Make a Popcorn Garland for your Christmas Tree

There's something just so nostalgic about making a popcorn garland. It's a fun and charming activity and a classic decor piece when you're hanging the greens and making the home festive and cheerful. I make at least one popcorn garland strand a year while watching either a classic or new Christmas movie. This is the perfect craft to work on by yourself with a cup of hot cocoa, or with a group of friends and family.

I love an old-fashioned Christmas tradition, and I'm even going to share my best trick for saving and storing these popcorn garlands so you don't have to make a full tree's worth every year you decorate.

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Supplies

1. Needle- either traditional or plastic if kiddos are going to be helping.
2. Thread
3. Popcorn- you can use microwave (try to avoid butter and salt) or stovetop

Directions

1. Pop your popcorn and pour into a bowl. For a longer garland you'll probably use a bag or two...depending on how much snacking is happening while working. Which, snacking is totally recommended.
2. You can measure a length of thread out, or just work off the spool. It's always an option to tie together threads of garland or to use various lengths around the tree.
3. Cut off your length of thread, and add a knot to the end.
4. Thread your needle by looping the thread through the hook and tying a knot.

Stringing your Popcorn

To string your popcorn, push the needle through the end of your piece of popcorn and pull it to the end of the thread. Repeat until the garland is your desired length. Knot the end of the thread. One option you can use instead of thread is floral wire. I like the flexibility of thread but then you wouldn't need to use a needle.

A few pieces may break off here and there, and this is a bit of a messy craft. I try to push the needle through the two sides/leaves of the popped popcorn, or the middle avoiding the hard kernel.

Decorating Your Tree

Add your garland to your tree by hooking the knotted end to a branch near the top and winding it around the entire tree, looping over branches to make waves. If you only have one garland and your tree is in a corner of the room, you can just drape it down the front of the tree too to get a similar look.

Storing a Popcorn Garland

As fun as it can be to make your popcorn garland, it can get a bet tedious stringing it, especially if you have a large tree. Which means you want to hang onto it if possible instead of tossing it at the end of the season. You can store a popcorn garland by winding it around a piece of cardboard or newspaper, placing in a ziplock gallon bag and storing in the freezer. I've had some of my popcorn strands for 4+ years and this way I only have to add one each year! It will hold it's shape and together so you can pull it out of the freezer the next holiday season and add it to your tree! Some people do use shellac too to maintain and store their popcorn garland, but I prefer to keep it just as natural popcorn...especially with kiddos around in case it ever ends up in someone's mouth.

To store your popcorn garland, wrap the strands around newspaper or gently roll it up. Then place it in a gallon-sized ziploc baggie. Store the ziploc baggie in your freezer.

One note- you will lose some pieces of popcorn, it's inevitable. You can either slide the remaining pieces down the thread and cut/shorten the garland, or you can just leave the excess space.

Tips

• This is a great girls night activity or family activity while you're watching a Christmas movie. Just keep in mind you'll probably need a few extra bags of popcorn because this will get eaten up!
• Microwave popcorn is fine, just get plain popcorn.
• Letting your popcorn sit out for a few days will make it stale which can make it easier to string.

FAQ