‘Tis the season to be jolly and for many of us, finding a family activity to do together in light of the special season is a must.
For a number of years, the Granny Mouse Country House & Spa have collated their efforts in creating Christmas decorations from materials from the gardens, to give that much needed homely feel during Christmas time.
Gather the children or some friends and get creative this Christmas, whether you are having Christmas lunch at home or away – get the festive feel in your home from the 1st of the month.
One of the favorite’s at the “Mouse house” is a South African inspired Christmas wreath that is often used on the front of the door of the reception area of the Hotel or in the Bistro restaurant.
Ane Du Preez, the Banqueting Manager at Granny Mouse says that all you will need to create the perfect wreath is the following:
A wire coat hanger or cardboard sheets
- Stapler or sticky tape
- Silicone glue
- Ribbon
- Leaves from a pine tree
- Pine cones
- Flowers
- Tinsel
Follow the below steps to start making your wreath:
Firstly, collect pine leaves, pine cones, flowers and normal leaves from your garden.
Then bend the wire or coat hanger into a circular shape and keep the hooked part at the top for easy hanging or if using cardboard, cut into a circle and then cut a hole in the middle.
Next, stick the tinsel on the wire or cardboard using silicone glue and then place the pine leaves and normal leaves on the wire or cardboard and secure it with the sticky tape or silicone glue. Continue to place the leaves layered on top of one another and secure with the tape or glue.
Then, once all the wire or cardboard is covered, you can tie ribbon into a bow and secure it around the coat hanger hook for decoration or alternatively if using the cardboard, staple ribbon to the top and create a loop that can be used to hang on a picture hanging hook, nail or similar.
You can also add flowers and pine cones to the wreath by securing them with glue.
“Creating this work of art is quick and easy and can be made using items from your garden and from around your home and is a great family exercise over the festive season,” Du Preez says.
