I have fallen in LOVE with dove tail ribbons on my wreaths!
While browsing YouTube for inspiration on wreath making, I happened upon several FREE tutorials from Southern Charm Wreaths. After watching her tutorials I came up with my St. Patrick's Day Wreath.
- I used 2 types of green foil deco mesh, which I bought at Hobby Lobby's after Christmas sale. $4.99 each!
- I bought 5 different types of ribbon, a 3" wide sheer with polka dots, 2 different 2" shamrock prints and 2 different 2"sheer greens.
- 1 wire wreath form
- Dark green pipe cleaners
- Hot glue gun
- 5 floral spays ( I have not idea what the technical name is, but you can see at the bottom of the first photo) I bought these for .10 cent each last year at Ole Time Pottery's after Christmas sale.
- Gold foam balls. I picked them up again, at the after Christmas sale from Hobby Lobby for .80 cents a bag!
Cut your deco mesh into 9" pieces. I used 40 pieces of deco mesh, 20 of each color.Rabbit trail: I bought an all purpose self healing mat for easier measuring and cutting. Hobby Lobby and Micheal's have 50% off coupon fairly often, I picked this mat up for $32.00, worth the investment!!!
Learn from my mistakes! For quicker cutting I laid one deco mesh over the other. DON'T pull tightly on the bottom deco mesh, doing this will cause it to cut at an angle. Make sure it is laid flat without tension.
Attach the pipe cleaners to the wreath form. First, fold your pipe cleaners in half. Then, starting from the outside use a dab of hot and twist at the to of the support. Work your way around the form. Now, skip a row on the form (this will be the 3rd row from the outside.) In the center of the 3rd row attach a pipe cleaner. I will look like the 2nd photo when completed.
Attaching the deco mesh.
- Take a piece of your mesh and roll (not to tight)
- Attach to the wreath about 5-6" in on both sides.
- When you start your next piece attach it to the end of the previous piece. They will overlap each other. Alternating your colors work your way around the exterior of the wreath.
- Add a 2nd layer to the exterior, again alternating your colors.
I used 3 layers on the interior pipe cleaners.
(This photo shows 2 outside layers and 1 interior layer.) You can see how full it is getting.
You will have plenty of pipe cleaner length.
After the deco mesh was attached I added the ribbon. I cut the polka dot, and 2 shamrock prints into 14" lengths, and the 2 sheer green into 12" pieces. I did this for 2 reason. 1st the sheer greens were only 9 feet in length and I needed enough to make it around the wreath. 2nd, I thought it might add a little more texture.
For the exterior row of ribbon. (I wish I would have taken photos) I used 2 ribbons per pipe cleaner. 1 sheer green and 1 shamrock print, I alternated the shamrock print and sheer green per pipe cleaner. Again, working my way around the wreath.
The interior row. I used 3 ribbons. The polka dot for each pipe cleaner and alternating the shamrock print and sheer green.
After this was completed I added the gold balls. There are 2 different styles and textures. the "sequined" balls are about 1/4" round I attached one to the end of each exterior row of pipe cleaners. The pipe cleaner simply pushed right into the ball. For the interior row I took the 1" ball and pushed it onto one of the pipe cleaner. The other end of the pipe cleaner I simply wrapped around the back of the wreath.
I found the 5 floral sprays and decided to add them at the last minute. They are a little difficult to see in the photo. I need a new camera!!!
And this is the finished product!
You really should check out Southern Charm Wreaths and see her beautiful wreaths! (FYI, she does not know me nor I her, I just like what I see!)
