Don't Do Relish? Decorate with Cranberries

Once upon on time there were two sisters. They were facing the holidays for the first time without their mother. They were educated, well established and had grandchildren of their own. They made a pact that neither of them would make Mom's famous cranberry relish that gets tossed away every year. Thanksgiving was approaching and the guilt started to creep in. To make up for the lack of relish for every holiday meal they agreed to decorate with cranberries. This is the result of the searching a creating of that Cranberry Christmas.

~ Frozen Cranberry Wreath ~
Living in a cold climate is probably a must for this craft. It is fun if the weather is cold enough to keep it frozen. Here is the supply list:
*a fluted cake pan or gelatin mold
*water
*woolen scarf
*evergreen branches

Pour 2 inches of water into the pan or mold. Fill the water with cranberries. Freeze.

Removed the frozen wreath from the wreath. Wrap the scarf around the wreath for hanging. Add the evergreens.

~ Sunken Treasure Rose ~
This is great floral arrangement. It is short lived, but beautiful.
*straight tall glasses
*roses
*weights
*floating candles
*water
*cranberries

Fill the glass half full of water. Drop in the rosebud with weights so it serves as the lowest layer of the arrangement.

Add a single layer of cranberries. Add the floating candle and light.

These can be places on a table runner or even at each place setting for a unique candle light dinner.

~ Cranberry Topiary ~
Gather Styrofoam balls of different sizes and attache cranberries with toothpicks to completely cover the ball so only the round brilliant red cranberries are showing. Display them on candle holders, overturned crystal goblets, and on vases. Vary the heights as well as the sizes.

~ Cranberry Trees ~
Get foam tree set, cranberries, and pearl head pins and cover the tree. Vary the patterns. Create a spiral, start at the top and flair out, do one with horizontal lines. They each have their own unique look.

~ Wooden Cranberry Garland ~
This garland can be added to any centerpiece, garland or tree and keep the cranberry theme going right on through the holidays.

~ Cranberry Snowflake Ornament ~
Supply for each ornament
*cranberries
*floral wire
*hot glue gun and glue sticks
*1 inch foam ball
*silver metallic beads (with holes)
*clear drying craft glue
*silver metallic glitter
*wire cutters and pliers
*ribbon for hanging.

Cut two 5 inch pieces of floral wire and one 6 inch pieces of floral wire. Push the wires through the ball, using them as the spokes of the snowflake.

Fill one spoke with cranberries leaving enough wire to hot glue on the metallic bead to keep the cranberries on the wire. Move the the next spoke until they are all done.

Cover the foam ball with a thin layer of craft glue and sprinkle with metallic glitter.

Attach ribbon for hanging.

So begins the new tradition of decorating with cranberries.