Christmas bells might not be ringing just yet, but it’s never too early to get in the holiday spirit and plan out some beautiful table decorations! You don’t have to have an expensive evergreen centerpiece to add an elegant, cozy touch to your table. It’s so nice to be able to throw these cranberry luminaries together and have one less thing to think about when company is coming or to bring with you as a gift for the host. They are simple but special and come together in about five minutes! I first saw this idea online when our third son was a newborn and we were going to be hosting for Christmas. I needed something that was realistic to put together while completely sleep deprived, and these were perfect! I’ve made them almost every year since then and they never disappoint.
We’re fortunate to have some big cedar trees in our backyard that I use for the greenery, but if you can’t find any cedars, fresh rosemary sprigs or other evergreens work well, too. My favorite thing about these luminaries is how versatile they are. You can use different sizes of jars, vases, or glasses and whatever you have on hand. Floating candles top it off and shine on a colorful bed of cranberries. My eight-year-old also loved helping with these and pouring the cranberries into the jars, so if you’ve got children around, this is definitely something they can help prepare. They stay fresh for 4-5 days and after that, you’ll want to swap out the cranberries for fresh ones! If you’re having company over, these are great to make a few days in advance so you have one less thing on your plate.
What you’ll need:
- Miscellaneous jars or vases
- A few cedar tree branches or rosemary sprigs
- I bag of fresh cranberries
- 6 white floating candles
Maria Magee
Directions:
Lay out your branches and clip them into smaller pieces so they’ll fit into the vases or jars you’re using.
Maria Magee
Wrap them up and arrange them in the bottom of the vase, going up about a third of the way. Pour in a handful or two of cranberries, depending on how big your vase is (You can always add more if you need to).
Maria Magee
Gently fill the vase with water almost to the top, the cranberries will start to float.
Maria Magee
Add your floating candle and voila, that’s it!
Maria Magee
Although they are a lovely addition to your Christmas dinner table, these rustic, cheerful arrangements are nice to have around all through the winter season!
What are some of your favorite homemade Christmas decorations? I hope these luminaries brighten up your home this holiday season and bring you lots of cheer!
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Read more of Maria’s contributions to AllMomDoes here.
