The World of Wreaths

The very idea of the candy wreath sends the mouth watering!! Isn’t it?? You can gaily make one with the spare candies of an erstwhile occasion and create this matchless festival wreath.
Here’s the list of the primary needies…
•    Satin ribbon or yarn
•    Pipe cleaners
•    A wire hanger
•    Scissors
•    An assortment of various cadies like fruit drops, peppermints, chocolates, crunchies and tiny wafers.
Okay, here’s how you make the candy wreath…exciting, isn’t it?
First take the wire hanger, a plain one will do. Now curve it into a circle, resembling that of a wreath base. No need to unbend the hook as that can very well go for the hanging purpose as well.
Now tie the candies on one end with the ribbon and curl the loose end around the hanger. Follow the same method until all the candies are tied around the wreath. Leave no places empty, the wreath should look complete and colourful. The wholesome look is the key to the extreme appeal.
A little extra can be to attach a little scissor with a ribbon to the wreath, every time an onlooker feels interested to have a bite, he or she can very well snip off one.
That’s it, your yummy candy wreath is ready, I am sure the kids will be over-excited on Christmas this time, after all this unique wreath looks just too toothsome!!

By now you have already have a little idea about the art of wreath-making, right? So obviously you know what all are the requirements for making a wreath. Come on; let’s recapitulate all those ones again in a detailed zest.

To start with you need a wreath base. A Styrofoam wreath may work but a better option is always to use a grapevine wreathe as the base. In case you don’t want to buy one from the florist’s shop you can make one yourself by clipping a few long vines from the backyard.

The next criteria are dried flowers and preserved leaves. The fun with preserved leaves is that they are at the same time real and beautiful as they retain the original tint, colour and lustre.

What comes next? Can you guess? They are the silk garlands. Primarily composed of artificial leaf garlands these are intended to add ambience to the wreath, both in terms of colour and width.

Another very exciting constituent are the paper ribbons. These are easily available in the market. But while using them handle with real care, unroll the coils of paper ribbon very gently or else they can get smashed or broken.

Now, it’s time for the floral picks. These can be of various kinds, like if you are making them at home make use of wheat clusters or dried flowers or little pine cones and wire them around the wreath base in small bunches. Floral picks look great when accentuated on and help add the nerve of the particular festivity to the wreath.

You want your wreath to look real good right? So it’s better if you can add some more floral decorations to your creation. A great idea would be to use a bunch of silver or copper toned fall floral picks and add them to the wreath to create that flavor akin to the winter or Fall Season.
Other than these primary requirements some other tit-bits would be some florist’s wire, ribbons and bows and pipe cleaners. You can get hold of floral wires in paddles from the market.
A little tip: Preferably use thinner wires as they are more flexible and easily twistable.

So hopefully now you have a concretized idea about what all you need to make a wreath. Next time you make one expectantly you will not miss on anything.

If you don’t want to spend a lot of time making any special and well decked wreaths but still you want to give your home a natural and decorated look then common garden vines wreaths will pertinently serve the purpose.
Vines are a very commonly gleaned during the period from mid-summer to late fall. Grapevines are probably the most ideal foliage for wreath-making. My personal favorite is the Virginia Creeper Vine. You can also make vine wreaths from Silverlace and Honeysuckle vines.
So first harvest some vines. Take a fine long length of foliage, preferably 3ft-10ft is the appropriate length for a wreath. Remove the leaves from the long winding stem. You may leave a few as a complete bare vine would loose upon the natural aesthetic look appearing too dead. The leaves can also be your first pieces of natural decoration. Also let a few curly clinging tendrils hanging, once dried they make striking corkscrew shapes.
If you find the vines too hard to bend, leave them coiled up in a basket submerged in water overnight. That will make them pliable. Start with the bulky end and coil into a little circle that is a little smaller than the actual size in which you visualize the wreath. Start with a two round spiral coil before weaving. Basing on this set you go on wreathing. Weave while you pull the vines in and out of the foundational circle until you run short of the vines. Tuck the ends into a knot amid the coils.
Again take a length of vine and tuck the thicker end into a different spot. Again make a few coils before starting to weave. Trail the same way moving in and out, do not make it too thick. It completely remains to your whim whether you weave the wreath loosely or tightly, if it’s loose there’s a place for adding ribbons which makes it look more informal. Put a few more embellishing adornments if you want and make a wire loop at the back for hanging.
Here are a few wreath decorating ideas for you,
• Spray paint the dried flowers and foliage in to gold or silver or some other colour you may prefer
• Putting silken or dried flowers
• Put pinecones or small artificial birds, butterflies and other miniatures
• Adorn with some Christmas adornments
• Add some appeal with orange slices, dried apples, candy canes and wrapped candies
• Add some pine branches, holly leaves, dried berries and tiny gift boxes
• Paste a sand dollar or a star fish in the center for an extra charm

