Wreath making is easy and anyone can be creative. I asked some family members if they would be interested in getting together to make a wreath for the holidays. Everyone was so excited to make their own wreath. I hadn’t made a wreath in a long time but I had a box of old wire wreath forms to use. Let’s take a look at how easy the process was.
You can see by the beautiful wreath above that making your own allows you to be creative and add your own magic to your creation. Anyone can stop at the garden centre and buy a pre-made wreath but why not try to make one? These wreaths look more natural than most store-bought ones.
Some of the family members had never made a wreath before. I decided to use a method I hadn’t tried before. I got everyone to make small bundles of greenery in the colours and textures they liked best. Each bundle was probably about 6″-8″ long and full enough to cover the width of the wire frame. We used 22 gauge paddle wire or waxed twine to tie our bunches at the bottom. In the bunch above, I used evergreens such as cedar and hemlock and added tips of heather or Erica for colour.
In the bunch on the right I used western red cedar, of which I have about 40 trees so there is never a shortage. I also used Rosemary and Skimmia. I love the silvery tones the Rosemary adds to the bundle.
Be sure to make your wreath outside to contain the mess. Here you can see I set up a table for us to work on. I have made wreaths in the past and used oasis but wet oasis can also damage a door so this time I went without. After all, the holidays are a few weeks away and the greens always last quite awhile.
So what supplies will you need? Any size wreath form, 22 gauge paddle wire or waxed green twine, greenery, scissors, wire snips, hand pruners. Optional-pinecones, berried branches, ribbon, tiny bird house, glittery lights. Really, the list is endless and your imagination is what will make your wreath unique.
Throughout the week plan on collecting different types of greenery from the garden or buy what you need at the garden centre. Most gardens will have the plant material you need to get started. I was able to find some holly, Aucuba, Osmanthus and Skimmia for the wreaths to go along with hemlock and cedar boughs. A friend came for the class and she brought Magnolia and Callicarpa for us to share.
I had a wheelbarrow overflowing with cedar and found this evergreen in the back of the property. Fir or Hemlock, I am not so sure but I am thinking its Hemlock as the needles are short. So once the bundles were made they were attached by adding one at a time using paddle wire to secure them to the top of the wreath form. Each subsequent bundle overlapped the first one to hide the ends and we continued until the whole wreath was covered. The last thing to do was to attach one end of the paddle wire to the wreath form and go around the wreath carefully bringing in any wayward branches to give the wreath a nice look. When the wreath was done the wire was wrapped tight around the wire form again and tied off.
This first time wreath has a lovely mix of greenery but the Callicarpa gives it that extra sparkle with its purple berries.
Another first time wreath and look how wonderful it turned out. I had dried some Celosia flowers this summer and she tucked little sprigs of colour into the wreath. This wreath making event was followed by a lovely lunch so it was a perfect day for all of us.
For wreath making inspiration check out Garden Therapy‘s many wreath ideas. This wreath making session was so much fun I plan on making herb wreaths in the spring.
