Make this DIY decor from natural, found materials
By ALDONA BIRD
Newsroom@DominionPost.com
What do pinecones, burlap, felt, dried flowers, pom poms and ribbons have in common? They can all be used to decorate wreaths.
Wreaths can pep up doors and walls all year round, and the approaching holiday season is the perfect time to dive into this craft. Few crafts use such diverse materials — you can use basically anything to make a wreath.
Buying a metal, foam or vine wreath form as your base is of course an option — but before you rush to order a curbside pickup from your favorite craft supply store, consider supplies you already have. Using non-traditional materials often yields satisfying creative results.
Depending on the style you of your wreath, a pool noodle taped or glued together can substitute for a foam wreath base.
Wire frames are harder to replicate, but for many projects you can substitute a simple wire circle (or spiral) made from scrap wire. Using a single wire circle and adding asymmetrical decorations makes a very modern wreath.
Making your own vine wreaths allows you to customize sizes and thicknesses, to support as many or few decorations as you choose. It’s also easy and economical, and can help your vine plants by pruning.
To make vine based wreaths:
- Wisteria or grape vines
- Clippers
- Twine (optional)
- Decorations
Using sharp cutters, cut excess lengths off vines — this is a great time of year to cut back grapes as they are currently dormant.
Use grape or wisteria vines shortly after cutting. If they have time to dry and stiffen they won’t bend as easily.
Bend a vine into the size circle you want your wreath to be. Begin wrapping another circle, and when you are halfway around the second circle pull the strand through the loop to keep the wreath secure. This can be tricky, so don’t give up if your first try doesn’t hold.
Continue wrapping and looping the strand, pulling it through at different places around the circle. When you reach the end, tuck it in between two other parts of the vine so it can’t slip out and unravel. Add more lengths of vine until you reach the thickness of wreath you want.
For a slightly different look, gather a bundle of thinner vines and bend them into a circle. Using a thicker vine, wrap and loop the thinner bundle together securing the wreath shape without totally covering the smaller vines.
Tuck decorations in between vines; tie or glue them on. Decorate with evergreen branches and pinecones for a traditional winter wreath — adding ribbons or only decorating one section of the wreath for an asymmetrical look.
Add dried flowers and grasses for autumn décor, or use dried corn husks, dried berries or rose hips, acorns and other things found in nature. Live flowers and leaves (lambs ear leaves and sage are good options) can also be beautiful — consider working in herbs to make your wreath smell beautiful as well.
Ribbons are a lovely option wrapped around or tied in bows. Make fabric flowers by cutting or sewing or by wrapping longer pieces in a coil to look like roses.
If you want a non-nature themed wreath, consider using paper from old books to cut out shapes to cover a wreath with.
Make a vine wreath and tie on decorations or tuck them in rather than gluing, and then change the decorations whenever you get tired of one style or for the next holiday.
Even if wreaths aren’t your favorite home décor consider making one this season — when you make your own you can avoid styles you dislike, and make the perfect wreath to suit your front door or indoor wall.
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