How to String Popcorn and Cranberries
Nothing brings back childhood Christmases like long strings of popcorn and cranberries, and it's still a great project for kids (since popcorn is a relatively healthy snack and cranberries are inedible).
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
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1
Pour cranberries into a bowl and pick out and throw away any soft or brown ones.
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2
Pop the popcorn (microwave is fine - just get the "natural" kind) and let it cool.
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3
Thread a needle with heavy-duty thread (such as buttonhole or quilting thread); pull until doubled.
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4
Thread one cranberry down to the end and knot the thread around it to make an anchor.
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5
Carefully thread popcorn and cranberries alternately or in a pattern until thread is full. Leave enough of an end to tie another cranberry-knot when you're done.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Keep an eye on your popcorn and cranberry strings, especially if you make them early in the season; after a few weeks, they get kind of sad and old looking.
If you've got kids of different ages, it's a good idea to do this while the younger ones are napping or busy at something else. Cranberries taste bitter, but they're still a choking hazard for very young children, and needles are sharp.
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Comments
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hmmmm, let's read this line one more time "popcorn is a relatively healthy snack and cranberries are inedible"... since when are cranberries "inedible"?
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never did this before, but I have a wee little tree that needs some help, thought the cranberries would look a lot better than tinsel...besides all my decorations are homemade, so this is just the finishing touches. Merry Christmas to you all...don't forget that our precious Savior and Lord Jesus' birth is the reason for the season.
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Memories!
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Papercraftdiva
Dec 08, 2008
If you want to keep the garland from year to year, start with slightly stale popcorn, then string it using the instructions above. After the holidays, store the garland in a large, sealed plastic bag in a cool location and it will keep for decades! My family strung popcorn in the 1980's and I finally had to discard it (kernels break over the years) last year. You can purchase clear finish spray sealants at arts & crafts stores which will add a little shine and help preserve the popcorn, but be careful to use a very light coating (in a well-ventillated area) to prevent the popcorn from disintegrating from the moisture in the sealant. -
Papercraftdiva
Dec 08, 2008
If you want to keep the garland from year to year, start with slightly stale popcorn, then string it using the instructions above. After the holidays, store the garland in a large, sealed plastic bag in a cool location and it will keep for decades! My family strung popcorn in the 1980's and I finally had to discard it (kernels break over the years) last year. You can purchase clear finish spray sealants at arts & crafts stores which will add a little shine and help preserve the popcorn, but be careful to use a very light coating (in a well-ventillated area) to prevent the popcorn from disintegrating from the moisture in the sealant.
