12.13.2012

# Christmas # Home and Garden

Chic, Budget-friendly Christmas Ornaments



It can be very tempting to go overboard and spend a fortune on holiday decorations... but really there is no need. You can create your own natural, chic decorations at home.

Each year I like to create my own homemade ornaments from dried citrus fruit. These ornaments are budget-friendly (not to mention kid-friendly!) but also look so elegant.

You will need:

Citrus fruit (you can use oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, satsumas, etc.)
parchment paper
baking sheet
raffia (or some other natural string)

Thinly slice the citrus fruit and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in a low oven (220° F) for 6 hours. While the fruit is drying, they fill your home with the most amazing scent! Once dry, string with raffia and hang them on your tree.

I also like to use bows as ornaments, which is another cost-effective decorating idea.

To learn more about dried citrus fruit ornaments and to see our Christmas tree, check out my video. If you are unable to see the embedded video, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

Book News

Matchbook Magazine has picked Lessons from Madame Chic for their holiday gift guide this year as the perfect gift to give your très chic best friend.

♥ Lessons from Madame Chic also received a great review on The Gilmore Guide to Books this week.

♥ Check out this adorable Tumblr page from Simon & Schuster featuring the perfect gifts for the Francophiles in your life.

♥ Congratulations to the three winners of the big Simon & Schuster Giveaway: Jacqueline Jones, Neva Sarenana and Felicia Loveys! Simon & Schuster will contact you to arrange shipment of your prize packets.

See you next week when we'll discuss chic, budget-friendly gift wrap!



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8 comments:

Ms. Purple said...

I inherited a few wonderful vintage Ornaments... additionally I needed some simple ones - a pack was not more than 5 USD for 12...

What I really love is: I buy every year the yearly Star-Ornament from Swarovski (there are also other companies or you can go to ebay and get a new one - even a vintage one - for almost nothing every year)...

So the collection is growing every year!

faith120604 said...

Great video! I had never thought of dried fruit for holiday decorating but it sounds lovely and practical. Congrats on all the accolades for the book and bravo to the contest winners!

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Unknown said...

Last Christmas my best friend gave me a really nice wooden Christmas ornament. It had my name and a picture of a reindeer engraved on it. It was super cool and I found out that a firm out in Colorado called Unique Custom Products made it. I am considering ordering from them this year...check them out if you like wooden items www.uniquecustomproducts.com

Sheree said...

This is a wonderful idea. So easy on the planet, too. I like the stained glass effect.

Sheree

The Daily Connoisseur said...

Thanks everyone for your comments. I do love these ornaments for so many reasons: they are natural, they smell amazing and they are earth-friendly, budget-friendly and child-friendly. I hope you all use them at some point! I also just like to dry citrus and keep them in a bowl like potpourri. You can also tie them into gift wrap like I'll show you in tomorrow's post. Sending love xo