As evident from the name itself the flag wreath contributes to display one’s patriotism and gratitude in the home or on the front door. Making one of these would be really a great idea if the Independence Day is nearing!
Contents of the wreath:
• Bandanas, preferably resembling the national flag or ones that portray some other patriotic themes
• Pricking shears
• Adhesive Fabric
• An 18” grapevine wreath
• Small Spools of Star garland
• Floral Foam
• Hot glue gun
• Iron
• White Pencil
• Ruler
• Buttons- colors of patriotic themes and significance
• Tiny patriotic photo frames
• Dowel rods, pencils or floral picks
Start by ironing the adhesive fabric onto the bandanas. Leave it to cool down. Use the white pencil and ruler to draw two straight lines from one corner to the other and then cut into four ½” squares with the pricking shears. But don’t cut all the way through; leave them attached at the center.
You know how a pinwheel looks? Create a pinwheel with this piece of paper by hot gluing the corners of the cut ends to the center. Once the four corners are secured glue a button in the center, again preferably a patriotic one. Now you need to attach the pinwheel to the wreath using the floral pick. Do that by twisting the wire around the floral pick. With some glue fix the pick to the back of the pin wheel. You can also use a dowel rod in place of the pick.
Now take the star garland and center with a wire around the wreath. You may also make a large star garland bow by wrapping numerous strings together. While fixing the garland bow lock it by twisting the wire around the wreath. Again use the wire and affix a tiny portion of floral foam to the wreath.
Use the floral foam as the base for inserting the pinwheels. For extended designing attach to floral picks together and place with a pinwheel right at the top.
Finally, if you want to dedicate or show remembrance or reverence to a particular family member then you may place a photo of him or her on a little patriotic frame and paste or wire to the wreath.
There you have accomplished making a nice and patriotic flag wreath, Salute!

Every time you make a wreath it is either for some coming-up occasion or some festivity or to give as a gift. But you never consider, Sandy, the little poodle anytime. Though he is just a pet, but isn’t he as adorable and precious as to get a unique wreath all for him once or twice in the year. Every year on his birthday you give him either a new buckle or a jumbo packet of pedigree but this time you can surprise your little cute buddy with an exclusive Dog Bone Wreath. Or if your girlfriend is just crazy about dogs and spends more time with her pets at the vet parlor than with you then you can just mesmerize her by gifting her darling doggie with one of these. May that will generate some ample focus on you as well!
Grab these items if you want to make the unique Dog Bone Wreath,
•    5 yards of satin ribbon and a nice matching bow
•    A 12” cardboard circle
•    A 12” Styrofoam wreath for the base
•    Big dog bones
•    Some dog toys
•    Scissors
•    Tapes
•    And some evergreen foliage
This is how you will make it,
Take the rounded cardboard and draw an 8” circle in the middle. Cut the circle leaving back a ring resembling the wreath shape.
Take the ribbon through the hole to the back of the Styrofoam base and start wrapping the cardboard circle and the wreath with the ribbon at diagonals. Once the entire circle in covered cut and tape the ribbon at the back.
Cut 10 pieces of 9” long ribbon which will used for affixing the dog toys and bones to the wreath. Place them one by one putting a piece of ribbon across the accessory. Flip the wreath and tie each ribbon into a tight knot securing that all the toys and bones remain stuck well. Leave a space of 1” in between each bone and toy and place the bones and toys in alternate sequence.
Finally camouflage the empty spaces insert green foliage pushing the ends into the wreath base. With whatever ribbon left make a loop at the back which would let it hang.
That’s it! Your work is over, now it’s up to the dog to bark with wonder and pounce at it in delight.

