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How to Make a Natural Garland

Contributor
By Stevee Martin
eHow Contributing Writer
(0 Ratings)
Make a Natural Garland
Make a Natural Garland

The garland is one of the most recognizable holiday decorating items. It can be found on Christmas trees, wreaths and in various other areas of your home. Garlands make excellent wrapping material for stairs or banisters, and add holiday flair to nearly any decorating scheme. You can make your own natural garland with a few easy-to-find items, making it a beautiful and affordable decorating item.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Any variety of needle branches Thin wire Hot glue gun Berries Ribbon Scissors
  1. Step 1

    Decide what type of garland you want to make. Spruce and evergreen branches hold up well for garlands and are very recognizable as items of the holiday season. They are very aromatic and can be found in most garden centers.

  2. Step 2

    Trim your branches of dead or straggling needles. You will need sections approximately 12 inches long with full needle sections at the tips.

  3. Step 3

    Lay one section of your branch on a flat surface and place another section on top. Overlap your branches slightly so that there is no gap between full sections of needles.

  4. Step 4

    Wrap your wire three or four times around your overlapped sections of branch, tying them off once they are secure. You want full, bushy ends on your garland, so make sure your sections stay securely tied.

  5. Step 5

    Continue this overlapping and wrapping until you have achieved a desired length of garland, but make sure that you include branches with plenty of foliage to give you full, beautiful sections.

  6. Step 6

    Tie your wires off tightly to be sure your garland holds together. Wrap your wire a few extra times if you are dealing with a very thick or bushy branch section.

  7. Step 7

    Add a few natural berries for decoration. Choose bright, fresh berries and, using your hot glue gun, attach them to your garland. Make sure that you press the berries down firmly and hold them until the glue sets to avoid shifting.

  8. Step 8

    Trim a length of ribbon and tie it into a festive bow. Glue this ribbon onto your garland section with your hot glue gun. This ribbon will add a bright, festive touch to your newly completed natural garland sections.

Tips & Warnings
  • Use only fresh items for your garland. Dry or otherwise dead items will give you a poor presentation and will cause your garland to fall apart prematurely.
  • Do not let children use hot glue guns or scissors unattended.

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