Faux, Faux, Faux {Pomanders}

A lover of colonial style, I have made pomanders many times to augment my Christmas decorating.  I think that pomanders are simple and beautiful, and their aroma is intoxicating.  The trick was to create them early enough in the season to enjoy them, but not so far ahead that they shriveled or discolored when I still needed them to be lovely.  

A few years ago, I saw some faux pomanders in a country store.

Aha!  Not only will these last throughout the Christmas season, but I can store them and bring them out again next year!  And...I think I can do this myself.  

Yes, I could.  And I did.  And you can too!

First, gather your supplies.

You'll need some sort of faux citrus fruit...oranges, lemons, limes.  I purchased mine at Walmart, but you can find them at craft stores such as Hobby Lobby or Michaels, or sometimes at discount stores like Marshalls.  I have even them sold by the bag, which would be great if you're going to make a bunch...maybe for tree ornaments...hmmmm...I'm giving myself ideas here...

Of course, you'll also need some whole cloves.  Mine are from the bulk foods store.  They're cheaper that way, and I don't want to run out of cloves halfway through my project.  (Yes, it has happened.)

The last thing you'll need is an ice pick.  You could also use a nail, or anything with a small, sharp(ish) point.

The "how to" part is easy peasy!  Anyone old enough to wield an ice pick safely (like my 11-year-old above) can make a faux pomander.  

• Use your ice pick to poke a little hole in the faux fruit.  
• Insert a clove into the hole, pushing until the clove head is flush with the fruit.
• Repeat...and repeat...and repeat, making a pattern with your cloves. Clusters, a swirl around the fruit, top to bottom...the choice is yours!  

I clip a little something green (not faux, although you could use faux greenery too!) to place around my pomanders when I display them.  Now I am using rosemary from my herb garden because it was handy, but when it dries out, I'll probably replace it with some boxwood from my mother-in-law's yard.

Can you tell which ones are faux and which are real?

Two caveats:

1. You might want to use a thimble on your finger to push in the cloves.  After a while, fingers can get sore.  (Ask Bekah, the eleven-year-old in the photo above.)
2. The aroma is not as glorious in the faux pomanders.  Yes, you can still smell the cloves (wonderful!), but of course you don't have the citrus smell along with it.  It's not a deal breaker for me.  But if you can't live without the pungent orange aroma, then you'd do better to stick with the traditional pomander.

I think these pomanders are a fine way to say "Faux, faux, faux!"

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Linking up with The Nester's Christmas Craft Party.

Click the link below for Christmas crafts galore!

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Also linking up with Tracy at Beneath My Heart.

Click the button below for some great DIY!