How to Make an Evergreen Swag

Evergreen swags are easy to make and are an interesting alternative to the common holiday wreath. Swags are greens or dried material secured to some sort of flat frame. Use swags instead of wreaths to decorate doors, walls and mantels.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wide Ribbons
• Garden Shears
• Garden Stakes
• Pine Cones
• Craft Wire
• metallic, gold-mesh wired ribbons

1. Make a frame to support the greenery by cutting the sides off of a plastic nursery flat. Or, you can cut six 1/2-inch-diameter branches from a tree or shrub. They should be 14 to 16 inches long and as straight as possible. Or you can use bamboo stakes to make the frame.

2. Wire the straight branches into a loose square shape. Do this by placing the two side pieces on a flat surface, then placing two branches on top and wiring all four of the corners together. Next, wire the two remaining branches in an X through the center of the square.

3. Cut greenery from your garden in various lengths. You might choose redwood, juniper, cedar, pine or holly.

4. Place the longest piece of greenery on the frame with the growth tip pointed down.

5. Place another piece on top of the first, this time with the growth tip pointing up.

6. Wire the two pieces to the frame with floral or craft wire.

7. Add more greenery, this time facing east and west on the frame. Continue adding and wiring greenery until the frame is no longer visible. The growth tips on the evergreen cuttings should all face the outside edge of the frame so that the final effect is that of a sunburst.

8. Wrap floral wire around the base of several pinecones, leaving 12 to 18 inches of wire attached to the cone so that you can fasten them to the center of the swag. The cones will cover the cut ends of the stems.

9. Attach a wire loop to the back of the frame to hang your swag.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also use a ribbon or bow to cover the center of the swag.
• Tuck and wire greenery to cover all of the cut stem ends.
• Use ornaments or candy canes to decorate your swag.
• Swags can quickly become very heavy. Lift the swag often as you work to check the weight.

[psychonurse]

on 11/20/2009 Great, inspirational directions!! 5****