Edmonton Journal Digital - Edmonton Journal - 27 Nov 2010 - How easy was that?

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Article rank 27 Nov 2010 Edmonton Journal JASPER

How easy was that?

For 12 days of festive fun, 12 ideas from
the gurus of holiday crafts
From Christmas in November, here are 12 ideas for 12 days of effortless holiday decorating:

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Nature and the kitchen are great sources for crafts, as seen in Dunn’s display of orange
slices and pine cones.

1. Easiest bow ever — Here’s a bow that practically makes itself. It works best with two-sided

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ribbon (finished the same on both sides). You’ll need at least two yards of fourinch-wide ribbon
(about two metres by 10 centimetres) for a showy bow with four to six loops. To create the loops, you
just fold it back and forth. That’s it.
Lay one end of the ribbon flat on a table and fold back at about 16 inches (40 cm) from the end.
Now fold back the other way. With each layer of loops, come in an inch (2-1/2 cm) on both sides. Keep
doing this until you’ve used the full length of the ribbon. Now find the mid-point and scrunch it in the
middle. Secure with a length of florist wire, pipe cleaner or twist tie.
2. Cake plate centrepiece — Floral wizard Marna Praille created this simple but sensational
centrepiece that’s a real showstopper. The lip of the cake plate keeps everything from rolling away.
You’ll need a selection of large ball ornaments, preferably the same colour. In the spaces between the
balls, insert the stems of wide-faced flowers like gerberas or chrysanthemums that have been trimmed
short and put in water picks that you can get from your florist or craft store.
3. Twiggy bird cage — Sue Dunn showed this delightful variation on an urn with evergreens. Start
with a large clay pot or urn. Wedge in some floral foam and cover with moss. Create a collar of cedar
cuttings by inserting the stems into the floral foam.
Set a fresh wreath on top of the collar. Insert flexible branches such as willow or dogwood all
around, with the inserted ends pointing toward the centre of the pot and the tops of the twigs pointing
outward. Now gather these at the top and secure with floral wire. Hang an ornament about one-third of
the way down. Set this in a front hall or even outdoors for an original look that will be the talk of the
neighbourhood.
4. Greens and copper arrangement — It’s the fresh take on Christmas colours that makes this
simple arrangement by Praille such a hit. Use lime chrysanthemums, evergreen cuttings, copper balls
and magnolia leaves in a low bowl, using floral foam to secure the short trimmed pieces. Keep it well
watered and it will last through to New Year’s.
5. Berry wreath suspended on a
door. Ever wonder how to hang a wreath on your door without using a nail or hook in the front of
the door? Try fishing line and a thumbtack. At the top edge of the door, insert the tack into the wooden
core (even if it’s a metal clad door) until it’s pushed in almost flat. From this hang the fishing line to
hold up the wreath. The line virtually disappears.
6. Fresh pine fragrance — If all your greens are faux and you long for the scent of real pine in your
home, the answer could be as simple as lighting a candle.
One of the best ones available this year, says Karl Lohnes, is a pine-scented offering from Evelyn
and Crabtree.
At $30, it perfectly captures the essence of a fresh-cut Christmas tree and will last the entire holiday
season.
7. Karl’s hall mirror — Always thinking of new ways to arrange familiar pieces, Lohnes took three
strands of beaded garland and draped them swag-like across the top of a hall mirror.
Then instead of placing his wreath at the top of the mirror, he hung it on the side edge of the mirror
and about two-thirds down, where the beads ended.
This asymmetrical arrangement gives a modern and fresh look.
8. Drop-in bouquet — All the presenters did variations on this new free-form trend in floral design
that uses no floral foam. The best part is it couldn’t be easier. Lohnes crumpled some newspaper in a
large silver bowl and then on top arranged three short fire logs with interesting bark colour and texture.
Around this he scattered some holiday potpourri and added a beautiful ornament for this lovely
natural arrangement. Dunn created a charming natural tableau with birds, pine cones, berries and
Christmas balls arranged in a wide, shallow bowl.
9. Grapevine bird’s nest — Floral foam covered by moss anchors this delightful arrangement in a
ceramic urn. Dunn placed a grapevine wreath atop the urn, and into the centre arranged painted twigs,
a bird, some nuts and pine cones, dried orange slices and an assort-
ment of copper Christmas balls.
It’s the addition of something shiny that makes this simple arrangement so captivating.
10. Oranges and cloves — Decorations don’t have to come from the store.
Many are sitting in our pantries waiting to be transformed for the holidays, like orange slices Dunn
dried in a slow oven to hang as translucent ornaments in a window. Cloves arranged in clever patterns
preserve these full oranges.
Wrap ribbons around them and hang as fragrant Christmas balls this year and for years to come.
11. Garland mantel topper — A length of ribbon, pepper berries, a spray of apples and some foliage
dress up this simple garland for a light and lovely mantel treatment.
12. Instant Christmas — Don’t have the time, decorations, china or linens to serve your special

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holiday gathering? Elegant Touches can make Christmas happen at your home faster than you can
say Kris Kringle.
Its team can put up your own tree and favourite ornaments or bring in a selection of elegant trees,
mantel decor, linens, china, chair covers, candelabras and just about anything else you can imagine to
create your special Christmas occasion.
And the best part? When the party’s over, let someone else take care of the dishes and laundry.
Everything goes into bins to be whisked away.
Purchase a package, or order a la carte just what you need.

For more information, go to eleganttouches.ca.

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