It is hard to believe that Christmas is only around the corner, when we are still enjoying summer weather. There are however those little reminders, like the leaves turning red and gold and berries appearing were once flowers bloomed. I love the idea of bringing the outside inside, that is of course minus the weather. I remember as a child myself making loop chains with paper and stringing popcorn as decorations.
Christmas, aside from the busyness, we should allow ourselves some fun with our families and friends. That is surely what it is all about after all ? I would like to share with you a few of my favourite simple Christmas ideas that are available from most local Irish friendly florists.
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Christmas door wreath : I love this one as it is very simple to do. The kids will love getting involved and if made from wood it can be made up well in advance of Christmas. Begin with a wire coat hanger bend it into a round shape. Keep the loop of the hanger at the top as this can be used to hang the wreath on your door. Start off with a number of long thin bendable branches. They do not have to be the same length as you can add as you work. Start grouping a few together to the thickness you want your wreath to be. Using wire on a spool begin wiring them tightly at the top of your hanger and keep looping your wire around the branches to bring them into a round shape. Keep adding branches as you go to keep the same thickness all the way. Do not worry if a few branches stick out as this just adds to the effect. Join the two ends of your wreath and you have your base to work on. You can leave the wreath as it is and just add fairy lights to it or you can begin decorating it. Using old broken and broken decorations from previous years. Christmas ribbon, berries and acorns from the garden. You can get as creative as you like. This door wreath can also be made from a base of christmas pine or conifer. These will however not hold until next year.
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Storm Lanterns: These can be placed either at the front door or anywhere inside your house and create a warm cosy atmosphere. You can recycle old glass vases or jam jars for smaller ones. If using jam jars tie the top with nice thin Christmas ribbon or thick cord with a little bit of holly tucked in. I always find if you group a couple of different sized lanterns together you will get a bigger impact. Always make sure they are out of reach of childrens hands.
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Staircase Garland: There is something wonderful about the smell of pine throughout the house at Christmas time. Using the same method you used in making your door wreath except without the hanger. Wire groups of pine together and keep adding as you loop around the wire. Always make sure your garland is very secure at the start. I find smaller pieces of pine work better in this. The thicker stems are harder to add, don’t give as good a shape and make your finished garland less flexible. Continue to add until you have the length you require and then decorate as before. These beautiful garlands can be hung on the mantlepiece with tall candles laced through it, around the door frames, on the staircase or even inside a window ledge. I find these look very pretty with fairy lights.
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Hallway Decorations: In Stamullen I usually use one of two ideas for my hall table, to welcome family over the festive period. The first is a front facing arrangement of flowers, the second a tall glass vase filled with Christmas baubles with fairy lights going through them. I will go for the second one if I am not going to be at home much over the Christmas as I won’t have to worry about it drying out. Also something that looks beautiful in your hall or anywhere in your house is a tall glass vase, filled with contorted willow, if you or a neighbour is lucky to have it growing in your garden. It is also available from most local florists. You can also use dried fine, long sticks from your garden. Add lots of little white led lights. It creates a beautiful but simple to make effect.
- Table Arrangement: This is one of the most important to have in your home over the Christmas period. It is at the table we spend a lot of our time. This is probably the reason for the popularity of gyms in January. Before making your table arrangement always check the space available for it. You can do a pre-table set for the number of guests you have and that will give you a better idea of arrangement space. I have numerous different ideas for your table but rather than confuse you with too many I will give you a couple and if you want to discuss more ideas with me just drop into Flowers Now in Balbriggan and I will be delighted to help you. – 1. Ivy and holly, with berries garland. made as your staircase garland except thinner and shorter. This is a great one to use if you don’t have a lot of room on your table as it can be made to measure. Place candles throughout the length, either tall of little t-lights. 2. Glass fish bowls. Get three small round glass fish bowls equal size and place them in a line down the centre of the table. Dip the very top in water and then dip into snow glitter, to give that sparkly winter effect. ⅓ to ½ fill with water. With long thin grass, bare grass if possible loop approx 10 stems around the inside of the glass add three heads of orchids to each glass and allow to float. You can also use floating candles instead of flowers or a combination. 3. Christmas cracker, Cut out the centre of an old christmas cracker make the cut large enough to take the cap from a hair spray or alternative. Fill cap with fresh oasis available from all good local florists. Place cap inside cracker. Place a taper candle in the centre and fill with a selection of pine, berries, holly or whatever flowers or decorations you wish to add. Always remember there is no limit to your imagination and always have fun.
BIO
Ruth Gallagher is the Lead Florist at FlowersNow.ie and write and blogs about all things Flowers and Florists in Balbriggan, Dublin and Ireland
FlowersNow is an Retail and Online Florist located at 44 Dublin street, Ballbriggan, Co Dublin. We have an excellent team of highly qualified florists, with years of experience in floral needs, bouquets, giftware, weddings, corporate events & funeral flowers. Trust us for all your special events including Valentines Day, Mothers day, Easter & Christmas.
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