UPDATE: As it turns out, the lamppost decorations that this project is based on are no longer being used. Starting this year, the new NOS decorations include full-sized masks, French horns, and artificial peacock feathers.

This Christmas decoration was inspired by the lamppost adornments in Disney’s New Orleans Square. No glue is used in its construction, so it can be disassembled and reassembled every year, perhaps with different embellishments each time!

Before you do anything else, settle on a color scheme for the decoration. The one pictured uses Mardi Gras colors (very New Orleans-esque), but at Disneyland, each lamppost is done up differently, so choose whatever look grabs you and collect items appropriately.

Materials and Tools:

Artificial evergreen swag, ~24” long

1 or 2 strings of metallic beads

Wire-on ball ornaments in various sizes

Christmas-themed picks (avoid naturalistic berries and holly leaves—go for glittery stars, gift boxes, drums, etc.)

Ostrich feathers

Miniature Carnival mask or domino mask

Any other goodies that strike your fancy and can be secured to the swag

Floral wire and wire snips (optional depending on ornaments used)

Instructions:

First make sure the swag includes a loop or hook on the back for hanging on a wall, and if it doesn’t have one, make one out of floral wire. (It’s much easier to do this first thing than after the swag is loaded up with glitzy ornaments!)

Wind your beads around the swag. Let loops of them hang loosely off the upper “branches.”

Make clusters of wire-on ball ornaments by twisting the wires together. Vary the sizes and colors in each cluster. Insert the twisted wires all over the swag foliage. If any are loose, wrap the wire around the branches to secure them. The more ornaments, the merrier!

Arrange your remaining items around the top of the swag in a pleasing, balanced way. Stick the ostrich feathers in last of all. If any of the items don’t want to stay put, try adjusting their position or bending the swag branches a little, but resist the temptation to glue them in.

That’s it! You now have a Christmas decoration fit for Queenie herself! Hang it up and listen to some lively jazz covers of Christmas favorites.