Holiday Garlands and Ribbons
by Arleen Kaptur
Description: Holiday decorating ideas using garlands and ribbons.
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Garlands are definitely a part of the holidays.
However, people live in different parts of the
country and using what nature provides is always
the best solution.
Evergreen garlands can be natural or store-bought. With your special touch, you can create
a garland that fits wherever it is you live:
With floral wire, fasten silver and gold jingle bells.
Hang on a door to make "your own music"
whenever someones comes and goes.
Take seashells you saved from the beach and
spray pain the small ones with festive colors. Then
dry, and hot glue them to your garland. Apply the
glue to the flattest surface of the shell to attach
securely to the garland.
You can also make garlands from other material
besides evergreen.
Cut fabric strips into 2" x 7" lengths. Spread out a
length of cotton cord and knot at both ends. Work-
ing from the center out, wrap and tie strips around
the cord. Place small ornaments in between if you
like. In a child's room, use alternating red and white
fabric scraps and you have a candy cane effect.
Ribbons add so much creativity to your holiday
decorating - and the one most requested "craft"
idea is how to tie the perfect Christmas bow.
To make a large bow, start with 4-5 yards of
2-1/2" to 3" wide ribbon. Measure 15" from one
end and lay the ribbon by the ruler, with that point
at the 6" mark. Twist and pinch ribbon to secure.
Make a 6" loop, bring it back to the center, and
twist and pinch the ribbon again. Make another 6" loop on the opposite side and
bring it to the center, twisting and pinching again.
Make eight or ten loops, alternating sides.
Secure the bow loops by twisting a pipe cleaner
around the center of the bow.
Tie an extra length of ribbon around the center of
the bow and trim the ribbon ends. Attach
desired trims using wire or hot glue.
The ultimate in Christmas bows.
You now have a beautiful ribbon but what do you
hang from this masterpiece of ribbon?
Hang a single chandelier prism from a wire ornament
hanger. Let the tails of the ribbon trail down the sides
of the prism. Hang where the sunlight can gently play
with the sparkle and truly show the prisms of color.
Or hang small toys, framed photos, purchased or
homemade snowflakes, large jingle bells, sprigs of
fresh holly, or ribbon candy.
A few additional ribbon ideas:
- Hang holiday ornaments in the windows or from
doorknobs with varying lengths of ribbon
- Wind lengths of holiday ribbon through greenery to
adorn a fireplace or tabletop
- Replace curtain pulls with ribbon ties
- Adorn outdoor lights and the mailbox with bows
made from wide holiday ribbons
- Make pillows merry by wrapping with ribbon as
you would a gift package and place on beds,
windowseats, and chairs
Garlands and ribbons - two fantastic accents for
your holiday home. ENJOY!
Reprinted with permission.
