A Homemade Fairy-Light Garland

Homemade fairy-light garlands like this are useful for creating a Christmas atmosphere, as well as for decorating a room and providing a gentle glow during twilight hours.

To make it you will need:

·         a plain 20-bulb fairy-light string;

·         20 round balloons;

·         cotton thread in four colours;

·         PVA glue;

·         a pin.

Inflate 20 balloons to the size you have in mind for the decorative elements - for example, 5–6 cm in diameter. I recommend preparing at least a couple of spares. Dilute PVA glue with a small amount of water and soak the thread, then wind it in various directions around each balloon. Hang the thread-wrapped balloons to dry overnight. For this purpose I had commandeered the bathroom.

The next day, carefully pop the balloons with a pin and pull them out of the now-stiffened thread domes. Hang up the fairy-light string and attach the thread shells in different colours to each individual light.