Orange & Clove Christmas Decorations

Here's a quickie Christmas decoration I pinched from my Mum! These look and smell fantastic and all you need are oranges and cloves!

Use the cloves to create any pattern you like! You can add ribbon for hanging or just for decoration. 

Here's a tip: If you find the cloves hurt your fingers after a while, use a cocktail stick to make holes in the orange first.

Grouped together in a bowl or hanging from the tree these clove covered oranges beat 'scent of Christmas' air freshener any day!

Braided Palm Wreath

I really wanted to find a way to make Caribbean Christmas decorations this year (since that's where I am in the world right now). I think I succeeded in finding something Caribbean inspired, easy and fun!

To make a braided palm wreath you will need a palm leaf and a man with a knife to cut down said palm leaf (or just a knife and a willingness to walk into the bush and cut your own leaf). I chose a man but you're welcome to make your own choice.

You will also need some wire or string, basic braiding knowledge and some pretty things with which to decorate your palm leaf once it's braided!

Once you have cut yourself a leaf or found a willing participant to do it for you, fold the leaf into a circular shape and secure with string or wire.
We used wire but I suspect string would work just as well, maybe even better (I did stab myself with the wire whilst putting this together).

Once the loop is secure begin to braid. If you already know how to French braid or cornrow this will be easy. If not I've just found this tutorial that might help you! Try to think of it as a regular plait that you add an extra leaf to each time.

Palm leaves are double layered so make sure you are only braiding one side at a time. This is what the leaf will look like with one side completed.

If you're left with extra braid at the end of the loop just tuck it into the rest of the loop. If you have braided the leaf tight enough it won't fall out.

Once both sides of the leaf are braided you will be left with a basic wreath shape. Now you can decorate it however you like!

Papier Mache Baubles

This year I am spending Christmas with a man whose name may as well be Scrooge for all the joy he feels for the season. So in an attempt to give him some Christmas spirit (and to make each day a more pleasant experience for me) I came up with some Craft projects that we could do together.

Some worked very well and others not so well. This first one is an example of one which was not so successful. I'm determined it can work though which is why I'm posting it. Also it's very messy and I had a great time screwing it up!







To make a papier mache bauble you will need glue (PVA is probably best because it dries clear) mixed with a little water, paper (something thin like newspaper or tissue paper), a balloon (the smaller the better) and something to decorate it with ( I used paint and glitter)

First, blow up a balloon. I used a 9" a smaller balloon would have created a more rounded shape.
Shred or cut your paper into thin strips. I think paper towels might be the best thing to use since they take to glue so well and are thin enough not to distort the shape of the balloon.

Next, mix glue with a little water (make sure the glue is still thick, too much water and the glue won't hold). Start sticking!

Build up the layers until the whole balloon is covered several times. The newsprint I used to start with left the balloon with an uneven finish so I did my final layers with kitchen roll.

Don't forget to leave a hole in the top or a loop of paper so you have somewhere to attach a ribbon for hanging.

Leave overnight. When dry burst the balloon with a pin and decorate!

As you can see, the surface of this bauble is quite uneven. I think it may have been better if I had used tissue from the start. Then again, if I had dipped the entire thing in glitter no one would be any the wiser! Something to think about next time...............