How to Build a Wreath

Make a colorful fall wreath for your front door.

Create a wreath for your front door that can be decorated for a variety of seasons and holidays. For Christmas, use holly leaves, poinsettias and berries. For a fall wreath, autumn leaves and sunflowers make a colorful foliage display. Building a wreath is far less expensive than purchasing one pre-made, and it only takes a few steps to make a customized wreath of your own. Hang your finished wreath on your front door or indoors for a splash of seasonal color.

Things You'll Need

• Floral wire
• Wire cutter
• 10-inch Styrofoam wreath form
• 2-1/2-inch wide ribbon roll
• Straight pins
• Silk flowers and leaves
• Flower picks (optional)
• Pine cones (optional)
• Hot glue gun
• Hot glue sticks
• Floral ribbon bow

Instructions

1. Cut a piece of floral wire 14 inches long using a wire cutter. Use this wire as the hanger for your wreath.

2. Wrap the wire around the wreath form and twist the two wires together about three times flush with the back edge of the wreath form. Twist the ends of the leftover tails of wire together to form a loop for hanging.

3. Wrap a piece of ribbon along the inside circle of the wreath. Cut a piece long enough to fit around the inner circle. Use any type of ribbon as long as it's wide enough to cover the inner circle of the wreath. Choose a ribbon to match the theme of your wreath, such as a Christmas, fall or Halloween printed ribbon.

4. Attach the ribbon to the inside circle using sewing straight pins. Push straight pins through the trim and Styrofoam about 1 inch apart, along both edges of the trim to secure.

5. Remove the silk leaves and flowers from the stems, if necessary, using wire cutters.

6. Attach the leaves and flowers by pressing the stems into the Styrofoam. The stems will stay once pressed into place. Overlap the leaves to cover the top surface of the wreath. Stagger the leaves keeping each facing the same direction around the wreath. Place flowers sporadically to create an even design around the front of the wreath.

7. Add other decorations such as leaf and berry picks as well as pine cones. Press the stems under the leaves and through the Styrofoam. Add a drop of hot glue where the stems meet the Styrofoam, for heavier objects.

8. Attach a pre-made bow to the bottom of the wreath. Wrap the wires attached to the bow around the wreath, and arrange the leaves and flowers to conceal the wire.

Tips & Warnings

• Attach faux birds, garland and ornaments to the wreath using hot glue.

References

• Craft Elf: Fall Leaf Wreath