DIY Life

Dried apples and cinnamon give that cider smell that is so closely associated with the Christmas season. I wanted to add a little spice to the house and try a new craft so I decided to make a dried apple wreath. This was not as easy as I had anticipated. The main reason being that I seriously lacked common sense when reading the directions! The first dried apple recipe that I found suggested baking them at 350 degrees for an hour. I should have been able to predict the outcome, but I didn't realize how dumb that was until my smoke alarm went off! I did eventually find some better instructions (that's what Moms are for) and was able to perfect the dried apple slices, and that's the one I'll share with you here.

How to dry apple slices

1. Core small red apples
2. Slice them 1/4 inch thick
3. Soak the slices in lemon juice
4. Pat them dry with paper towel
5. Brush the apple with cinnamon or other spice (optional)
6. Put them in the over at 150 degrees
7. Flip them every 2 hours
8. They should be ready in 6-8 hours, just keep checking on them

The galleries show how to make the dried apples. I included a couple of disaster shots so you can have a little laugh at my expense! Once you have your dried apple slices, you're ready to get creative. the second gallery shows how to make a wreath and the third, a quick and easy centerpiece. I'll tell you about both of these after the break.




The dried apple smell delicious and look beautiful. You can get creative with all sorts of projects, but the two that I chose were a dried apple wreath and a centerpiece.

How to make a dried apple wreath

1. Follow the instructions on drying apple slices
2. Buy or make a twig wreath
3. Choose what decorations you want on the wreath.
4. Place the decorations where you want them
5. Using a hot glue gun, attach the apples, cinnamon and decorations or choice

The apple wreath has a cottage feel which I find quite appealing. I chose to add cinnamon sticks and a branch for some variety. You could cover the whole thing in apples, or add in little decorations, whatever fits your taste. If you're looking for some added inspiration, Tanya shows us how to make a personalized wreaths.

Another great use for the dried apples is in a centerpiece. This one looks great, is versatile and only takes a minute. Why not throw some extra apple slices in the oven and make one of these too.?

How to make a dried apple centerpiece

1. Get one branch of Christmas bead berries
2. Thread the apple slices through the long stem
3. Wrap the stem in a circle
   
4. Add a cinnamon scented candle in the center

The candle I chose was small. I think a nice tall pillar would look even better. These crafts make great additions to your Christmas decor. They also make thoughtful handmade gifts which will spice up any home this holiday season.