Last year I had planned to share how I make my dried orange garlands that I love to use in Christmas decor, but ran out of time to document one more project. This time of year can be a little crazy work-wise. So a year later, here it is for those that were asking!
I love the look of orange garlands mixed with simple greenery. It’s more natural decor and they have a slightly imperfect, homemade look, and I love that about it! And while the drying time for the oranges is a little long, it’s overall a really simple project, and easy and fun to do with kids. It gives you a chance to enjoy a slow moment during the busyness of the season. Put on some Christmas music, have a little snack and just enjoy a quiet activity – by yourself or with friends…quietness not guaranteed if making these with children! In the past, I made my garlands with string. This year, I did string and floral wire. Both are just about as easy to do as far as getting the slices on, the floral wire is nice because you won’t need a needle and blends into greenery.
And for those that are curious about my greenery and decor, here’s a few details. The
What you need:
– oranges
– knife
– baking sheet
– parchment paper
– floral wire/string
– needle with a large eye
– scissors
Directions: Preheat oven to 225ºF. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Cut oranges into thin slices. Pat dry with a towel and bake at 225º for an hour (I do two trays at once). Flip slices over and bake for another hour, checking near the end to make sure slices aren’t getting too browned. Keep baking and checking every 15-20 minutes or so, taking out the ones that are browning, until all slices are just barely brown around the edges. Place slices on a cooling rack and let them dry out for another day or so. (I like to set mine by heat vents to help with the drying out process).
Use a needle and string to thread the string through the slices. Or if using floral wire, just thread that through the slices. Make sure to leave extra string/wire at the ends to hang the garland with.What are some of your favorite holiday decorations??
-Manda
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