Home-craft expert Kathi Cardinalli shows how to make wonderful holiday garlands out of dried fruit and nuts. Learn step-by-step how to dry fruits, garland stringing techniques and ideas for both the home and the tree.
Materials:
variety of fruits and/or nuts*
tapestry needle
any sort of thread such as fishing line or raffia
knife
dehydrator or cookie sheet and oven
* nuts require a small drill bit to create a threading hole
Steps:
- Cut the fruit slices about 1/4-inch in thickness. Oranges, lemons and limes all have beautiful interior designs. Apples may be cut horizontally to reveal a small star shape in the center. Cut star fruit makes perfect dried star shapes.
- Use the dehydrator to dry the fruit slices. Make sure the fruit slices are not touching on the drying racks of the dehydrator, and follow the dehydrating instructions. If you use the oven, set the temperature to 200 degrees. Place the slices of fruit on a cookie sheet, making sure no fruit slices are touching. Leave the fruit in the oven for two to eight hours. Check the fruit slices periodically to monitor when the fruit has completely dried.
- Thread a tapestry needle with any kind of thread such as fishing line or raffia. Mint dental floss makes a fun holiday thread because of its green color!
- Tie a loop and knot at both ends of the thread to provide a method for hanging the garland.
- Alternate the shapes, sizes, and colors of the fruits on the garland (figure A). Be creative and add objects like cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, and chili peppers for variety. Another option is to use leftover dried-fruit slices to create homemade decorative paper (figure B).
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