Buying an expensive gift for your beloved on Valentine’s Day is a very common idea. But this time why not do something completely out of the blue and enjoy the amazing glow on his/her face once you surprise with your intent creation. My suggestion is that this time on Valentine’s make something yourself, with your own very hands and astonish your love sending the message as to how much special he or she is!

What about making a nice Valentine Wreath for her?

•    If you decide to head this way then for making a Valentine Wreath a big ring of cardboard. The empty cereal box will work superbly.
•    Some construction paper preferably pink, purple, red or white in colour
•    A small piece of wool
•    Scissors and glue

Get started…

•    Take a small plate and a large plate. Trace both with a pencil on the piece of cardboard. Don’t worry about the folds, just go over them.
•    Next, cut a small strip of cardboard and paste it on to the back of the ring you drew just where the lines crossed over the foldings. That will help reinforce the shape.
•    Now, cut small strips of the construction paper, about 1 & ½: by 4” in measurement.
•    Paste the paper strips on to the card board rolls with the glue. It should resemble a paper chain.
•    Fix the rolls on to the wreath, place the alternate colours next to each other, try and create a nice and distinctive pattern. In case you can’t make out the exact procedure then take a look at the pictures along with especially in case of the construction paper rolls.
•    Now comes the most delicate portion. You have to decorate the center of the heart. Cut two long, to medium and two short strips of red, white and pink papers respectively.
•    Lay them one above the other in this particular pattern, pink-white-red-red-white-pink. See that all the ends flush out the next one and staple them. Fold back the pieces and again staple at the other end. Now hold them up and you see a beautiful heart formation. In case if you are not really happy with shape then add another short strip of red to anchor the tip to the dip of the heart. After all it should resemble your throbbing heart with all its love.
•    Affix the heart hanging just at the centre of the wreath with a string attached to both the wreath and the heart.
Okay, it’s all ready, hang it on the wall before he/she comes or wrap it up in a nice wrapping paper. Good luck! Hope he/she likes it!

The Nature Walk Wreath is no wonder an exceptional door decorating adornment, quite inimitable and auspicious in nature. But what adds to further glory is the fact that this is one meticulous home-made wreath which gaily involves the contribution of each and every member of the family. Juts the thing for an entire family project the making procedure involves a lot of fun for the grandparents and grandchildren and all the generations in between. You will be quite happy to know that when it comes to a Nature-Walk Wreath there’s nothing called the wrong way.
Here are some of the necessary craft materials,
•    The primary ingredients are nature pickings of any kind that you can collect on a walk back home or while strolling in the woods. These may be anything from dried leaves to seed pods to pinecones to twigs and acorns.
•    For the foundation grab a large grapevine wreath.
•    Take some floral wire.
•    And, finally the glue gun.
Start off by taking a family walk to some nearby nature park or some nearby wood-spot and grab anything and everything that fascinates your eye. And not just any one or two members go on picking rather make it a family jingle and everybody go on a seeking spree. It will be fun.
Once back home ask all to place their finds on a table. After a little sorting start placing the findings on a large grapevine and all of you, in case there are too many members to fit in one wreath arranging for individual smaller one’s is also done as while departing they can take them away as bring-home souvenirs.
While fixing all the tit-bits the twigs and stem may be a little of a trouble but you can manage them by securing with the floral wire. It’s better that a few grown-ups handle fixing the acorns and pebbles as those will require the glue gun and it’s better to keep the kids away from it.
With that you come to the end of collective fun of making a humongous family wreath. Now you can proudly hang it up on the door and see it blooming all through out till the spring. And all that will just take an hour or two, maximum three. Isn’t that worth it??

