13 Creative Ways to Decorate for Christmas Using Garland Ties
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Have you ever used garland ties to hang a garland when decorating your house for Christmas? Did you know that these decorative garland ties can be used for more than just hanging a garland?
They are one of those functional products that can be used in so many creative ways beyond what they were originally intended to do.
When it comes to getting your Christmas decorations up fast and easy I always have a handful of these ties at the ready to use.
If you already use them to hang a garland and have a few extra or want to get some, here are 12 creative ways you can use them to help you decorate your home for Christmas this year.
What is a Garland Tie?
Christmas garland ties were created to discreetly attach an evergreen Christmas garland to a staircase banister, porch railings, lamp posts, fences or any place you want to hang and secure draping swags of garland. They are a decorative alternative to plastic clips and wired or plastic green garland ties.
They are clever 10 – 12 inch long ties that will be hidden as they blend in with the greenery garland you are hanging. Think of them as ingenious decorative twist ties.
But, they can become decorative garland ties when used beyond their intended function when you are decorating your home for Christmas.
Where Can You Buy Garland Ties?
There are a few styles of garland ties that range from plastic zip-tie to flexible rope style. I like the ties that look like a section of pine as shown in the image above.
You can find garland ties like these in the ornament aisle at most craft stores. The smaller/thinner ties are sold where the miniature Christmas Village items are sold. Their packaging only says “Canadian Pine”.
You can also buy them at Target, Walmart, and on Amazon:
- Christmas Garland Ties – Usually come in packaged quantities of 10 or more. One brand, Haute Decor even sells them with little pinecones and others have jingle bells on the ends.
13 Creative Ways to Decorate With Christmas Garland Ties
I like using them when decorating my house for the holidays as I prefer to embellish what is already in each room, instead of removing an item to place “Christmas-only type” decorations in the space for the season.
The ties allow me to simply embellish items for the holidays instantly… and for the cost of only a few dollars.
No. 1 – Hang Ornaments Along a Staircase
Here is my favorite way to creatively use garland ties on a staircase. I use them to hang ornaments along the staircase and on the spindles. This is much easier than having to hang long 9-ft sections of garland along my staircase.
- Read how to do this in this post: Christmas Staircase Decorating on a Dime
No. 2 – Make a Doorknob Jingle
Thread 3 large jingle bells onto a garland tie and bring to the center. Then wrap it around a door knob to create the sound of the season when you open and close the door.
No. 3 – Create an Ornamental Accent
Thread one end of a garland tie through the handle of one or more jingle bells and a Christmas ornament. Twist end as you would use a twist tie to secure the bell and ornament. Wrap the garland tie around the doorknob and twist ends together or simply cut the excess.
No. 4 – Invisible Tree Ornament Hooks
- Cut the ties into 3-1/2″ sections to make invisible ornament hooks.
- Simply bend each into the standard ornament hook shape.
Twist one end on the ornament…
…and the other end over a tree branch. No unsightly wire showing :-)
No. 5 – Gift Bag Handles
Replace the standard paper twist cord handles with 2 garland ties. It is really simple to do.
Option 1 – Carefully remove existing handles from inside the bag. Most bags have the end of the handle covered in a thick piece of paper. You can gently rip this away to remove the existing handle. Cut 2 ties to size and use hot glue to attach inside the bag. Glue the paper back into place to secure.
Option 2 – Remove the existing handles, then use a paper hole punch to make two holes in each side of the bag where the handles were. Thread the end of a garland tie into hole about an inch. Bend the end upwards inside the bag and squeeze to secure. Repeat for the other 3 holes.
No. 6 – Gift Box Wrap
I used 6 ties for this gift package.
- Twist two garland ties together to make it long enough to wrap around a gift box.
- Twist the excess to secure.
- Cut ends with wire cutters or fan out to look like leaves.
- Wire on a trio of jingle bells and a name tag for a simple but festive holiday wrap.
No. 7 – Holiday Candle Accent
This is my favorite way I have found to use the ties so far as Christmas decorations.
- Wrap a garland tie around a glass candleholder and twist the ends to secure.
- Snip the excess off with wire cutters.
- Use florist wire to attach the silver ornaments.
No. 8 – Garland Tie & Mason Jar Gift Bag
Use two garland ties around a glittered Mason jar to create a cute way to give your girlfriends a gift this year.
- How to make: Mason Jar Gift Bag Purse
No. 9 – Table Setting Embellishment
I snipped off berries from an old wreath and hot glued them to the center of the twisted tie. You could also use a jingle bell instead of the faux berries.
- Tie and twist the ends of one around a place setting of silverware.
No. 10 – Decorative Garland Ties to Hang Christmas Cards
Use a paper hole punch in the upper left corner of Christmas cards. Next – cut 3-inch lengths from one tie and use to hang Christmas cards on a garland.
No. 11 – Hang and Secure a String of Lights
If the weather outside is frightful and the wind keeps blowing the Christmas lights off hung garland and shrubs – use garland ties to secure them.
No. 12 – Hang Up Your Christmas Stockings
This is the original purpose of what garland ties were made to do. They work perfectly to tie a garland onto a stairway banister without scratching or damaging the banister.
When placed above a spindle and then wrapped around the banister with the ends twisted together – the garland will stay in place and not slip down the banister.
After the garland is secure, use a garland tie to attach Christmas stockings to the garland.
