Good morning! Earlier this week I shared some projects that I have been working on in our instagram stories. I am trying to do mostly handmade ornaments and details this year and shared some of them as I was working on them. (You can find them saved in our “Christmas Crafts” highlights section). One of the projects I worked on this week was making a DIY Dried Orange Slice Garland and here is the finished result (you can also see the dried orange slices in our table setting here in this post):

Here’s a close-up shot:

I sliced about 8 to 10 oranges and filled up three cookie sheets with them. I lined the sheets with parchment paper and then cooked them in the oven at 200 degrees. I ended up cooking them for around four hours or so and flipped them about every 30 minutes. Although they took forever in the oven it was otherwise a VERY easy project.

Once they were done I left them to dry  a bit more overnight and then the next day I used some twine (that I have had for forever, not sure where it was originally from) and then an extra long needle and looped it through each orange slice as seen below. I did this for about two dozen or so slices for the garland. Then I just looped the needle through once on another two dozen or so slices to make ornaments for the tree. And I still have a few left over that I plan on using to accent a wreath or two with and maybe as an embellishment on some gifts.

I love how easy this project was and the nostalgic feel it adds to the room! I am not sure if I will keep it here on the mantel for the rest of the season as I may move it into our entryway, but for now I love how it looks in here! Also we’ve gotten tons and tons of messages asking about the greenery. Unfortunately it isn’t anything available. It’s faux but I made it with a wide mix of faux greenery that I have had for around ten years now and it was purchased at a mix of places but none of it is available anymore. It could be recreated though by buying a faux cedar garland and then adding lots of other sprays of faux greenery to it to fill it out and give it a more realistic look.

I will be sharing pictures of our simple Christmas tree tomorrow but here’s a little peek at the orange slice ornaments!

I also made the little tassels. You can see a video of how I made those in our highlights.

That’s it for our DIY Dried Orange Slice Garland. I’ll be back tomorrow with pictures of our tree! Have a lovely Saturday!

Living Room Source Information:

Wall Color – Frosty White by Sherwin Williams
Trim Color – Extra White by Sherwin Williams
Floors – Existing and don’t have info on them, NEVER would have chosen dark with a golden retriever – haha!
TV Frame – I made it. You can read a detailed post about it here.
Pendant Light – Rejuvination (30″ antique brass with white shade)
Curtain Rods – Walmart
Drapery Rings – Bed Bath and Beyond
Drapery Panels – Ballard Design – Indigo
Roman Shades – Walmart
Rug – can be found here and also here– mine is the 9 by 12 size
Chairs – Birch Lane
Leather Pillows in Chairs – World Market
Throw on Chair – Target
Tree – Balsam Hill – 7.5 Grand Canyon Cedar
Tree Collar – Target
Wood Beaded Garland on Tree and mantel–  similar here
Orange Slice  Garland – I made it
Tassel Ornaments – I made them (you can see a video of how to make them in our highlights)
Candles on Tree – Amazon
Cardstock Gingerbread Houses – Downloaded from this Etsy Shop
Greenery/Garland on Mantel – its a mix of faux greenery from different places that I have pieces together – I’ve had the greenery for close to ten years
Candle holders on Mantel – Hobby Lobby
Stocking – Hobby Lobby with Pom Pom glued on – you can read more about them here
Sled – Vintage
Books – Vintage
Gift boxes – have had for years – Target and HomeGoods
Skates – were mine as a child
Ottoman – Article – Timpani Ottoman in Charme Tan
Planter on Ottoman – World Market
Paperwhites – I’ve had mine for over ten years…similar can be found here and here
Paperwhites – Have had them for over ten years
Wood Tray – Amazon
Candle on Tray – Target
Beads – Soft Surroundings years ago
Candle Sticks on Coffee Table – Vintage (similar here and here)
Sofa – Bassett Furniture  –  performance textured fabrics in the color fog, we chose a boxed edge loose back cushions and a down blend fill
Standing Lamp – Target
Chest with Gold Circles – Soft Surroundings several years ago and no longer available
Mirror – Basset Furniture
Nativity – got it several years ago in Virginia at a shop that is now closedCan be found online though  here,  here and here!

Warmly, Jenni