How to Make a Grape Wreath for a Door

Grape vines are only naturally elastic when they are alive.

Producing grape wreaths for your door requires patience, but can be accomplished with little trouble. Patience is needed because while grape vines do bend, they lose their elasticity after they have dried out. This means that in order to produce a good quality grape wreath, you will have to twist the freshly cut grape wood from the vine, and then allow it to dry in that shape before adding decorative elements such as silk flowers, decorative grapes and silk leaves.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning shears
• Craft wire
• Decorative grapes
• Decorative flowers
• Silk grape leaves

Instructions

1. Select a length of woody growth grape vine that is the approximate diameter you want to use for the individual twists of your wreath, and then cut it off of the main trunk of the grape vine with the pruning shears.

2. Remove the existing leaves and other growth from the vine, and inspect it carefully for bugs.

3. Twist the vine into the shape of a wreath, constantly weaving the ends around and through the coils of vine until the entire vine is coiled to the size you want. Secure the two ends of the vine to the main coils of the wreath with craft wire.

4. Place the wreath in a dry, sunny area where it can dry out. As it dries, it will form permanently into the shape of the wreath.

5. Apply decorations to the wreath such as silk flowers and leaves, as well as decorative grape bunches, using craft wire. This wire will hold much better than adhesives such as hot glue, and will be far less obtrusive when viewed.

Tips & Warnings

• Hang the wreath from your door using a Christmas wreath hanger. This will keep you from having to nail into your door to install the wreath.

References

• "Great American Wreaths: The Best of Martha Stewart Living"; Martha Stewart Living Magazine Books; 1997