Crisp frosty mornings, bustling markets and high streets, the scent of mulled wine drifting through the air; it's almost time to deck the halls for another year. What if I told you that making your own festive mantel garland isn't as difficult or expensive as you might think? Here's our step by step guide to help you make a show-stopping mantel of your own. 'Tis the season, after all...
First things first, you will need the following:
Floristry Foam - I use 90cm casket trays, but pick the size and shape that best suits your mantel
Dinner Candles
Candle Cups - these are optional, but I find they hold the candles up more securely. These are inexpensive can be found in craft stores or online
Small Real Christmas Tree - you can often pick these up quite cheap from your local supermarket
Foliage & Stems - A selection of greenery, dried or fresh, which can be foraged or store-bought
Fairy Lights - Battery operated are best for this
Baubles - A selection of baubles and other finishing touches
Step 1
Soak your floristry foam in water and put in place on your mantel - this will stop your fresh foliage from drying out! If you're using dried foliage, feel free to skip this step.
Step 2
Begin by arranging your candles into the floristry foam, if you're using candle cups push these into the foam first before standing your candles in them. Alternatively, just push your candles into the foam. If you find they're feeling wobbly or start to lean, try wrapping the bottoms in a scrunched piece of tin foil - this can make them more stable.
Step 3
Next, I like to use foliage foraged from conifers to create a 'skirt' around the bottom of the foam. I find that this gives the garland a softness and keeps the structure looking quite natural. I start by creating a cluster in the middle, then each corner, before working my way along the whole length of the foam. Consider the shape you'd like your finished garland to be and keep this in mind when you begin arranging the stems.
Step 4
Now it's time to construct the base layer of your garland - this is what really gives it it's overall shape and size. Take your Christmas tree and snip off the branches (a pair of secateurs will help here!) Starting from the middle and working outwards, arrange the branches into the foam until you've achieved your desired size and shape.
Step 5
This is where the fun really begins! Grab the rest of your foliage and stems and arrange amongst the greenery, again considering the shape of the overall garland. I try to choose stems with different colours and textures to give the garland depth and texture, perfect for a luxurious feel. For a touch of magic, I like to use gold spray paint to create 'stand-out stems' which I try to style evenly througout - these look gorgeous when they catch the light. At the end of the festive season, these stems can be hung upside down and dried out ready to use next year!
Step 6
Now it's time for the finishing touches..
Weave your fairylights through the garland, I find it's best to do this with them turned on so you can ensure you're getting an even distribution of lights - once again starting from the middle and working outwards can help! Finally, add your baubles and decorative bits. I use gold icicle baubles and beading to finish it off, but dried fruit, ribbons and bows, small round baubles all work well. Use your imagination and create something that's really you!
Let us know if you give this a try! Post photos to Instagram using #handcraftathome for your chance to be featured on our page.
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