OK so we have all been faced with this dilemma at one time top another and we are left wondering, how to freshen up Christmas garland. Well honey that is why I’m here! I have found the simplest and sweetest way to give that old tired garland a new and festive look that will make your guests look twice!
I have to admit, before I reveal this little secret, that it was not my original idea. In faxet, I saw this little trick at my friends barn market at FeatherStone farm last Christmas and it stuck with me! I knew I had to try it!
So it’s time to spill the beans.…wanna know the secret?
Magnolia.
Yep! Simple, beautiful, hearty magnolia leaves is the (almost) magical way to freshen up Christmas garland. And if you’re lucky, it may even be FREE! Luckily for me, my mom had an overgrown tree in her front yard that needed a little TLC so I grabbed my snips and went to work!
I suggest snipping smaller branches with multiple clippings still attached. You can snap away the pieces you need later when it’s time to tie them in to the garland.
I started with a basic $10 garland from Lowe’s, an although I didn’t get a before picture, I think we can all imagine what it looked like. The long, slender and somewhat sparse garland wrapped about 15 times around a piece of cardboard.…you know the kind. I had purchased several to use round Roost and Restore Home but I knew they needed a little bit more. The basic spruce just didn’t have the wow factor that I wanted for the shoppe.
All I literally had to do after clipping the stems was pinch off sections of leaf clusters and tuck them in behind the original garland and twist one of the faux branches around to secure.
THAT’S IT!
WATCH THE GARLAND REFRESH VIDEO TUTORIAL HERE
Look at how simple and beautiful this garland looks ties to the rail of the shoppe! I ended up clipping enough magnolia to scatter it among the faux trees in the shoppe as well. I creates the perfect little touch of realness and class to a simple garland.
Of course I left mine green and simple but it could easily be dressed up even more with red berries, pinecones or even flocking!
Unfortunately there are no magnolia trees in New York (not where I live anyway). Last year I added an eucalyptus garland and that looked pretty jazzy. Love your garland!