As evident from the name itself the flag wreath contributes to display one’s patriotism and gratitude in the home or on the front door. Making one of these would be really a great idea if the Independence Day is nearing!
Contents of the wreath:
•    Bandanas, preferably resembling the national flag or ones that portray some other patriotic themes
•    Pricking shears
•    Adhesive Fabric
•    An 18” grapevine wreath
•    Small Spools of Star garland
•    Floral Foam
•    Hot glue gun
•    Iron
•    White Pencil
•    Ruler
•    Buttons- colors of patriotic themes and significance
•    Tiny patriotic photo frames
•    Dowel rods, pencils or floral picks
Start by ironing the adhesive fabric onto the bandanas. Leave it to cool down. Use the white pencil and ruler to draw two straight lines from one corner to the other and then cut into four ½” squares with the pricking shears. But don’t cut all the way through; leave them attached at the center.
You know how a pinwheel looks? Create a pinwheel with this piece of paper by hot gluing the corners of the cut ends to the center. Once the four corners are secured glue a button in the center, again preferably a patriotic one. Now you need to attach the pinwheel to the wreath using the floral pick. Do that by twisting the wire around the floral pick. With some glue fix the pick to the back of the pin wheel. You can also use a dowel rod in place of the pick.
Now take the star garland and center with a wire around the wreath. You may also make a large star garland bow by wrapping numerous strings together. While fixing the garland bow lock it by twisting the wire around the wreath. Again use the wire and affix a tiny portion of floral foam to the wreath.
Use the floral foam as the base for inserting the pinwheels. For extended designing attach to floral picks together and place with a pinwheel right at the top.
Finally, if you want to dedicate or show remembrance or reverence to a particular family member then you may place a photo of him or her on a little patriotic frame and paste or wire to the wreath.
There you have accomplished making a nice and patriotic flag wreath, Salute!

Today we will have a little fun-time experimenting with some out of the way wreath-making experiences.

First in our list of experimentation is the beach harvest wreath. This is a very novel version of traditional wreaths. The unique addition to the version is the sea shells which look great along with the rustic tools and the foliage. Have you seen a French victory wreath?

• Create an arrangement just like that using seashells, some artemisia, sweet fern and sea lavender.
• Now take an old fishing creel and fill it up with some native sweet fern, sea lavender, dried roses and rabbit’s foot clove.
• Next, put a large shell in the front to keep the bouquet in the exact place.
• Now drape a grape vine wreath with some vibrant colours and insert a garden spade in the core.
• Emphasize any antique tool like a canberry rake with an array of rye grass, wheat, chives, artemisia, cedar and lavender.
• Now shave some foam to fit inside, fix with glue and insert foliage.

This is a great piece or craft apt for both hanging on the wall or using it as a nice and attractive centerpiece. 

The subsequent off-bit piece of wreath we will make is the country wreath. In case of the country wreath the grapevine wreath is used as a base for this design which is immensely inspired by the natural garden look. It’s very simple to make.

·        Take the grapevine wreath and wrap it with some wire ribbon.

·        Immerse in some floral foam and cut to fit in to the little watering cans.  

·        Jab some holes into the foam with a paint brush and insert some blossoms to create the look of a bouquet.

·        Now insert such bouquets into each of the cans and tie them to the wreath with ribbons.  

·        Add some Spanish moss to the foam wreath base and decorate with seashells with a candle in the center shinning with glory.

·        Spread out some palmetto fronds in a spherical pattern and thereon attach the stems.

·        If you want you can also glue in a star fish or a sand dollar above the stems in the hub of each frond.

That’s set the country wreath is ready!!!

An evergreen wreath is an augury of the season. This is an auspicious ring of green that beckons a warm welcome to the guests for the season of joy. The specialty of this evergreen wreath is its longevity, it will stay remain green way till the spring and even the piney perfume if you can sprinkle it with water from time to time. So now let’s get started helping you to make one for yourself.

Here are some of the requirements for the wreath, just have a look and grab the few,

• Some fresh spruce, cedar, white pine, and fir boughs
• A 3” wide red ribbon for a nice, modish bow

· A brawny 12” to 20” wire ring

· A 10 gauge florist’s wire and a sturdy pair of pruning clippers

Now let’s get started with the actual wreath making procedure,

· First you have to start with assembling the boughs. For these you will have to gather a collection of evergreen boughs. A good bunch will be some Douglas and Balsam Fir mixed with a cluster of spruce, pine and cedar.

· Cut the foliage into small shoots each 10-12” in length.

· Trim the uneven sided of the shoots. They should be barely 4” to the stem.

· Make bouquets putting four stems of each type.

· Now start adding the wreath.

· By this phase you need the wire ring and a rag strip to have an access form all the angles.

· If in case the hydrangea is parched and frail sprinkle a little water to save it from breaking or wilting.

· Finally make a fine gauge-wire and make a loop at the back of the wreath for hanging.