Hi Melvalena, Last year on here, we were discussing twisting two garlands together to make it look more full and lush. I do most decorating alone, and I like shortcuts, so I'd probably just temporairly tie the two together and fasten them onto the leg of a table while I twisted and fluffed them! I agree, the garlands don't always want to go the direction we want them too. LOL

I briefly looked at the tutorial, I'll go read more when I have time. Good luck with your project, and be sure to come share pics with us.

Luvs

Interesting post but I always use some garland with wire so you can secure it from coming apart easily. I like the idea of using a board and then putting all of it on the mantel. By using a board, one can add lights and secure with staples, nail, hooks or tape to help keep in place.

I keep twisting my garland until it goes MY way.LOL Some is thicker and it's just harder to work with but looks great when finished.

Enjoyed looking at the christmas mantle swag tutorial. Beautiful swag. TFS and will be looking foraward to your pictures. Punk

I know of several people who add the board on the top to give them extra depth and also to protect their mantel.
I've never done that before, but it does work out well for them.
I find that Michael's has some nice garland and I've purchased it when they have 50% off sale.

In the past I've used cup hooks secured on the sides and under the mantel and draped it where I wanted. I use the same holes every year, and you don't see them.
This year, I've layered two together on top of the mantel and secured them with suction hooks.
Once attached, I addeded white lights (hidden between the boughs), then wove ribbon through it, and added extra greens and pine cones in between. I made the extra greens hang over the edges to give it a nice soft look.
Then, I added candles and other decorations on top.

I think once you get started, it will all fall into place as you go.
Enjoyed the tutorial..TFS - Good Luck, and yes, show us pictures when you're done.

jane

I ended up going to bed early last night. That whole thing just wore me out.. plus finishing up the tree and trying to get all the boxes out of the den. Still have some more to put away.
I woke up to SNOW this morning which is quite unusual for North Texas and totally unexpected--it was only supposed to rain! :)

The best garland stuff we found was at Joann's.. it was better than the stuff at Hobby Lobby and half price too. If the roads clear up soon enough today I'll be going up there to purchase my stuff. I'm thinking I'll go with the board version. My mantel is tall and I'd have to use a step ladder to work on it. I think the board can be on my kitchen counter and will be much easier to work on until I get it just right.

I'll take pictures and post them once its all done... (in about a week!!)

Thanks for the input. I'm glad to know its not just me that has issues with the dang stuff! Decorators make it look so easy.. like they just toss it all up there and it looks fabulous! I had no idea how long it takes and how much you have to fiddle with it to get things to look so good.

Last year I wrapped two garland's together for each secion and added the lights. They were packed up that way. Extra picks are good to fill in the stubborn areas expecially. I need to get some more greenery.

I should've went to bed early last night. Instead I lined the top of my kitchen cabinets garland. My advice is make sure you're "in the mood!" Haha. I wasn't but we're having company tonight and I wanted to have it done. Took me twice as long to fluff and futz with it. When I was adding the final berry pick I managed to knock down the whole middle section also pulling part of the third. Picks went everywhere. . . . I was ready to have a big bond fire in the front yard with my garland. :) I did finish it and think it looks nice but it could've went smoother.

Can't wait to see yours!

OH man!!! So its not just me??? :) I'm glad you were able to finish it and be happy with it.

So, this really is not an 'easy' or 'quick' project?

Friend just called and told me to go to Michaels and look at their stuff he said its as good as Joanns. Michaels was the one store we didn't make it to on Monday.

Reworking my plan:
1. first get the house in order and cleaned up.
2. go buy 'the stuff'
3. Next day: start a crockpot dinner and put Christmas Music on
4. work on it with out having to think about all the other stuff that I need to get done. :)

5. Take pictures and post them!

I did my mantel last night, and ya'll are right what a pain. I just used one string of garland and that was too much fluffing. I stripped out the white lights that I had been using and put in blue and green to match the glassware on my corner mantel. I think if you add enough frou-frou even one strand of the cheapo garland can look pretty good. I added wide blue organza ribbon, green and blue ornaments and feathered peacocks, I'll post tommorrow. I put a small fiber optic tree (6ft, with a gajillion ornaments) next to the mantel with all my vintage ornaments and now I don't like the way it looks together, but I'm going to have to live with it to next year. Decorating is supposed to be fun and I am not spending any more time stressing over it.
Syble

Many of you have seen this pic, and it IS a wreath, but I did the same thing to my garland on the mantle. I added different types of faux greenery, after clipping them from their original garland or branches. Then I added real dried greenery, cones, magnolia leaves, faux berries and a bit of grapevine. And, on the mantle, I just poked all the extras in after securing the 'base' garland to the mantle. Since the garland itself is on the top of the mantle, this stuff isn't going to fall part. If the garland will hang off a railing, etc, I'd wire the additions on. I like the fabric coated brown florist wire, which is easy on your hands.

