Holiday Wreath DIY

It’s officially December and that means we can all get really excited about the holidays. Yes! Wreaths make for such beautiful home décor this time of year… hung delicately on your front door, over your bed, on a big window in your kitchen. I was really fortunate to receive a personal holiday wreath how-to from the incredible Meredith — Special Projects Manager at Terrain in Glen Mills. I love that she chose colorful materials to steer this away from your typical holiday wreath – and the fact that she used no other tools aside from a pair of pruners just blew my mind! Here’s how it’s done.

Holiday Wreath DIYMaterials: Silver dollar eucalyptus, red twig dogwood, flame willow, pruners.

*Before you begin: Flame willow and red twig dogwood are naturally flexible… if they haven’t been stored in water, allow them to soak for at least 24 hours to regain their flexibility — the longer the better.

1. First, pick up a willow branch and trim off any extraneous little branches that you may not want as part of your wreath.

Holiday Wreath DIY2. Then, start to shape the branch into a circle, using your leg to help form an arch.

Holiday Wreath DIY3. Form the rough size and shape of your wreath, twisting the branch around itself as you go. This is what will hold it in place.

Holiday Wreath DIY4. Take your next branch and continue twisting it around in the same direction. Make sure your branch ends are at different spots — this allows for a better overall look. You can mix up the direction that you twist different branches if you like. This is the nontraditional way and will create a bubble effect.

Holiday Wreath DIYHoliday Wreath DIY

5. Keep this going for as long as you like. Then, switch over and use the dogwood. The colors of these two plants together beautifully — they create an ombre-like effect.

Holiday Wreath DIY

Holiday Wreath DIY6. Once you’ve achieved your desired thickness, use your pruners to snip any ends that may be sticking out. Do so on an angle for a clean look.

Holiday Wreath DIY

7. Finally, add your eucalyptus! Do this using the same technique. Again, if you’d like, twist the eucalyptus around the base of the wreath in a separate direction for a different, vine-like effect.

Holiday Wreath DIY

And you’ve done it! Look how beautiful. :)Holiday Wreath DIY

I love the way this wreath looks on an outside wooden door. 

Holiday Wreath DIY

 

When she was finished, Meredith used the leftover scraps to make me a mini wreath — how’s that for reducing waste!

Holiday Wreath DIY

A huge thank you to Meredith and Terrain!! Happy holidays, everyone. :)

More DIY ideas from the BLDG 25 Blog.

Follow FP Brigette on Twitter.

0 0 vote
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
9 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
10 years ago

Love the eucalyptus, would be great indoors too, maybe a mini wreath in the kitchen to make the room smell amazing =)
xoxo Annejelina

Visit my shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CrownofCreationShop

Molly
10 years ago

how long does this last before it wilts/dies? if I make it today would it last til after Christmas?

10 years ago

I love this! So simple and so beautiful. I’ll try and do it myself, I hope I’ll get all the things I need :).

xx
http://gita-oddsandends.blogspot.com/

10 years ago

This is so lovely! beautiful! So festive and unique

xo, Juliette Laura
http://juliettelaura.blogspot.com

10 years ago

I make wreaths every year. :) I love going to the flower shop as well and getting a few bouquets to incorporate into my wreaths! Really simple and intricate looking.
xx
~Taylor
http://awakeningbohemia.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-wound-is-place-where-light-enters.html

10 years ago

That is a really cute wreath. nice and simple and not overly christmasy. I’m making all of my christmas tree decorations this year so I will have to try my hand at this.

10 years ago

Love the holidays and the cute wreath!

I’ve got a post today about handmade gift wrap- let me know what you think!
http://breezycheetahpop.com/homemade-christmas-gift-wrap/

10 years ago

I was just thinking how I really wanted to make a wreath using eucalyptus! you read my mind : )

http://www.seedoflifeacupuncture.com

Nicol
10 years ago

Love the idea for this holiday wreath. It’s simple and natural and I’m sure it smells great!
http://www.housecleaninglondon.co.uk/domestic-cleaning-vauxhall-sw8.html