How to Make Silk Floral Swags

Silk floral swags are beautiful decor fixtures for many home styles. They work wonderfully as decorations above doorways, windows and hutches. They can even be created as window covering options. Silk floral swags are easy to craft and can be completed very quickly. Create several to match the changing seasons or a particular holiday, and simply change them out when needed. If you have existing swags that have become dingy and dirty with age, the floral stems can be removed without much effort and replaced with fresh new ones.

Things You'll Need

• Craft paddle wire
• Wire cutters
• Ruler
• 18 eucalyptus stems
• Raffia
• 2-inch wide floral ribbon, 3 yards
• Scissors
• 6 silk floral stems
• Craft glue
• 6 silk baby's breath stems

Instructions

1. Cut two lengths of craft wire 12 inches long. Cut 18 eucalyptus stems nine inches long. Bundle nine of them together and wrap one of the cut wires around the stems approximately 2 inches from the end. Repeat with the remaining stems and cut wire. Lay the bundles of eucalyptus end to end, overlapping their cut ends 3 inches. Wrap the end of the paddle craft wire around the overlap several times to secure. Do not cut the paddle wire.

2. Hold nine strands of raffia together. Fold the strands in half and tie an overhand knot 9 inches from the looped end. Hold another nine strands together and repeat. Lay the raffia loops end to end and overlap at the knots. You will have the loops of one bundle and the tails of the other on each side of the knots. Place the overlapping raffia in the middle of the eucalyptus stems, with the loops and tails laying on the stems. Continue to wrap the paddle wire around the raffia to secure. Cut the wire.

3. Cut a 3-yard length of 2-inch wide floral ribbon and tie into a multi-loop bow. Cut a 12- inch piece of craft wire. Thread the wire through the back of the loop. Set the bow in the center of the swag and wrap the wire ends around the swag. Twist to secure.

4. Cut six floral stems 6 inches long, using your wire cutters. Apply craft glue to the cut end of one stem. Center it horizontally on the eucalyptus stems on one side of the bow and insert under the bow. Apply craft glue to the ends of two more floral stems and place them horizontally above and below the first stem. Insert them under the bow and fan the floral ends above and below the first stem. Repeat with the remaining three stems on the opposite side of the bow.

5. Cut six stems of silk baby's breath 6 inches long. Apply craft glue to the ends of the stems. Place them under the bow and position them over the floral stems.

6. Cut a 6-inch piece of craft wire. Form the wire into a "U" shape. Turn the swag over. Insert the ends of the U-shaped wire under the wrapped swag wire. Twist the ends to secure. The U-shaped wire is your swag hanger.