Create colorful, fragrant decorations for home using dried apples for a country-inspired, homespun touch. Dry a batch of the sliced fruit in a low oven while you complete other craft projects or holiday decorations. Put the festive fruit slices to work immediately by displaying them in a pretty white bowl until you're ready to use them to create embellishments for your home, holiday tree or personalized gift wrap. The drying and crafting techniques are so easy that you'll want to try them with additional fruits like lemons and limes.
Instructions
Prepare the Dried Apples
1. Use a knife to slice 10 red apples into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Leave the core in as a decorative touch.
2. Soak the apple slices in 3 tbsp. of salt and enough lemon juice to completely cover the slices. Let the fruit soak for at least 20 minutes so it won't turn brown during the drying process.
3. Arrange the slices in single layers on non-stick baking sheets. Let them dry for six hours in an oven set to 150 degrees. Take the slices out of the oven and let them cool.
4. Spray each apple slice with a coat of acrylic sealer to help preserve the fruit. Let the spray dry before completing the crafts.
Create the Apple Crafts
5. Design apple ornaments to hang on a holiday tree or bulletin board by poking a hole in the apple slice with a wood skewer. Push a 6-inch-long piece of jute or ribbon through the hole and tie the ends together to create a loop to hang on a tree branch or hook.
6. Create a festive wreath by affixing the apple slices to a 12-inch Styrofoam ring with straight pins. Overlap the slices so the ring doesn't show through. Add additional color to the project by affixing fresh cranberries or pine tree sprigs to the wreath with a permanent adhesive.
7. Make a dried apple garland for a fireplace mantel by cutting a 10-foot-long piece of ribbon or jute. Use a skewer to make a hole in the top of each apple slice. Push the ribbon through the hole and tie a knot at the top of the fruit. Leave a 1-inch gap, add another apple slice to the string and tie a knot on top of it. Repeat the process until you've filled the entire strand of garland.
8. Affix a dried apple to the bottom of a plain shipping tag with double-sided tape. Add the "to" and "from" information with a red pen and tie the pretty gift tags to presents with ribbon or jute.
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