Evergreen Ideas for the Home

Gather Your Evergreen Trimmings
If you use a live evergreen tree during the winter holidays, look for a fuller tree or one with low-hanging branches that could use a little trimming. Retailers who sell live evergreens usually have an ample supply of stray branches lying around as well. They can often be purchased for a small price or may even be free for the taking.

Package Décor with Evergreen Accents
Evergreen also gives winter holiday packages a rustic outdoor look by tying sprigs onto twine and securing to your wrapping. Follow these instructions for decorating a 4”x 4” gift box.

MATERIALS
Length of ribbon or twine (54 inches)
Scissors
4 sprigs of evergreen
Small pinecones or berries for accents

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Begin with a natural-colored parchment box or create your own wrapping paper by reusing a brown paper bag. Natural-colored paper will complement nature’s greenery. You can also use festive wrapping paper to wrap the box. Pre-measure your ribbon to make sure that it wraps around both sides of your package and leaves you about 12” for tying the evergreen into place.
2. Cut the ribbon at the appropriate length. With the center of the length of ribbon positioned in the middle of the top of the box, wrap the ends of the ribbon first around two opposite sides, twist around each other at the bottom, and bring the ends of the ribbon up the other two sides of the box. Tie a secured knot in the middle of the top of the box.
3. Arrange a few pieces of your evergreen sprigs to cover the knot and fill out the top of your package. Trim excess pieces as needed. Next, tie a knot to secure the evergreen in place. (You may find you have to rearrange the pieces once this step is completed). For a finishing touch, add a sprig of berries or a small pinecone for additional accents and dimension.

Frozen Evergreen Appetizer Dish
A big part of holiday home décor involves your food presentations, so why not incorporate evergreen into your winter holiday entertaining? Here’s a simple way to create a colorful frozen evergreen dish as a unique and functional way to keep an appetizer cool for a winter holiday get-together. Make this idea your own by using a larger glass cake dish for a bigger appetizer serving or substitute a different sparkling water.

MATERIALS
1 glass cake plate (7 inches)
1 glass cake plate (5 1/2 inches)
1/2 quart tonic water
1 twig of evergreen (10 inches) trimmed into pieces (approximately five 1 1/2-inch pieces)

NOTE: You may need more or less of these amounts, depending on the size and type of evergreen twigs and berries you use and the sizes of the cake dishes.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place your 5 1/2” cake plate into the center of your 7” cake plate.
2. Slowly pour the tonic water into the 7” cake plate so it fills up to no more than 1/2” from the plate’s rim.
3. Arrange twigs of evergreen and cranberries inside and around the edge of the 7” plate. Make sure the evergreen and cranberries are fully submerged in the tonic water.
4. Place the arrangement in your freezer for approximately 3-4 hours*.
5. Remove the arrangement from your freezer a few minutes before you plan to serve your chilled appetizer. Fill the center of your 5 1/2” cake plate with a cool dip or sauce.
6. A great use for this arrangement is keeping shrimp cocktail chilled– simply place the shrimp on top of the frozen ice, and fill your 5 1/2” cake plate with cocktail sauce.

*Freezer temperatures and models may vary– check your arrangement to see if it has completely frozen for the desired effect.

Evergreen adds a festive look and a personal touch to your winter holiday decorations and gift-wrapping. Use these helpful ideas and look for even more ways to use the rich, natural color of evergreen throughout your home during this special season.