How to make large Christmas baubles from the garden

How to make garden baubles for Christmas

LEFT: Moss and old man’s beard on chicken wire

• Cut chicken wire to 12cm x 20cm and form a cylinder.
• Crush the top and bottom inwards to form a ball of about 8cm diameter.
• Using pliers pull out and twist a loop for a ribbon.
• Cover with damp moss.
• Secure with florist’s stub wire bent like hair pins.
• Secure the stems of the seed heads into the moss with wire.

MIDDLE: Nigella seed heads on wire (360mm x 1.2mm)

• Take two 36cm pieces of stub wire and wrap them around a jar to form two rings.
• Thread the Nigella on to one, then thread the second ring through the bottom seed head at 90 degrees.
• Add seed heads either side of the fixed bottom one and twist the ends of the wire together to make a loop for the ribbon.
• Seedheads from love-in-a-mist, as <em>Nigella</em> is commonly known, can also be used to make a Christmas garland.

RIGHT: Crab apple and rosemary on wire (360mm x 1.2mm)

• Make as bauble 2, but thread with alternating crab apples and rosemary, having first pierced them with an awl or compass point.

Visit our Christmas hub for more handmade Christmas decoration ideas including wreaths and garlands.