After dry flip over and do the other side
Back in the olden days people celebrated Christmas with greater simplicity, gifts and ornaments were generally handmade. Making your own homemade Christmas decorations is a great family tradition, it’s inexpensive and easy to do. You should start small and work your way up. Just try one grapefruit, orange and apple to begin with and see how you like it.
Making a popcorn string is probably the cheapest decoration you can make. Buy popcorn kernels in a bag and pop them fashioned on the stove or over a fire. Cranberry Strings are more expensive, I paid $4 for the cranberries this year. But they’re easy to make and beautiful. Turn your classic Christmas music on and begin your tradition.
My bowl of fruit ready to be sliced
I sliced the fruit thin and threw away the ends
Only the center pieces of the apples and pears turn out perfect looking
Some people blanch the fruit before dehydrating it–I tried it, but didn’t notice it being any better than the ones I didn’t blanch
I put all sliced fruit on cookie sheets and then into the oven on 175 degrees
I put parchment paper on a few of the cookie sheets but didn’t notice any difference in outcome
7 hours later they were ready
One of my batches got over baked– you can see the brown ones–flip the fruit once while in oven
Use clear craft varnish or decoupage to lightly cover the dried fruit
After dry flip over and do the other side
They haven’t tried yet however I still poked holes through for the string
Make sure a light is behind the fruit-beautiful at night, like stained glass
The gingerbread people are made of cinnamon-these were made 8 years ago
Popcorn and cranberry strings are simple to make-you only need a needle, thread and a little of time
In years past I used these decorations for a Christmas tree in the dining room-this year for my kitchen window
Photo’s aren’t able to capture all the beauty
Absoutely exquistie! Love seeing all this beauty. Thanks for sharing, once again.
Do you still have the aroma from the fruit even through the glossing? Love this! Thanks for posting.
Hi Laura!
No, you lose the aroma when you gloss them. If you want to you don’t have to gloss them and they’ll actually be beautiful and smell wonderful. The gloss just makes them last years.
Blessings! Sharon
Thank you for sharing! When I was growing up we used to make combo popcorn & cranberry string – one or two popcorn, then a cranberry.
I’m going to make mine like that next time! Thanks for commenting Anna! Blessings! sharon
I sprinkle fine glitter right after applying modge podge. It gives just enough sparkle but their not over glittery.
Great idea Kelsie! Thanks for sharing the tip!