Garlands

Garlands are wonderful decorations for the altar, tables, over doorways, around and down stairways and banisters, the porch and so may other areas. You can make garlands out of

·Construction paper

·Popcorn

·Live or artificial evergreen branches

·Holly

·Candies

·Flowers

Construction Paper Garlands

Materials:

Construction paper

Glue or Stapler or Tape

Tape or Thumbtacks

Select the colors of construction paper you want to use. Cut all the paper into strips between 1 and 2 inches wide. Make the first loop: Fasten the ends together so that the strip forms a circle. If you use glue, let the glue dry a little bit before continuing. All other loops: Pass one end of the construction paper through the previous loop. Fasten the ends into the new loop. Continue until the garland is the length you desire. Attach to walls, shelves, doorways with tape or thumbtacks.

Popcorn Garlands

These can be a lot of fun. To make stringing easier you should use popcorn that is one to two days old because "stale" popcorn strings much easier. Be sure to pop new bowls for snacking during stringing! A variation: Add berries, cereal (the kind with holes in the centers like Cheerios are great-especially for kids) popcorn, and seeds for an outdoor garland for the birds and small animals that share your space. Remember it's winter for them and they will appreciate the treat!

Materials:

Plain popped corn, berries and all the things you will put on the garland

Dental floss or other string like fishing line or thread (extra fine, unwaxed) dental floss it is really hard to break

Large needle (it should be sharp to pierce berries and nuts but if stringing cereal you can just give kids a string or a plastic needle used to sew with yarn)

Measure out a lengthof stringing material. 4 to 6 feet (an arm's length) is good; any longer and you have problems with the thread knotting up. If you want a really long garland, tie several together.

Thread the needle.

Tie a big knot at the far end. An alternative is to leave a couple of inches at the end and tie a loop around the first thing you string on the garland.

Pass the needle through the popcorn. If your children are too young to handle sharp needles, they can move the popcorn down the length of the floss to the knot.

Continue stringing until the garland is full.

Hang the garland inside or outside.

Remember that popcorn tends to "melt" in the rain. Also, if it's an outside garland, the creatures will probably eat everything in a couple of days, so if you put it out early, it won't last...

If you are planning the bird-food garland, consider hanging suet (animal fat) from the garland. Birds really like it when it's cold outside. You might also try things like Fruit Loops, Cheerio's or other cereals

Flower Garlands

An easy garland may be made by using the heads of flowers such as carnations, mini carnations, mini roses or roses. Simply break the heads off fresh flowers close to the calyx of the flower and thread on strong thin string, wore or dental floss. Hang to dry in a warm place out of direct sunlight and be sure to move the flowers very carefully together as they

dry. Depending on how dry an area you use it will take from 5 days to 2 weeks for the garland to dry. Hang as desired from mantles, on the Yule tree, etc.