I forget where I first saw this idea for dried orange slices as ornaments, but I absolutely LOVE how it brightens up my tree and gives a little homespunniness (new word! yay!) to the decor. Bonus - totally harmless if eaten.I'm all about homemade ornaments - which is good, since I'm sure I'll be getting some from my offspring in years to come. One year I was semi-in charge of the big tree at Northland and we had all the faculty/staff kids make ornaments for the tree. Certain People thought it looked tacky, but they are the types of people who color coordinate their ornaments. Weirdos. *grin* Really, it was charming. I loved it. We did popcorn garlands and everything.
I sliced these oranges thin - shy of 1/4 inch - and put them on a cookie sheet on "warm" for a couple hours, flipping them halfway through. Made the house smell delightful! Then I poked a hole and strung them with red ribbons.
I only did one orange, which yielded about 8 or 9 slices. I think I'll do one more tomorrow - my tree "needs" more homemade charm.
7 comments:
I love the oranges it looks like a stain glass window.
I love this idea. I may go out tomorrow and buy a couple of oranges and do this. My tree could use a little brightening up in certain areas :)
This might be a dumb question, but do you make new ones each year or does heating them somehow keep them from molding and let you use them for years to come?
We did not do homemade ornaments when I was a kid but I want to with my children.
Thank you for this idea, Jenny! I was looking for an easy homemade ornament to do with Silas and the little boy I watch a couple days a week. This will be fun! :)
Adorable idea!
Hmm...I think this is an excellent idea for the one orange that has been lying on my kitchen counter! Thanks for the idea!
BTW, I'm totally with you on the homemade, non-themed Christmas trees. Unless you live in a mansion or your name is Martha Stewart I say bring on the 'homespunniness'!
Kelly, drying does remove all the juices - I honestly have no idea if they will last for years or not. They will definitely last through the winter, though, and I am planning to hang them elsewhere when we take them off the tree. You could definitely spray with crafting shellac to make sure they last, but then of course they would not be safe for consumption. I think I'll just take a chance and pack them in tissue paper - we shall see!
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