It’s the final countdown, only nine more sleeps till the big guy makes his appearance! With the kids as excited (and hyper) as ever, I’ve been looking for all the holiday crafts and activities to keep both myself and them busy.
This dried orange garland is an easy DIY as far as Christmas crafts go. Just be sure to keep a close eye on the oranges towards the end as they can brown quickly. I definitely overcooked some of mine.
If you’re looking for one last fun craft before the big day, this is a great one. The oranges also make a beautiful garnish for charcuterie boards, cocktails and gift wrapping if garlands aren’t your thing. I’ll be adding them to a few gifts wrapped in Kraft paper with twine for a beautiful Scandinavian vibe (my favourite).
DIY Dried Orange GarlandYou’ll Need:
- 4-5 navel oranges
- Parchment paper
- Baking sheet
- Cooling rack
- Twine
- Embroidery needle
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cut your oranges in thin (aprox. 1/4 inch) slices. Too thin and they’ll burn, too thick and they won’t dry out.
- Place your orange slices on a parchment-lined baking sheet and put them in the oven for about 4 hours, flipping every hour or so (time will depend on how juicy the orange is/how thick your slices are). I checked mine every 20 minutes during the last hour.
- When the oranges are just starting to brown take them out of the oven and allow them to finish drying on a cooling rack (I left mine overnight).
- String your needle with your twine and pull it through the middle of each orange to make your garland.
- If you want a few other decorative elements like wood beads, cranberries, rosemary or pine sprigs also look beautiful on these garlands.
Hope you enjoy this beautiful, simple holiday DIY. If you make one for yourself be sure to tag me on Instagram or Pinterest @alexandtribe. Merry Christmas, hope you have a wonderful holiday season with your family!
