Bedford Manor on a Budget: Christmas Wreaths

Dec 1, 2014 | 2 comments

A few weeks ago, Dot surprised me by crafting this wonderful piece.

Autumn Wreath by Dot

The colors are subtle yet attractive. It’s the perfect fit for our Italian Coffee House color scheme at Bedford Manor.

I haven’t crafted for quite some time. Around here, we’ve been deep cleaning and decorating and working and writing. Feeling very productive. But there’s something about crafting that soothes my soul.

And Dot knows it. So on Black Friday, she surprised me by taking me to Hobby Lobby with a $20 budget. At first, I didn’t know what to do. There are so many wonderful options! I did know, rather than buying decor, I wanted to make something.

Hobby Lobby is a great store. Each week they have a 40% off coupon which you can get by email or a smart phone app. And they always have amazing sales.

With less than $20 and thirty minutes, you can make your own wreath from start to finish.

You’ll need:

• a natural wreath
• two complimentary stems, flowers, or other flora
• embellishment
• hot glue gun with extra glue sticks
• heavy-duty scissors or wire cutters

Sort your crafting product and keep everything within easy reach.

Cardinal Wreath Ingredients

Ladybug Wreath Ingredients

If it’s important for the wreath to have a “top”, make sure you decide which part of the wreath that will be, then mark it so your work isn’t lopsided. I glued a penny to the back of my wreaths.

Penny on Wreath

Separate your stems as necessary. Most pull apart but some are wired and require cutting. You can also shape most to contour to the frame of the wreath.

Shapely Flora

Working with one flora at a time (the greens), carefully glue the end of the first stem then gently push it into the wreath. Work your way around the wreath until the full circle is lightly covered. Then take the second flora and glue them in place as well. You may need to re-glue some pieces as you go along. Finally, add your embellishments. Larger embellishments sometimes come on a twining stem, which is useful for wrapping around the flora to keep it in place.

When you’re finished, gently remove any residual strings of glue by pulling them off the wreath. If you like, string a long ribbon or hang with an over-the-door hanger. I left mine as is, to let the recipients decide how and where to best display their gift.

The end result is a craft that you’ve made yourself, and can customize for your home or someone else’s.

Cardinal Wreath

Ladybug Wreath

And now, finally, it’s beginning to look … well, you know.

And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!

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