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Christmas fireplace decoration

38 comments


Some people love Christmas, some people dont. Whatever your feelings its a dull old time of year and its nice to have a few decorations to brighten your spirits and make your home feel a bit more welcoming. Not having been able to get out into the garden due to the weather, I thought I would use the opportunity to decorate the fireplace. I used only two pieces of oasis foam, 3 plastic trays and a reel of florist tape to fix it in place. All the plant material was gathered from the garden, so it made for a really cheap fix. I thought I would share it with you and maybe inspire a few of you to try it for yourselves. ………
First of all gather all your materials together.


Wet the oasis by letting it sink slowly into a large bucket/bowl of water. Cut each block into thirds and then tape two each into the three trays and tape into place using the florists tape.


Now onto the more interesting part. Start to cover the bases of the trays with pieces of evergreen material (I used conifer) Use longer pieces at the ends and between each block, to give the illusion that its all joined together. At this stage I added some groups of candles, but this is optional.


to affix the candles, tape three cocktail sticks to the base of each candle and then push into the foam.


When you are happy with the placement of your candles, continue to cover the oasis with more pieces of conifer. I used two different types, one golden and the other blue. After this I added some long tendrils of ivy, and ivy berries for decoration. Keep the top of the arrangement fairly low to keep the shape and show off the candles. I finished the foliage with some variegated myrtle, but holly in berry would be just as nice.


Now to finish its all a matter of personal taste:
If you like a more natural look, you could just add a few large pine cones, orange slices and maybe a bit of tied raffia.
I added some lights


And a few gold twigs to tie in with the gold frame of the mirror:


If you want more glitz you could also add groups of two or three baubles wired together and pushed into the foam at the base of the candles.

Hope you liked it and maybe inspired you to have a go for yourself. A nice job to do with a glass of christmas wine/sherry and a few carols playing ??? – well whatever gets you in the spirit. Happy Christmas to all my fellow Goyers!! Hope all your preparations go well.

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Comments

 

That looks gorgeous poppylover, really putting me in the christmas spirit, adding to favourites so I can give it a go, sounds fairly easy with your instructions :-))

10 Dec, 2011

 

Wow... well done... those are fantastic foliage decorations .. and all from your own garden ...

Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas :o) x

10 Dec, 2011

 

Thanks Simbad, that was just the response I was hoping for. I would be happy to help if you need to ask any questions. Terra, thank you happy Christmas to you too. I expect you have some special christmas outfits for Conker and Truffle, cant wait to see what you come up with.

10 Dec, 2011

 

that is a beautiful arrangement ~ great blog, many thanks poppy lover

i love your cosy fire too.

you can add a few cinnamon sticks too for a little christmas scent!!

i havent got a fireplace!! :-(

10 Dec, 2011

 

That is fabulous, how creative you are. Unfortunately I am challenged even with Sellotape - my children used to beg me not to attempt to make anything when we watched Blue Peter!

10 Dec, 2011

 

Beautiful. It raised my spirit. We do have nice looking fireplaces inherited from the previous owner, but never lighted or decorated them. Wife thinks it is something dangerous to have in the house.

10 Dec, 2011

 

very nicely done PoppyL :))))))))))))))

10 Dec, 2011

 

Wow - that looks really lovely Roz - well done you!

10 Dec, 2011

 

Wonderful ... if only I had seen this before I put out my Christmas village ornaments ! ... Really unique and one to keep on my favourites for next year ... :o)

10 Dec, 2011

 

lovely poppyL ,merry Christmas to you...

10 Dec, 2011

 

Fabulous, am going to have a go, thanks for that.

10 Dec, 2011

 

Thank you everyone, for all the lovely comments and Christmas wishes. Im feeling really Christmassy now, I think it was the wine that did it...!!! Hope you all have a go, its easy ..honest.

10 Dec, 2011

 

Thats really pretty :)

10 Dec, 2011

 

Each picture I kept thinking it was finished, and then it went on getting better! Beautiful, and double value with the mirror behind.
Costas you are really missing out not having a fire in your fireplace. It seems only a few years since an open fire was the only heating any of us had, and nobody thought it was dangerous! A real log fire on Christmas eve, with perhaps a glass of something and some nice music - what could be nicer?

10 Dec, 2011

 

Wow and wow again it looks really fabulous, well done.

10 Dec, 2011

 

That looks fantastic! I generally drag out the artificial fir swag I bought years ago and decorate it with red baubles and bows, but your idea gives me a further new use for those irritating pine trees blocking our lovely view of the mountains. I'll be up there with my secateurs in a day or two! (Hee hee!) ;o)

11 Dec, 2011

 

it looks wonderful...:-)

11 Dec, 2011

 

Thanks everyone. Im so pleased so many of you are going to have a go. Please be careful if you are going up a ladder Nariz - it has been so windy just lately. Costas I would just stick to the sherry. This is only a pretend fire but I still love the memory of toasting chestnuts and crumpets on an open fire in the winter....mmmmmnnnn

11 Dec, 2011

 

really pretty but wont the foliage dry out too much with the beautiful fire on the go.
I have had this happen to mine previously and my oh felt it was a genuine fire risk.

