DIY: Cranberry garlands

The big trend in holiday décor this year finds inspiration in the pared-down style of the Scandinavian countries. No fussy frills – the buzzword is “minimalist.” Here’s how to create your Scandinavian-style décor, complete with step-by-step instructions for making garlands with…cranberries!

 

A Scandinavian Christmas

What makes this northern European style so special? It’s simple, literally, using natural materials, with wood all over the place. The colour palette is pale, with neutral tones like white, cream, or beige. To add a little zip, just accessorize with a vivid shot of colour. It all comes together to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere, typical of a Nordic Christmas.

 

Key elements

Tree branches, boughs of fir, and pine cones look great against a white tablecloth. Under the tree, the gifts are simply but elegantly wrapped in Kraft paper. Filtered light and a few candles create a lovely ambiance. The final touch: soft blankets on the sofas for guests to wrap themselves up in.

 

Cranberries… in the Christmas tree!

To add contrast and pizzazz to our Scandinavian décor, try our favourite holiday fruit. Sure, cranberry sauce makes a yummy side dish with turkey, but you can also use cranberries to make gorgeous garlands and delight the eyes as much as the belly. Here’s how to make a cranberry garland in a few easy steps.

Cranberry garlands look great on the tree, on your festive table, or looped around light fixtures for a simple, cozy Scandinavian-style look.

 

Materials:

• 1 sewing needle
• Dental floss
• 1 cup fresh cranberries for each 3-ft. length of floss
• ½ cup fat-free popcorn and/or pine cones for each 3-ft. length of floss
• Spray-on acrylic sealant

Steps

1. Decide how long you want your dental floss to be, cut to length and thread needle.

2. Thread the first cranberry and knot it at the end of the string.

3. Alternate berries (3 to 10) with each piece of popcorn.

4. When your garland is long enough, tie a knot after the last cranberry.

5. Without sealant, garlands are good for about 3 days.

6. To preserve garlands through the holidays, spray with acrylic sealant and leave to dry for 12 hours.

7. Turn garlands over and repeat the previous step.

8. Throw out the garlands when the holidays are over – you don’t want them to get mouldy or infested with insects over the summer.