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As the holidays are quickly approaching, does that tub of decorations seem stale and dated? Rather than hurrying to the local craft store, first take a walk outside. Mother Nature may hold the answer to your decorating problem!
Natural Materials
- Look for rose hips, berries, nuts, pine cones and dried flowers. Use these in their natural state, or you might add a bit of color. Dab puff paint on the tips of a pine cone or an acorn cap to look like a small drift of snow. Tap an old toothbrush in white paint and lightly brush through a screen creating a dusting of snow on your collections.
- Keep your eyes open to find clusters which may occur naturally or can be created using wire and glue to add impact to your design.
- By cutting a pine cone horizontally, you create a zinnia-shape which, when painted, adds perennial color to any decor.
Dried Materials
- Another way to add color and interest is to tuck in materials you have dried. You may use a dehydrator or your oven to dry thin, uniform slices of oranges, limes, lemons, carrots, or beets. When the slices are leathery and brittle and edges are sharp, you may use them in your decor.
Wreaths
- Look for vines and twine your own. If you have access to a woodlot or hedgerow, you will undoubtedly find an abundance of grape vines.
- Gather lengths of the vines and prepare a base board. Mark a desired size circle on the board and tap a circle of nails in your base as a guide. Twist the vines around the outside of the nail circle tucking them into each other to hold their shape.
- Or use your evergreens. Pine and fir boughs will last longest, but take care when cutting them. These trees grow on new growth, so be sure to leave enough for next year. And don’t forget broadleaf evergreens such as holly or rhododendron, which can be used as accents. You may want to skip the boxwood, however, to avoid spreading the invasive box tree moth, which has recently found its way to our area.
- You could also join us Dec. 4 or 5 to create your own wreath at one of our Wreath Making Workshops in the Trolley Building at Orleans County CCE in Albion.