cranberry garland tangy. Long enough, tie a knot after the last cranberry every brand over to get every.! Or wooden beads add Ocean Spray® fresh cranberries add a pretty design, alternate cranberries other! Your experience on the website soon is well coated, garlands are popular, and fruit add... Garlands through the needle and make a DIY dried fruit garland made with oranges. In our basement media room Technical College get all sides evergreen garland 4 when!