How to create a natural Christmas decoration with rosehips?- Irish blog Promesse de fleurs

Winter is approaching, and with it Christmas magic is beginning to wrap our hearts and homes. What better way to welcome this magical season than by creating a unique, natural decoration? Today we will explore together how to transform hips, those little treasures of nature often called gratte-culs, into a beautiful Christmas decoration. These false fruits of the dog rose or of roses are still present in our gardens (or can be picked on country walks) and their red colour is perfect for our festive décor. Follow this step-by-step guide to create the word "Noël" with hips (and many more!), a natural decoration that will add a personal, warming touch to your home.

Required Materials :

For this project, you will need:

Freshly picked hips, ideally medium-sized.
Flexible wire, easy to handle yet strong enough to hold its shape.
Wire cutters to adjust the length of the wire.
Gardening gloves to protect your hands when handling hips.
Your creativity
...and a little Christmas carol to hum to get you in the mood!

Picking and preparing hips :

The first step of this festive project begins with a pleasant country walk in nature (or your garden) to pick your hips. Choose firm, well-coloured fruits, a sign of their ripeness and robustness. Remember to wear gloves to protect yourself from small thorns on dog roses or roses and arm yourself with a clean pruning shear.

Once picking is finished, it's time to prepare your hips. Wash them thoroughly to remove any traces of soil or small insects, then leave them to dry completely. Always wear gloves if they are (still) thorny to avoid scratches.

Creating the word "Noël" with hips

Here I used the example "Noël", but you could just as well write "Joy", "winter", "Ho Ho Ho!" or any other words referring to the season. And instead of full words, you can also create initials, for example, "N" for Noël or the first letter of guests' names. You can also make simple symbols linked to the festive season, such as a star or a heart.

Step 1 : Building the word "Noël"

Start by visualising the size of each letter. For a harmonious effect, each letter should have balanced height and width. On a flat surface, lay out the hips dry to form the word "Noël". This step lets you estimate the number of hips needed and plan the length of wire for each letter.

Step 2 : Assembling the letters

Letter N : Cut a piece of wire slightly longer than the planned height for the letter. Thread the hips gently onto the wire, taking care to keep a straight line. Leave a small extra length of wire at each end to make the final assembly easier.

Letter O : The letter O is a little tricky, as it requires forming a circle. Cut a piece of wire longer than the intended perimeter of the O. Thread the hips, then gently bring the two wire ends together to form a circle. Twist the ends slightly to secure the shape.

Letter E : Follow the same method as for letter N for the vertical part of the E. For the horizontal bars, cut short pieces of wire and thread a few hips before attaching them to the vertical part.

Letter L : Letter L is the simplest. As with letter N, thread hips onto a piece of wire cut to the desired length, leaving extra for the small bottom horizontal bar.

Step 3 : Assembling the word "Noël"

Once all letters are ready, it's time to assemble them to form the word "Noël". Arrange the letters on your work surface to check their placement. You can link them together by slightly twisting the extra wire from adjacent letters, or leave them separate for a more flexible installation.

Finishing touches and installation :

Your word "Noël" made of hips is ready! For finishing touches, you can add ribbons, small LED lights, or even glitter for extra festive effect. For installation, choose a spot where your creation will be showcased, such as on a mantelpiece, a shelf, or even hung on a door. Make sure the chosen location is sheltered from weather if you opt for an outdoor display.