No. 13: Use to Accent Wall Art & Photos
To add a little bit of Christmas to art or a gallery wall, use one end of a garland tie to tie a few sprigs of pine with shiny red ball ornaments and jingle bells together. Then use the other end of the garland tie as a hook to place over the center frame on the gallery wall.
These inexpensive decorative ties can be repurposed to instantly embellish just about anything. Can you think of more ways to use them around your home for the holiday season?
Garland Tie Resource
Want to see more Christmas decorating ideas? Check out this Paper Holly Garland and Christmas Decorating for Lamps
Good morning, Diane
I really love these ideas for the garland ties. I only wish they had been around when I had my staircase with the banister. I am pretty sure I left a few scratches on it. I will be looking at those garland ties differently, in fact I’m sure there are some in my stash. Thank you much for all your clever ideas. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Hi Glenda – I just love garland ties and all they can do. I have a few different types and I recently saw flocked ones. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and happy holiday season.
Wow, the great ideas just keep coming! Thank you for the timely inspiration!
Many blog posts feature suggestions that are completely impractical and undoable (i.e. hang your custom deer head above your double wide hearth). Yeah, that’s not gonna happen! This post is great. Practical and full of fresh ideas that anyone can adapt and do with their holiday decorations. That’s why I like following your blog.
I think the first time I bought these was in a Michael’s and I happened to see them….not knowing what the real use was I just bought them because I thought I’d use them for something. I started with making little wreaths for package decorations and then also to wrap small gifts.
At some point, I did discover their original purpose and then used them for garland hanging. They are useful in so many ways !!!! Thanks for a couple more ideas 🌲
What a great post. I had never heard of such a thing.
I used your idea for the staircase in our new (old) home. It took about 15 minutes tops-and looks terrific. Thanks for the idea! I had never heard/seen susangarland ties until I read your blog post.
Hi Susan – :-) It makes me happy to know my post was inspiring to you and to hear that you decorated your staircase using them. They are the best little Christmas decorating item – they look nice and can bend any which way to do what you need.
Diane,
It all looks great. I see you like plaid this year. I use plaid every year. I, too, change things up every year. I decorated with an all-natural look. Very different for me but if ever there was a year to do things a bit differently and creatively, it’s this year.
Anyway, have a great day.
Hi Rebecca – I agree that this year is the year to do things that make you feel good. Getting creative adds the happy positive vibe we all need after the last 11 months. Enjoy your festive decorating for a very Merry Christmas.
Hi Diane
I’m definitely going to use garland ties as ornament hooks, because our cats really enjoy batting my glass ornaments!
Hi Susan – The garland ties make the best and secure ornament hangers. You will love them, your kitties not so much. :-)
Hello! ?
On the GIFT BAG PURSE is there any OTHER kind of jars WE can USE in Australia?? We don’t have MASONS JARS!
HELP?
Hi Frances – You can use any jar with a lid and make tie the garland ties around the same way. For the top just glue the tag onto the lid.
LOVE these ideas! Just pinned! Merry Christmas! Melissa
Just found you on pinterest I love you idea for decorating the front porch lights. The wind here is terrible and I will try this . A wreath on the door won’t stay
Hi Diane,
I am thinking about buying some dill essential oil after reading about your sugar addiction. I too struggle with this and I’m wondering how you are doing and is the dill oil still working? Are you loosing weight from using it? I hope you don’t mind my questions, but would like to know how things are going for you before I purchase some. How long have you been using the oil? Thanks so much for your time!
Hi Lisa –
I have been using the oil since May and am amazed at how it works. In Sept, I stopped using it to see if I would get the cravings back. It took about a week and then I noticed the cravings slowly crept back. I started applying the dill oil again every morning and am happy to say that they cravings are gone agin. It did not happen overnight like it did when I first started. The key I have found is to use it everyday for a month and then you can go every other day or every 2-3 days between applying it to your wrists. I lost 8 lbs. The oil seems to only remove cravings from sweets, not food in general so if you want to lose weight you still need to lower your caloric intake. I think I lost the 8 lbs since I was eating so much sugar laden foods and then stopped pretty much cold turkey. I feel better, my skin looks better. Using the dill is a huge win for me.
Thank you for your quick reply! I am going to give the dill oil a try. Thanks for sharing what is working for you. I love your blog!
Wow, amazing!
Oh how I love you Diane! Never a wasted visit to your blog…… ever!
Thanks Sheryll – you are the best XO
Really good ideas for these little garland ties. My favorite is the ornament hooks.
I just grabbed a bag of these, such great ideas!!
Thanks Kelly – They come in pretty handy this time of year. I just bought 2 more packs – good to have in my toolbox.
I like to read other home decorating sites as well as yours, but yours is the very best of all. You always explain in detail how you do a project. And the website appearance is very classy. Thank you.
I want to roam the aisles of the craft store with you so some of your creativity will rub off on me! Who would have thought!!
Not sure where I have been, but I didn’t know these existed, and I NEED them! One year I even cut a piece off of some garland so I could use it. This is an adorable idea! I love it! Thanks for sharing!! Pinning!
Diane, these are brilliant! Such an easy idea that will make Christmas preparation a whole lot easier! LOVE the ties with the flatware!!!
Great ideas! To never have to mess with those funky ornament hooks again…wonderful!