Garland on the mantle - See the bits hanging down - that is my original 'pine' garland from AC Moore. I thought the color was more natural than some of the very dark green ones.

3dogs, how long did it take you to put that together?

About 10 minutes - and I'm not kidding.

I just secured the garland to the mantle the way I wanted it, (gift wrap tape) and had my other 'embellishments' in a nearby chair. I had my wire clippers to cut the other stuff from their branches, and literally just poked it in where I wanted it.

I'm lucky to have cones and other stuff from years of crafting, but once you have that stuff on hand, it's a piece of cake!

I'd suggest finding some 'branches' or 'picks' of stuff at a craft store, and then pulling them apart and putting stuff where you want it. I have done that for years, and the added real cones, and dried greens also adds a natural touch.

Groan... nothing is ever that easy for me! You must be a decorating Goddess!!!

Just getting the base garland in place has been a nightmare. Its so long and stiff and hard to twist into the shape I want it to be where I want it to twist.. then I have all those little bits of branches going every which way..none the way I envisioned --- so I try to get them all going the way I think they should and it just looks pitiful.
It will cost a fortune to fill it out!
I've started and given up twice already.

but I now have a plan! I won't try again until I can do it according to plan. :)

This is a great tutorial..........

Here is a link that might be useful: garland

My advice, whenever you see a deal on picks-- every yr buy all that you can afford in multiples of like--say 20 w/pinecones,20 w/birds,berries,etc or even buy them if they have 4 or 5 of one kind at a great price, and keep doing so for a few yrs until you get a vast collection to work with.

Jim

I was going to suggest Judith, Jim, or my3dogs.

You don't want any advice from me. I'm mantle challenged!!

I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures when you finish.

Betty

I don't have a mantle, but here's how I did the garland on my china cabinet and filled it up with picks.

Jim

jaybird.. I remember seeing that tutorial before! I promised myself I wouldn't go buy anything more this year. We just bought a new taller tree for this house. But if I'm going to do this mantel thingie I'm going to have to go buy more stuff.
Lots more. I guess I'll start with the thrift stores, $ stores and then on to the more expensive places. :)

Jim, I see how buying through out the year helps spread the cost, but for some reason I just don't. I think.. I can get that later closer to Christmas....then I'm right back where I am now. :)

I had wanted to do 2 huge windows in addition to my fireplace mantel but its looking less and less likely that is going to get done this year.

Oh well... I'll plan better for next year!
Thanks for all the suggestions and encouragement. Today I'm concentrating on cleaning the house and getting ready to do those garland things.

Melvalena,

I am so far from being a decorating goddess, that it's not funny. But I know just what you mean about the garland, and I can picture the type you have, and I agree it's tough to work with.

I don't know if you have an AC Moore near you, but the type that I used is very easy to work with. The tag on it said 'pine garland'.

Jim is right - when you see a sale on picks or branches, snap them up, as you can see that they add a lot to a garland. I have bought sale garlands and branches for years, and I ALWAYS cut them up - never use them as is.

I will also pick up cones whenever I see some that like, and I mean from my yard. My sister in NC has sent me some from the long leaf pines, and you see some of them in my garland - those BIG ones!

OH man!! did you guys continue reading about that Garland??
I put the link below.

I'm just going to have to start me a garland stash! :)
I might have some stuff in my boxes for other seasons... but not nearly as much as y'all seem to have. None of it the 'natural' stuff. I could always walk my dog and look for stuff too. But we don't have pine trees growing naturally here.. only in people's yards and I just wouldn't feel right taking theirs. :)

House is pretty much cleaned up. Only a few more things to do then I might be able to make a run to a few 'cheap' stores to see what I can find. The snow is gone, so is the rain. Now its just cold and windy out there.

Here is a link that might be useful: the rest of the garland story!