Fall Wreath with Initial

Simple and quick when you need a crafting fix.

Grapevine wreath (freebie!)
Fall flowers (thrift store $1.00)
Initial from Hobby Lobby (40% off coupon $1.28)
Hot glue  (on hand)
Fabric (on hand)

St. Patrick's Day Deco Mesh Door Wreath

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.

Once you have them all cut out separate them.

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.

I used a method that adds more texture to the wreath.

• Take a piece of your mesh and roll (not to tight)
• Attach to the wreath about 5-6" in on both sides.

You will end up with a bubble in the middle.

• 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.

 This is one layer on the exterior.

• Add a 2nd layer to the exterior, again alternating your colors.

After you have added your 2 exterior layers move to the inside pipe cleaners and work your way around.

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!)

South Carolina Gamecocks Rag Wreath

This was a fun wreath to make!!!

It started with this

1.5 yards of Gamecocks Fabric

1.5 yards of black broadcloth

1.5 yards of garnet Organza 

I had white tulle, black tulle, and a red tulle I didn't end up using, but it's in the photo.

Cut your fabric in to 9"x1" strips.

(I cut all this tulle before I decided not to use it!) 

Set up an assembly line rotating your fabric strips.

Starting at the inner most circle of your wire wreath form begin tying your strips on.

I didn't take a photo for this process with this wreath, but below is a photo from my 4th of July rag Wreath.

The fabric was enough for 3 rings

If I do another on I think I will double the Gamecock Print and make every other strip the Gamecock Print.

After I finished all the ties I got to work on the USC letters.

The letters were a bit tricky because they are heavy and I didn't want them to squish the fabric. I came up with something, but PLEASE if you figure out a better way let me know!!!!

Let me back up a couple of steps.

First I added the polka dots. I found the perfect sample for .50 cent at Lowe's! 

(please ignore the background mess!)

It truly is a perfect Gamecock Garnet, although it does show up bright in this photo!

I painted the outsides white

Now, moving forward...

I added 2 hooks to the backs of the letters U and C, one on top and the other on bottom

Again, with the no photos. I took a piece of heavy gauge wire (I have no idea what gauge, I just know I had to use the needle nose pliers to get it to bend!) I threaded it through and hot glued it into place. 

Once this was done, I turned the letters over and used the staple gun to secure the letters together and added a drop of hot glue for good measure.  

*Note: make sure your wire is all cut the same length and better to be to long than to short!

I started the "C" and centered it to the bottom of the wreath and the others just lined right up. *This is why I glued and stapled the letters together.

This part is a little tricky and why I asked if you have a better idea to let me know!

With the letter face down take the wreath and place it on top of the letters. Remember I said I didn't want the letters to squish the fabric...  Lift up on the wreath enough that the letters slightly touch the fabric. Then take  your needle nose pliers and bend the metal over the wire form. (kind of like fishing hook or "J")

You will do this to a both the U and C. 

Now a Check:  Flip the wreath over and your letters should be right where you want them. If not you can adjust them here.  

Again, flip the wreath over and now secure the letters in place, using the needle nose pliers wind the hook around the wire form 3 times. This REALLY secures your letters in place and you can add a drop of hot glue for good measure.

It needed something else, but I didn't want a bow. How about some garnet feathers!!! SAY WHAT!

I found these Gems a year ago at Hobby Lobby for 90% off!!!!!!! 

Get a black pipe cleaner

I took 4 bunches of feathers, 2 to the left and 2 to the right and bound them with a pipe cleaner (these are not the ones I used, but for visual purposes here you go)

I then attached them with a pipe cleaner.

And Voila!!!

High 5 Gamecock Nation!!!!

4th of July Rag Wreath

This is a super EASY project! It does take a little time to complete, but the results are worth it!  I happened across this burlap rag wreath video, and thought ohhhhh new obsession! 

Disclaimer, I didn't set out to make another 4th of July wreath, I thought I would make the burlap wreath, but when I got to Hancock Fabric and was searching through the clearance rack.... Well, you can take it from there, LOL.  On another side note, I also went to Phoenix Fabric that weekend and rummaged through their scrap bins and picked up a 4th of July print.

All in, this cost almost $11.00 to make, which includes tax. