Orange pomanders

These traditional pomanders made from oranges and decorated with cloves have long been associated with Christmas. Their sweet, spicy smell makes them welcome gifts for family and friends, or pretty decorations to hang in the home.

You will need:

• ballpoint pen
• large orange
• awl (for piercing holes)
• cloves
• 15 inch (60cm) ribbon, 1/2 inch (1cm) wide
• scissors
• pin

1 Mark ribbon positions
Use the pen to mark the ribbon positions around the orange. The ribbon is wrapped around the orange in the shape of a cross. Use the awl to pierce holes for the cloves on the four quarters of the orange.

2 Insert cloves
Carefully push the cloves into the orange. The tops of the cloves tend to be quite brittle, so push them in gently. Continue to push the cloves into the orange until all four quarters are covered.

3 Anchor ribbon
Wrap a length of ribbon around the orange so that the ends overlap at the bottom of the orange. Snip the ribbon and hold the first piece in place as you wrap another length aroudn the orange. Trim any trailing ribbon ends. Now push a pin through the ends of the ribbon to hold it in place.

4 Finishing
Thread a length of ribbon through the top of the crossed ribbon on the orange and tie the ends together. Tie a knot in the ribbon about 2in (5cm) from the top of the orange to form a loop. Now thread a further length of ribbon through the top of the ribbon and tie into a pretty bow to finish.

 

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Excerpted from Christmas Crafting with Kids by Catherine Woram. Ryland Peters & Small, Hardcover, $22.95.Copyright 2008 by Ryland Peters and Small. Excerpted by permission of Ryland Peters and Small. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

 

 

 

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