How to Make a Fall Wreath

Most people think of wreaths only at Christmas. But by using seasonal materials, you can create your own colorful wreath of fall leaves and berries to hang on the front door or over the mantel.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wire Wreath Frame
• Wreath Frames
• Autumn Wreaths
• Pruning Shears
• Pruning Shears
• Craft Wire

1. 

   Gather a wheelbarrow full of colorful fall leaves and 6-inch-long garden trimmings. Some suggestions for trimmings are magnolia, oak, nandina, larch and maple. Remember to include some red berries in your collection.

2. Use a wire wreath frame, or make your own frame from a wire coat hanger (simply unbend it from the familiar shape into a circle); you can use the hook to hang your finished wreath.

3. 

   Attach number-24 floral wire (sometimes called paddle wire) to a place anywhere along the wire wreath frame.

4. Select several stems of the 6-inch foliage pieces and place them together in a bunch, with the stems at one end.

5. Lay a few colorful leaves on top of the bundle of foliage.

6. 

   Place this bundle on top of the frame where the floral wire is connected.

7. 

   Hold the bundle in place and wrap the floral wire around the bundle and frame. You will need two hands for this: one to hold the bundle in place against the frame, the other to wrap the wire.

8. Wrap the floral wire around the bundle twice and then pull it tight. Make sure to leave the wire attached to the frame, because you have a long way to go.

9. Gather another bundle of foliage and lay it so that the leaves overlap the first bunch and cover the stems. Make sure that the stems on both bunches are facing the same direction.

10. 

    Continue overlapping the bunches of foliage and wiring them to the frame until you complete the circle.

11. Lift the first bundle that you wired onto the frame, and tuck the last one under it.

12. 

    Twist the wire tightly around the last bundle, and knot the wire onto the frame, leaving 1 inch of wire to hang the finished wreath.

13. Cut the wire with scissors or pruning shears when you're finished.

Tips & Warnings

• Thick bundles make fat wreaths. The more plant material you add, the more full your wreath will appear.
• Cover the place where you begin and end the wreath with a bow.
• Wire small apples, persimmons or pomegranates onto the finished wreath by twisting floral wire around the stems and then wiring the fruits directly onto the foliage.

[VickiSharon]

on 12/2/2008 I have 2 bay leaf trees.I would like to make a wreath.DoI need to dry my leaves and stems first?