You know how much I love to forage; it was just a matter of time before I started using scraps of wood from other projects to make a pretty cool garland for my coffee bar! It’s a simple and sustainable garland you can make and use through the seasons.
We have a box of wood scraps from things we made, and these round pieces from making our plywood peg board and our propagation wall have been sitting around for a while. I’ve always known I would do something with them.
We sanded them a little using a palm sander, painted them white, and strung them on some twine. Then I added some of my frayed canvas ribbons and dried foraged leaves for a little Thanksgiving decoration.
Supplies You’ll Need for this Project
- Round wood pieces (see below how to make them)
- Jute twine
- Ribbon or fabric
- Thin wire
- Chalk spray paint
- Dried leaves or foraged evergreens, boxwood, or magnolioa leaves
How to Make this Simple Garland
How we made the wood pieces
You’ll need a cordless or regular drill, a 1 1/4″ hole saw drill bit, and some sandpaper.
5 really easy steps to make the wood pieces:
- Simply attach the hole saw drill bit to the drill
- Using your choice of wood, drill the hole
- Remove the circular piece of wood from the hole saw drill bit
- Sand off any of the rough edges (or leave it as is, or sand the pieces a little, depending on how rustic you want it to be)
- Using your choice of paint, spray the round finished pieces of wood
Now it’s time to put it together. It’s easier to string the jute twine through the holes of the wood pieces if you add a tiny piece of tape on the end of the twine. Add some ribbon or frayed canvas on each side, and then using the thin wire, add a few leaves for a little fall color. You can add small battery-operated fairy lights for a little extra magic if you want!
Why Frayed Canvas?
I started using frayed canvas last year and haven’t stopped. It was one of those serendipitous moments where I had this frayed cream-colored canvas left over from this project, and I really wanted frayed ribbon, but I didn’t have it when I needed it. I did, however, have canvas!
What kind of canvas?
It’s available at art stores like Blick Art Supply, sold by the roll. Or you can buy it on Amazon. I use it for so many things. Homemade holiday decorations, gift wrap, and as part of the custom wrap in my shop! It’s cotton unprimed canvas, and it’s affordable and easy to rip so that you can get the look of frayed ribbon.
I also use it to hang my wreaths. It can be cut in any width.
Why do we love this simple & sustainable garland?
I’ve always been drawn to simple things that can be made from scraps or leftovers. This simple garland uses something from another project that would normally be considered trash. It also uses some bits and bobs that could be anything you have on hand. Scraps of fabric or even pieces of denim from jeans that you now use as mending fabric. You can add in seasonal leaves, flowers, evergreens, boxwood, or anything you can gather on a short walk in the park or your neighborhood. How pretty would it be with bougainvillea if you lived in California or Arizona? Sure it would only last a day or two but then add something else. It’s the little things!
What makes it sustainable?
How is it sustainable? Well, some paper garlands you buy may only last once or twice, but this one will last for years to come.
Rustic Garland Kits SHOP Most Lovely Things
We have a limited supply of kits that will be added to the shop tonight with all of the supplies you’ll need to make one garland that you’ll have for years to come. The only thing you’ll need to add: something foraged!
Autumn right outside my door!
If you like: A very simple & sustainable garland you can make, you may also like this post.
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