If decking the halls for the holidays gets you in the DIY spirit, you're not alone. We, too, get inspired to ditch the store-bought decorations in favor of items made by hand with just a few simple steps and a little know-how. That's why we consulted Bethlehem resident crafty mom Abby Ogden to find out how it's done. You won't believe how easy it is to create your own elegant evergreen wreath adorned just the way you like it. Here are two wreath projects sure to have you starting a new family tradition.
- Cut your greens to a length that is desirable for easy manipulation (approximately 6 inches).
- Gather 2 or 3 pieces together to form a lush bunch and wrap wire around about 3 to 4 inches from base.
- Repeat, repeat, repeat!
- Wrap wire around wreath frame at the place where you intend to start working so it is strong and secure.
- Place one of your cut green bunches along the wreath frame and secure with wire about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way up from the base of the bunch. Wrap around 2 to 3 times.
- Continue these steps until wreath frame is covered entirely with greens.
- Use wire snips to cut the wire end.
- Be sure that your boughs are not drooping off of your wreath form. As you are working, periodically hold it up at eye level to examine its shape. You can do some minor trimming at the end but too much trimming causes a wreath to look blunt and sloppy.
This simple wreath exudes elegance with just a couple of flowers and a few feet of ribbon. Any color combination or flower type will do—it's entirely up to you! Be sure to select flowers that are large enough in scale to your wreath so they are the focal feature of your design.
What You'll Need
- $4.00 - Wire wreath form
- $1.99 - Spool of 24-gauge wire
- $5.29 - Wire snips
- FREE - Boughs of evergreens (Free from your yard)
- $8.00 - Four large artificial flowers
- $9.99 - Ribbon
- $29.27 - OUR TOTAL*
*Amount will vary based on size and adornment of your wreath and your accessibility to evergreens, which can also be found anywhere live Christmas trees are being sold, or from your local florist.
- Trim flower stems, leaving approximately 3 inches to work with.
- To attach, use wire (or floral wire, if you have it on hand) and wrap around stem.
Bring nature indoors with this colorful collection of citrus fruits and succulents (they're faux accents, but certainly don't look like it!) Select fruits that are smaller in size. They are not meant to be the feature of your design, but rather add texture, shape and color.
What You'll Need
- $4.00 - Wire wreath form
- $1.99 - Spool of 24 gauge wire
- $5.29 - Wire snips
- FREE - Boughs of evergreens (Free from your yard)
- $3.29-4.99 each - A variety of faux succulents (we used 13 small and 2 large pieces)
- $4.00 - Two large artificial flowers
- $5.00 - Fresh citrus fruit, $5 (we used clementines and limes)
- $9.99 - Ribbon
- $83.02 - OUR TOTAL*
*Amount will vary based on size and adornment of your wreath.
- A good rule of thumb when assembling a wreath that has décor elements as large as these succulents, is to leave some larger spaces (approximately 3 inches) between the bunches so the decorations can be fastened directly to the wreath form and not over top of the greenery. These spaces should be random to accommodate the arrangement of succulents.
- Trim the stems of your succulents with just enough left to secure them to the wreath frame.
- Start wiring succulents, one by one, to the wreath frame, clustering randomly throughout.
- Next, stick a wooden pick into the middle of each fruit and use the attached wire to secure it to the wreath form. Stabilize with additional florist's wire if needed.
- Finish with a few artificial flowers, if desired.
- Turn your wreath over so that you have access to the wreath frame.
- Cut a length of ribbon. Make sure it is long enough to loop through the wreath and tie at the top of your door (with some to spare).
- Tie the ribbon tight and slide the tied end down to the wreath frame so that it is hidden.
- Cut one more piece of ribbon and tie a loose, droopy bow with long tails.
- Hang wreath on a nail or wreath hook.
- Attached the loose bow at the top with wire.
- Trim ribbon ends if they are too long.
Keep in mind...
that once you have these supplies on hand, future wreaths will be virtually free—the only things to buy will be any fresh flowers or fruits you choose to use!
How do you choose a wreath style?
Ogden says: “I usually consider the theme of my Christmas tree and style my wreath to complement it. You want to create a flow for people entering your home. Keep in mind complementary colors, artistic symmetry and the overall placement of items. Remember that you can always add or take away items on your wreath; it's not permanent so don't stress. If you are really stuck, remove every adornment from the greens and start all over. I've done this and it helps!”
When do you create your wreath?
Ogden says: “I like to make my wreaths on Thanksgiving weekend. Usually it is cool enough by then to sustain a lush green wreath for two or three months!”
Your personal touch
No two wreaths are alike! Don't be afraid to get crafty using what you have around the house.
Ogden says: “One fall, I was knitting a lot and I had colorful yarn that I made into poms of different sizes and styles, some hanging into the center of the wreath, and some nesting into the greens.” Go with what you've got and what's inspiring you this season.
When selecting...
your length of ribbon, the goal should be for your wreath to hang at eye level so that when someone is standing in front of the door they are looking through the middle of the wreath. If hanging your wreath on a window, make sure it is positioned so that the lower quarter of the wreath is in the center of the window.
Tips for maintenance
Fruits and flowers need to be replaced periodically to keep your wreath looking fresh. While fruit can last weeks (or even months), real flowers need to be replaced more often. That's why investing in quality artificial flowers is an easier option.
Styling by Abby Ogden
