How to Make a Bay Leaf Garland
Bay leaf is a fragrant herb used in stews, soups and even a nice pot of chicken and dumplings. For years, handy crafters have been using bay leaves to decorate with. You don't have to be an expert to make a bay leaf garland yourself. With the right tools and plenty of the fragrant leaves you can make a sweet smelling garland perfect for the kitchen window or anywhere in your home. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Eight feet of dental floss
- Needle with a large eye
- Scissors
- 150-200 fresh bay leaves
- Gold bow
Instructions
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1
Arrange all your components on your work table. This could be a dining room table or craft table.
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2
Thread the needle with the dental floss. Move the needle to the center of the floss; the thread should be in two equal parts. Tie a knot about 6 inches from the bottom of the floss. Double the knot to keep the leaves from slipping off.
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3
Using your needle, begin to string the bay leaves onto the garland. Pierce the leaves at the ends closest to their stems. This is the real meaty part of the leaf that will hold up to your needlework.
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4
As you add leaves to the string, gently slide the leaves to the bottom of the strand. When you reach the center of the strand with your leaves, begin adding the bay leaves in the opposite direction until you fill up the strand.
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5
Fill up the garland with the bay leaves and knot both ends. Trim the excess string with the scissors. When you have finished filling your bay leaf garland, use floral wire to attach a fluffy bow in the center of the garland.
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Tips & Warnings
Spray paint the tops of the leaves silver or gold for holiday decorations. Always use spray paint in a well-ventilated area. Or just tip the bay leaves with gold or silver glitter. Dab some glue on the end and dip the leaves in a bowl of glitter.
For an extra festive look, tuck gold ribbon in and out of the garland by skewering on some gold ribbon. Skewer the ribbon every two inches and fluff up the fold to give it a pretty look.
Dried bay leaves can be used but have a tendency to crumble if moved too often. It is better to use fresh bay leaves for this project.
