Glittery garlands

Hands-on time: Less than two hours
Skill: Easy
Cost: Less than $25

Materials and Tools

• Classic silver metal sheet in 36-gauge by Metal Works
• Drawing or traced image of holly leaf
• Scissors or cutting shears
• Work gloves
• Stylus
• Soft foam square sheet (the kind used for children's crafts)
• Masking tape or painter's tape
• Awl punch and hammer
• Wire cutters or three-in-one craft pliers
• Silver craft wire in 22-gauge
• Florist's wire
• Fresh greenery
• Silver spiral decorative wire

An evergreen garland with silver accents adds a magical touch to a buffet, hutch or sideboard. Or drape it over a mantel, doorway, staircase, or outdoors.

Start by drawing or tracing a basic holly leaf design onto paper in the size desired. I made leaves 14cm and 12cm in length. Unroll the silver foil, cut a piece to accommodate as many leaves as you want.

Place a piece of soft foam on a hard, flat surface and place the foil sheet over it. Tape the foil to the work table with painter's tape. Place the leaf designs on the foil and secure with tape.

Trace leaf shapes with a stylus (or pencil) onto the foil. The foam helps create a deeply embossed outline. Cut out the leaf shapes with scissors. Apply freehand designs to the leaves if you wish.

Make a hole in the stem of each leaf using an awl and a hammer. Cut a 20cm length of silver wire for each leaf. Thread wire halfway through the hole and twist to create a hook that will secure leaves to the garland.

Form small bunches of greenery (I used trimmings from the Christmas tree) using florist's wire to group branches and two to three silver holly leaves. Attach each cluster to a length of silver spiral decorative wire or plain silver wire.

To hang, use Command Adhesive hooks by 3M that are easy to remove.

Pine cones, beads and ornaments can be added for more embellishment. Or add colour to the leaves with Vitrail stained-glass paints.

Variations

• Use the holly leaves as gift tags, tree ornaments or to dress up your holiday table. Write on the leaves with a stylus or glitter pen.