How to Make Free Holiday Decorations From Your Garden

Long before big box stores were invented, people looked to the outdoors for holiday decoration inspiration. Christmas trees, wreaths, garlands and even mistletoe were all gathered from gardens and local woods. During the holiday season-you can dress your halls without spending a nickel-by using berries, pine boughs and other natural materials from your garden. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Instructions

1. Pile large pinecones into a pretty bowl or footed trifle dish for an instant, elegant decoration. Lay a bright red or green runner (or a long piece of burlap) down the center of your table and scatter it with different-sized pinecones and votives. Fold linen napkins into rectangles, place one in the center of each plate and then center a pinecone on the napkin. Place a pillar candle on a saucer and then fill the saucer with small pinecones. Spray pinecones with metallic gold or silver spray paint. String pinecones together with fishing line for an unexpected garland.

2. Place a glass cloche over a pillar candle that is encircled with cedar, pine, boxwood or fir boughs. Cluster pillar candles or candlesticks of different heights at the center of a table or mantelpiece and surround the candles with evergreen boughs and holly. Sink boughs (including twigs of holly) into a tall, wide glass vase, fill with water and float candles on the top. Purchase a wire wreath frame and make your own evergreen wreath. Mix things up by using boughs from evergreens with different textured foliage. Wire on a few pinecones for added interest.

3. Make a long-lasting arrangement by cutting branches from a shrub with berries that persist into winter, such as beautyberry, snowberry or winterberry. Place an inch or two of attractive, large pebbles in the bottom of a vase and then arrange the branches in the vase. Cut twigs into 4- or 5-inch sections, lay them on their side and stick a place card into them. You can also make place card holders with small branches. To do so, choose a straight branch that is about an inch in diameter. Use a handsaw to remove any twigs, then cut the branch into 2-inch tall sections. Make sure each section is level and can stand on its own. Then saw a shallow channel into the top of each section (be sure to center the channel). Stick a place card into the channel.

4. Evenly space three pillar candles in the center of a pretty, narrow tray. Then, fill in the space between the candles with acorns.

5. Repurpose your sisal gardening twine into gift ribbon. Wrap presents with solid red or green paper. Wrap twine around them twice, tie it off on the bottom of the package and adorn the front with a twig of holly, a branch with pretty berries or a pinecone.

Resources

• DigginFood