Alternatives to tinsel?

White_Iris

Hello everyone,

I'm looking for some inspiration on what to use instead of sparkly tinsel on our Christmas tree. The decorations are wooden, Scandinavian type or home-made felt ones in red, white and natural and I'd love to find some thing other than metallic, brightly coloured tinsel to fill in the gaps.

I've thought about popcorn garlands but I'd quite like something that'll last more than one year. Any ideas welcome - something I could make myself quite cheaply would be brilliant.

Thank you!

Kay.Samuels

What about nice lengths of beads? Lots of shops sell these, or you could make them yourself with beads of your own choice. I have some plain red beads, and another length that are red, green and gold lengths of beads kind of twisted around each other which look nice (think they were from wilkos). I have scandivanian type decorations and these go well.

Or how about really thick sturdy ribbon?

voucherlover

We use wired ribbon, it spirals as you take it off the spool(?) so it fills the gaps between branches well.

sugarwalsh

Last year I used bows and fake flowers. It sounds strange but it was very beautiful. I too hate tinsel and find lots of lights and glass/reflective decorations work well.
Megan

mma

I've just bought some great value christmas bunting in Wilkinsons - £5 each, has the letters Merry Christmas. Had some other very reasonable priced wooden type decorations. Also saw some decorations in Ikea at the weekend - various garlands that would be good alternatives to tinsel

Birdie85

I use strings of beads, lots of glass ornaments and loads of white lights on my tree, I hate tinsel!

Your mention of popcorn garlands has made me think of dried fruit garlands, if you varnish them they may last longer than just one year?

jakes-mum

you could make paper chains, if you use really thin bits of card and keep the loops small it wont over power the tree plus you can co-ordinate to your colour scheme (if you have one!)

Tamster150

this?

I have forgotten the name of the stuff that we use, but it is thin strands of foiled streamers that you sprinkle on the tree. It catches the light of the fairy lights & makes the tree sparkley without being ott. You can buy it in many colours. I have a huge stash as it was reduced to 5p a pack one year in homebase, and I normally onlyneed half a pack.

This is the stuff but I use it much more sparingly so that you only really notice it when it picks up the light

themull1

Tamster150 wrote: »

this?

I have forgotten the name of the stuff that we use, but it is thin strands of foiled streamers that you sprinkle on the tree. It catches the light of the fairy lights & makes the tree sparkley without being ott. You can buy it in many colours. I have a huge stash as it was reduced to 5p a pack one year in homebase, and I normally onlyneed half a pack.

This is the stuff but I use it much more sparingly so that you only really notice it when it picks up the light

Its called Lametter, not sure how you spell it though!

Tracey2609

Have to say that I hate tinsel - I use strands of beads. I watched my first Christmasy film today - not very memorable have to say... But the Christmas tree in it was stunning - it had a red ribbon used as a garland.

Callie22

I have some artificial popcorn and cranberry garlands - it sounds a bit tacky but they're made of similar stuff to the packing peanuts and they look really realistic. Thet weren't too dear and I think I got them off ebay.