How to make faux eucalyptus Christmas garland

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… and I’m here to spread some Christmas cheer. If only I could drink a beer, but my due date is nowhere near… Okay I’ll stop.

This is our second holiday season in our home, and I’m going all out this year – starting with garland for my staircase. In an effort to save a little money, I turned to some good ole’ DIY methods. [Going all out because next year we’ll have a crawling baby!]

I’m a sucker for eucalyptus and also for Christmas, so naturally combining the two puts me over the edge of my happy place.

If you’ve ever used garden wire for any floral type craft, you’ll find this project easy-peasy. If you haven’t, you’ll still think it’s a piece of cake.

What you’ll need:

Garland (6 to 9 feet depending on where you’re putting it – I used four strands total)
Fake eucalyptus leaves (About two stems per strand of garland)
Garden wire
Floral cutters
Christmas lights (And batteries if you opt for cordless)
Decorative twist ties (I ordered two packs)

GARLAND: I purchased 4 strands of 6-foot garland from Michaels when they were having a 50% off sale. You can always find a 40% off one item coupon here. BUY GARLAND HERE!

EUCALYPTUS: You can usually find fake eucalyptus leaves at any craft store, such as Michaels or Hobby Lobby, or even at Walmart. However, Amazon Prime is always my go-to, so I went that route and ordered a bundle of stems. CLICK HERE TO BUY! I was very pleased with my Amazon purchase & it ended up equaling only about $3 per stem.

GARDEN WIRE: Another item found in almost every store, including Walmart or Target. BUY HERE.

FLORAL CUTTERS: You want something super sharp so it’s easy to cut pieces of the eucalyptus off the stems. BUY HERE.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: I have no outlets near my staircase, so I got some cordless warm white lights, which I also found on Amazon. BUY HERE.

TWIST TIES: I’m obsessed with these! They make hanging garland so easy, and don’t leave any marks on your staircase. Yes, of course, they were from Amazon. BUY HERE.

Directions:

First, in an open space, lay down your garland and spread each one out so they are straight.
Use your floral scissors to cut your eucalyptus stems into individual pieces.
Attach the eucalyptus pieces to the garland. Tie in place using the garden wire.
Fluff the garland and eucalyptus so everything evens out. Add additional pieces of eucalyptus to any spots where you see fit.
Hang on your stairs, or wherever you’re planning on putting it, using the decorative twist ties.

Yay – you’re done. I told you it was easy! [Scroll down to watch my video tutorial]

Now, for the next step: Christmas lights. Personally, since I used the battery-operated lights, I chose to hang my garland on the stairs before attaching the lights. You can do it my way, or you can wrap the lights around before you hang the garland. Either way, the finished product will look fabulous.

Finally, feel free to dress it up with more faux finds, such as artificial holly berries or sparkly stems.