Cant take aware the beauty of the arrangement though.

11 Dec, 2011

 

beautifull arrangment Poppy, it makes my shop bourght one look naf lol, love it :o))

11 Dec, 2011

 

Awww bless you Sanbaz! this one probably cost alot less too!
Seaburngirl, the arrangement is all in florists oasis and that is fixed in trays so you can water it. I have had this type of arrangement for a few years now and they always last through to new year still looking good. It is no more of a fire risk than a Christmas tree.

11 Dec, 2011

 

the oasis must be the secret then. the tree is kept in the other room away from the open fire. We had a large fireguard around the fire when the children were young, as they are fascinated by the flames. OH is just caution I suppose and I cant bame him. I adore the open fire but hate the cleaning up next morning, so much dust!

11 Dec, 2011

amy
Amy
 

Thank you Poppy that has definitely inspired me to have a go ,I haven't even thought about the decor yet , gone to my favs as well .....

11 Dec, 2011

 

It's a great idea, and looks very artistic. I haven't got lots that I can use from the garden because things haven't grown big enough yet, but I might have a go at making something :o)

11 Dec, 2011

 

This looks really lovely Poppyl, if only we all had such pretty fireplaces to decorate. I'm feeling quite Christmasy now:-))

12 Dec, 2011

 

Wow. Such a nice decoration, and cheap too. Such a great idea.

12 Dec, 2011

 

Hywel you could do it with just conifer if the fancy takes you. My relatives have been known to 'disappear' when I go out for a walk (otherwise known as foraging!) they disown me!!
Amy Im pleased you are inspired, I think you will be surprised at how easy it is to create something nice.
Thankyou Bornagain Im sure I could find something to decorate at your house! Alextb its just an old traditional way of doing things really, but thank you for the compliment
Seaburngirl, I cant keep stringing you along any more..... a little secret...... the fire is actually not a real open fire..... Im much too lazy for that lol

12 Dec, 2011

 

Seaburngirl, if you burn logs there is very little dust and you can use the ash on the garden.

12 Dec, 2011

 

i do burn logs some of the time and the garden enjoys the ash. I just have to make sure oh doesnt do a coal/wood mix.

so my concerns re the arrangement catching fire is a genuine one then I must say very realistic looking poppylover. :o)

12 Dec, 2011

 

Beautiful! My first thought was to add cinnamon sticks to all the candles. You can buy long ones on the internet.I might have a go...if I can find the time! :-))

13 Dec, 2011

 

Ho ho Seaburngirl I can remember my grandmothers house having really smoky old fires, because she rarely had the chimneys swept. You could sometimes hardly see each other across the room. Her house was always lovely though and we had good times. The bit I dont remember quite so fondly is an image of her on her hands and knees cleaning the grate in the morning before the fire was lit again....ughh!
Hope you do have a go Izzy. Cinnamon sticks would look lovely tied in little bundles and finished with raffia.
Happy Christmas to you.

13 Dec, 2011

 

Beautiful arrangement Poppylover, will try it for the hall as my fireplace is an inglenook and we always have Yule log which burns for several days...o.h has promised to make Crumpets to toast this year and I will think of you when we roast our chestnuts and probably when we have to open windows and retreat from the room as the wind has changed direction !!!! and the room has filled with smoke....we don't clear out the hearth everyday just leave the ashes and build the next fire on top.
Have always been lucky enough to live in a house with an open fire............but have central heating as well nowadays.....as a child in London the open fire in the living room was the only heat source..............cold bedrooms !!

Look forward to more of your creative talents
Grandmamoy

15 Dec, 2011

 

looks great..very well done..Hope your christmas is fun

20 Dec, 2011

 

Thanks Grandmamoy, hope you enjoy your crumpets and chestnuts. Thanks to you too Skip, have a lovely Christmas

20 Dec, 2011

 

Hi there Homebird. A windowsill would look just as good. I hope you give it a try. Happy Christmas to you too!

23 Dec, 2011

 

Hi Poppy - This is great! Jane Packer/Paula Pryke eat your heart out eh!? This could be in a Dorling Kingsley book... might show mine next year lol!

22 Feb, 2012

 

I haven't done many floristry based things on here Petal. - Dont want to show off too much!!! I thought this would be something everyone could have a go at. Thanks for the compliments, Im glad you liked it - I think Paula still has the edge ....lol

22 Feb, 2012

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