Here's something festive to hang up for your next shindig. This golden garland will make any space feel instantly merrier – in fact, it looks so nice, we reckon you might as well keep it up all year round. Materials:
1-2 A4 sheets of metallic card
Scissors
1-2m of flat gold ribbon, approximately 2-3mm wide
Glue gun
Paper to print templates
Our downloadable templates

1. Begin by printing out the set of templates onto a piece of paper or thin plain card and cutting these out. Trace your templates onto the back of your metallic card. You can use the templates as many times as you want, depending how long you want your garland to be.2. Cut out each shape carefully with sharp scissors (you could use a cutting mat and scalpel if you prefer).3. For your gumnut blossoms, use your scissors to gently score (this means running your scissors along a line to form a crease, but not cutting all the way through) a divide between the lower and upper parts on the back of your card. Now snip the upper part into thin strips, being careful to keep them attached.

You can see the scored gumnut blossom on the left, and the snipped blossom on the right.4. We also want to add some shape to the other elements of the garland, so turn each of your remaining pieces over ready to score them. For the long leaves, score from top to bottom along the middle, ideally curving your score line slightly, then turn your leaves over and bend slightly inwards along the score. Score each round eucalyptus leaf and again, turn over and bend upwards slightly. For the gumnut pods, score a little curved line below the top edge to suggest the open top of the pod.5. Once you're happy with how each piece looks, lay them out in a long line and play with the order and spacing until you feel they look just right. Cut a length of ribbon at least 30cm longer than your laid out pieces. Glue your pieces onto the ribbon (and be careful not to glue them to your table!). I find it best to dot the glue towards the top of the leaf/bud and not on the stems as they are a bit too narrow. Give it a few seconds to dry then move on to the next leaf/bud.

Remember to leave around 15cm of empty ribbon at each end of your garland for hanging.  Once all your pieces are attached, leave the garland to fully dry. To hang your garland, you can tie a loop at each end and hang it from small nails or simply drape it over your Christmas tree or favourite pot plant.Anna Alicia is a freelance craft-writer, designer-maker and mother based in East London. Anna’s latest craft book (out now with Quadrille Publishing) is all about one of her favourite things to sew –‘Bags’!