WomensDeals Festive Pomanders

Instructions:

1.		Set an orange on the middle of a strip of ribbon one yard long.
2.		Pull up the ends, vertically crossing them at the top, and then back down so as to make quadrants. You can help secure the ribbon with straight pins as needed, but don't push them completely in.
3.		Tie a knot and then tie a bow with loops to desired size.
4.		Trim excess ribbon with a diagonal cut.
5.		With leather punch (or paper clip�better for children), poke holes about 1/8 inch apart at the ribbon's sides. (This is to help avoid breaking the clove flower when pushing the clove into the orange.)
6.		Insert the cloves into one line of freshly poked holes immediately because the holes will quickly start to close up.
7.		Carefully holding the orange (so as not to break off the clove flowers), repeat steps 5 and 6 along the subsequent remaining ribbon edges.
8.		Now remove the ribbon support pins.

If you want to hang this festive pomander from a tree or mantel, take a large paper clip and open the smaller loop from the larger loop and flatten. Then hook the smaller hoop under and around the bow knot and hang with the large loop as desired.

Alternative: If you wish to design your pomander without ribbon, first think out your design (draw it on a piece of paper) and then follow the principle steps 5, 6, and 7.

Optional: To give as a gift, set the pomander in a decorated wooden or metal box with excelsior (wooden hair-like shavings sold at garden or art supplies stores) or colored tissue.

Note: Do not worry about the respective sizes of your dried cloves. They will all start to absorb juice from the orange and not only grow at least twice their size, but will begin to emit the most wonderful aroma.