DIY: How To Make a Dried Orange Garland For The Holidays
Dried orange slices are one of my favourite additions to our holiday decor. They add a natural vibe, look beautiful against real or faux greenery, and are a perfect way to add hints of colour without necessarily going the traditional red and green route.
I made this simple holiday garland last December to hang on a large blank wall that we were waiting on art for. I loved my little garland arrangement so much that I left it up well into the new year.
Here’s how you can DIY an orange garland in four easy steps!
1. Thinly slice your oranges.
Any type of oranges will do for this project, but naval oranges are my preference as they’re perfectly sized with a thick rind. Aim to cut your oranges crosswise into 1/4” wide section… this is the hardest part! Pat the slices with a kitchen towel to remove excess liquid then place onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
2. Bake for 2.5-3 hours at 250°F.
This is a ballpark time as slices that are thinner will need less time in the oven. Flip your slices every half hour or so, and remove slices from the oven if they begin to brown.
3. Place slices on a drying rack until they have cooled completely.
4. String together your garland.
For my garland, I added simple wood beads (found at any craft store or online) and these cute felted candy pinwheels. I can’t claim credit for the pinwheels- the idea is from Fa la la la Felt (unfortunately out-of-print), one of my favourite holiday craft books BTW, if you can get your hands on it!
To make the pinwheels, I cut two red and one white strips of craft felt, measuring 9” x 1/2”. Then I stacked the strips together with the white on the top, rolled them up, and sewed the ends down with matching thread. You could make these pinwheels in more muted colours too if you prefer your holiday decor to be a little more neutral.
I strung my garland together with a fishing line, using a long needle to push through the centre of my felted pinwheel and the inner segment of the dried oranges.
That’s it! A fun little DIY project that’s endlessly customizable. I recommend making a whole bunch of dried orange slices and seeing all the places you can use them in your holiday decor.
Here are a few more ideas for decorating with dried orange slices…
In the garland below, they kept things simple by spacing orange slices out on a length of kitchen twine along with tiny brass bells.
Image Source: Grit and Polish
Try adding a bit of colour to an evergreen wreath with clusters of orange slices. You could use fishing wire to attach your dried orange slices to the wreath frame or the greenery itself.
Image Source: Farmhouse on Boone
Hang a few orange slices on your tree- I love how they glow like stained glass when you place them in front of twinkling Christmas lights.
Image Source: House & Home
Will you be adding oranges to your holiday decorating? Let me know in the comments below!