Acorns, pumpkins, squash and cinnamon—autumn is the perfect time to incorporate natural elements into your décor. How about adding some oranges into the mix? Dried slices make a great building material for wreaths, garlands, potpourri or anything else you can think of—and when properly dried, they won’t get moldy or smelly. Simply store them in an airtight container and reuse them next year.
JUST THE ORANGES
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
• 8–9 medium oranges (lemons work too)
• Cutting board
• Sharp knife
• Paper towels
• Baking rack
HOW TO DO IT
1. Turn on the oven to the lowest temperature. Many ovens have a “warm” setting. If your oven doesn’t have this setting, turn it to the lowest temperature available.
2. Cut the oranges into thin slices. The thinner the slices, the more quickly they’ll dry. You can insert a fork into the end of the orange to protect your fingers from the knife.
3. Pat the slices dry with paper towels; then place the slices on a baking rack to allow air circulation. The slices will dry more quickly if they contain less juice.
4. Bake the slices for 2–3 hours or until they become hard and dry. Baking time will depend on the thickness of the slices, the temperature of the oven and your elevation.
5. Check on the slices every hour, and turn them over to prevent sticking. The finished slices may be a little sticky, but they won’t become moldy. If they’re still slightly malleable, that’s OK too—you’ll be able to form and mold them as needed.
DRIED-ORANGE WREATH
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
• 12” wreath form (preferably Styrofoam)
• Dried-orange slices from 8–9 medium oranges
• Straight pins
• Wide burlap ribbon
• Sprigs of green for accents
HOW TO DO IT
1. Beginning anywhere on the wreath form, pin a single layer of orange slices onto the Styrofoam using the straight pins. Work your way around the form and don’t worry about filling every gap.
2. Once you have the initial layer of slices in place, work your way around the form a second time, pinning on another layer to fill in the gaps where the form peeks through. If you have any slices that are too hard to bend and liable to crack, save those for the second row, when you can pin them on top without having to shape the slices.
3. Tie a bit of burlap ribbon into a bow or knot. Use another straight pin to tack it onto the front of the wreath.
4. Embellish the bow with a few sprigs of green from your garden, a couple of dry twigs or some acorns. You could even add a few pinecones as winter approaches.
DRIED-ORANGE GARLAND
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
• Dried-orange slices from 1–2 medium oranges
• White or clear thread
• Sewing needle
• Scissors
• Complementary ribbon
HOW TO DO IT
1. Thread the needle; then thread the strand through the end of an orange slice and secure it.
2. Using the needle, connect a second slice to the first. Tie off the thread and snip it with the scissors.
3. Repeat this process with the desired number of slices, connecting each slice with its own strand of thread. This will prevent viewers from seeing the thread run through the middle of the slices.
4. When the garland reaches your desired length, create an extra loop of thread from which to hang the garland; then tie off the thread and snip it.
5. Add any light-weight embellishments, such as ribbon, string or even a bell. Hang the garland and enjoy!
