She Glued Dried Orange Slices to Cardboard and Turned It Into a Christmas Door Wreath
Three oranges, an oven, and a piece of cardboard might not sound like the materials for a Christmas wreath. But once the fruit is cut into thin rounds and dried, the slices become firm enough to arrange into a circular decoration. Their orange centers darken, while the pale rings of peel remain visible.
The wreath starts with a cardboard ring cut from an old box. Dried orange slices overlap across its surface, covering the cardboard beneath them. A burgundy ribbon completes the decoration without pine branches, artificial greenery, or a store-bought wreath frame.
Two Instagram creators shared the steps behind this project. @helleforhygge demonstrated how to dry fresh oranges in the oven, while @sarahs.haven used dried slices to make a Christmas wreath for her glass-paneled door.
Three Fresh Oranges Become the Starting Material
The first step comes from @helleforhygge, who used three large oranges. She cut them into thin rounds, keeping the peel attached so each slice retained its circular shape.
She placed the slices across a baking tray lined with parchment paper, leaving space between them for air to circulate during drying.
The Orange Slices Spend Three to Four Hours in the Oven
The creator set her oven to 100°C (212°F) and dried the oranges for three to four hours. She turned the slices once per hour, then checked them every 15 minutes toward the end because some dried before others.
The slices were ready when their color had darkened and the fruit felt dry rather than sticky. The process reduced their moisture while preserving the circular pattern of the segments.
The finished rounds have amber-colored centers bordered by pale pith and orange peel. Once cooled, they can be used for wreaths, garlands, or other Christmas crafts.
A Cardboard Ring Replaces the Traditional Wreath Frame
For the wreath construction, @sarahs.haven started with a flat piece of cardboard. She placed a plate on the surface and traced around it to form the outer circle.
A smaller circle was marked inside the first, then both outlines were cut to create a ring. The cardboard provided a flat base for attaching the dried fruit.
She Glued the Orange Slices Around the Cardboard
With the ring cut, she used a hot glue gun to attach the dried slices. Each piece was positioned to overlap the next, preventing gaps from exposing the cardboard.
The slices continued around the ring in overlapping rows, with different shades of orange creating contrast between the pieces. Their natural variations gave the wreath its pattern without paint or other decorations.
A Burgundy Ribbon Finished the Christmas Wreath
A burgundy ribbon tied into a bow sits at the top of the wreath, with two long tails hanging through the center. The dark fabric contrasts with the orange peel and dried fruit.
The finished wreath hangs on the glass portion of a door, where daylight passes through parts of the dried orange slices. The cardboard frame remains hidden beneath the fruit.
For a longer-lasting decoration, the slices should be dry before assembly and kept away from moisture. Any fruit that develops mold should be discarded.
According to Clemson University, orange slices about ⅛ inch thick can take three to five hours to dry in the oven, while another holiday tradition involves boiling apples, orange peels, cinnamon, and vanilla to fill the home with seasonal scents.
Would you make a Christmas wreath from dried oranges and cardboard, or choose a traditional evergreen wreath?
Orange-drying tutorial: @helleforhygge. Wreath project: @sarahs.haven.