December 2024 Craft: Lighted Garland
By Major Jessyca Carr
Education Officer
College for Officer Training
There are so many different combinations of fabric or ribbon and lights; you can check out YouTube for other options. Using fabric is the MOST economical way to do this craft, but it may take more time. I had several rolls of Costco ribbon, so I used what I had. Last year I used a combination of fabric and ribbon. That was pretty too. NOTE: If you plan to do this with your ladies, I suggest precutting the ribbon/fabric. I had our ladies bring me their selections two weeks before the meeting. I cut all the ribbon/fabric and placed them in baggies for each lady. During our meeting, we began our garland and got 1/3 done. (We chatted a lot!) What was not finished during the meeting they were able to complete at home. Below are instructions to make a 100 Light Ribbon Garland. You can follow these instructions for the fabric style, just the sizes used will be different. See fabric notes at the end.
Supplies:
⦁ Christmas lights – 100 lights
⦁ 12 -15 small zip ties (You can use yarn)
⦁ At least 400 8”-10” strips of ribbon – This will vary depending on the size of the ribbon or fabric.
⦁ Pictured: 7 ribbons used – 5 were 2.5’ and 2 were 1”. If you use a smaller ribbon, you will need more strips.
⦁ If you use a set of 50 lights you will need fewer ribbons/fabric.
See below for Fabric details.
Preparation:
⦁ Cut the ribbon – I removed the wire from my ribbon that was wired.
⦁ Place the ribbons in a pattern you like best.
Process:
- Fold the strand of lights in half.
- Using zip ties or yarn connect the two sides of the lights together.
- Cut off the excess zip tie or yarn.
- Begin to tie the ribbons around the two strands of lights – only one knot.
- Keep the pattern going until you reach the end.
Fabric notes:
⦁ ¾ of a yard of at least 3 coordinating fabrics.
⦁ Use pinking shears or a rotary cutter to cut fabric 1” strips.
⦁ In the picture I didn’t use traditional Christmas lights. These are battery-operated.
Download the printable version of this craft:
Here is a coordinating devotional, way you can pray for people as you make this craft.
As we prepare for the holiday season, consider adding a homemade decoration that also helps you focus on the Reason for the Season! Do you ever think to yourself, “Man, I have a lot of people to pray for lately”? Do you need a reminder to pray for those people you said you would lift up in prayer but actually forget to pray for? Or perhaps you want to spend some significant amount of time in prayer but are easily distracted. This craft may just help you. Using fabric and or ribbon, tie a knot around Christmas lights for a beautiful fabric garland.
Prayer Focus Options:
As you tie knots you can:
- Designate each color for a different prayer focus.
- Designate each set of knots to a prayer focus.
- Designate each light to a different prayer focus.
- As you tie the knots pray for the person you plan to give the garland to as a gift.
Color Example:
Red – Pray for the Salvation of those who don’t know Jesus.
Green – Pray for the spiritual growth of those who do know Him.
Gold – Pray for the corps.
White – Holiness within yourself, Your walk with God.
Patterned – Pray for your community.
Each time you look at the garland throughout the season, you will be reminded to say a quick prayer for those who you covered in prayer as you made the garland.
Enjoy the song “God Came to Save Us” as you make this beautiful craft.
