Wreath Archives - Palmettos and Pigtails

I was Featured! (and A Spring Wreath Tutorial)

April 5, 2012 posted by Shara

Happy Tuesday! I’m so excited to tell you that I was featured on My Favorite Finds this week (for sharing last week’s tutorial on my Upcycled Brown Paper Basket). It was super easy to make….you should try it!

Here’s something else that is easy to make…

I was challenged about a month ago, by my mother, to make a spring wreath. And because I have nothing better to do, it kind of got pushed to the bottom of my To-Do list. But then, I remembered that I would much rather craft, than wash windows. So, it got pushed back up to the top!

I saw lots of cute spring wreaths on pinterest, and decided to keep it simple, with materials I already had. After all, I didn’t want to blow my new budget already!!!

So, I decided to use some foam (from Lowes) duct-taped together to make my wreath form, and some left over packing paper from our move. My goal was to use the paper to create some shabby-chic-ish southern inspired (Magnolias, perhaps?) flowers.

I crinkled up the paper and wrapped it around the wreath form to completely cover the grey color.

And then I cut the paper into strips. I folded the strips accordion style width-wise, so I could cut more circles out at a time. I cut three sizes of circles.

My circles were a little sloppy and uneven, but it didn’t matter at all in the end. And as I worked, I decided that my mom’s wreath needed a little color. But I still liked the idea of a white base to the wreath. So I decided to color just the edges of each of the circles purple (perfect for the Lenten Season!).

After coloring ALL of those circles, I started crinkling. I actually got Jayna’s help…she crinkled and reopened my flowers, and then I glued the three layers together. Then I topped it with a little crinkled scrap of paper in the middle to be the flower’s stigma.

I used a hot glue gun to glue each flower onto the wreath form, in close proximity to each other, so they kind of all scrunch together.

And I left a little gap at the top, so that when my mom hangs it, her wreath hanger won’t squish the flowers. I put a little smiley on the back so it would be easy to find.

But then I decided that I needed a bow to make it look a little more complete (and elegant!). I had a hard time finding ribbon that I liked, so I bought some thick, crocheted lace instead. I made a bow and tacked it in place with hot glue. Perfect….shabby chic!

Here’s where I’m linking up this week!

Christmas Yarn Ball Wreath

December 22, 2011 posted by Shara

It’s been a hand-made Christmas this year for me….well, decoration-wise anyway. With a new house comes a craving for new decor. So, inspired by Pinterest and my fellow bloggers (and a little bit of Martha Stewart!), I set out to create. One project was a new wreath for our porch door. I made a burlap fall wreath, but obviously it was time to replace that. I found this cute little number on Pinterest, and decided to try to replicate it.

Here’s how I did it:

I bought red and white yarn, and a spool of jute (twine), and a wreath form. You’ll also need thick ribbon, scissors and hot glue. I cut each page of the newspaper into quarters, and then crumpled them into balls.

I decided that the base of my wreath was going to be red, so I tied a knot around the wreath form at the seam and slowly wound the yarn around it, being careful not to overlap and to keep the yarn tight.

When I reached the end, I just tucked the yarn under….not very sturdy, but I’d be glueing on my ribbon holder on top, so it’s ok.

I secured one end of my ribbon where I had tucked the end of the yarn, using hot glue. Do not secure the other end of the ribbon yet.

Then, with a second piece of ribbon, I formed a loop and hot glued it on top of the yarn and the already glued down part of the ribbon.

Then I took the first ribbon and wrapped it over the second loop and secured with hot glue.

Moving on to the yarn balls. Just wrap them tightly around the newspaper balls. You want the newspaper to be completely covered, and its ok that the balls are slightly different sizes. I made about 22 of the red and white, and 8 of the twine. Even though technically I am finished with my wreath, I still may go back and add some more balls to the sides and top to give it some more depth and bulk. You can always add more, so I’d start with just 20 or so. Find something good on TV because these take awhile!

Jayna decided she wanted to help wrap some balls too…..I’m thinking her fine motor skills aren’t quite there yet, what do you think?

But she was ok, she settled for naming her new baby “Yarnie” and toting it aroudn with Pink Baby.

Ready to glue on!

Start slowly, and layer as you go. Remember that there is newspaper in the middle, so the balls can kind of be squished to fit where you need them.

Tada! Great, bright addition to our living room! And because I only used red, white and natural colors…I feel like I can leave it up through the winter…not so Christmas-y!

See on the left hand side where you can still see some of the red yarned wreath form? That’s where I will probably end up adding a few more….you know, in my spare time!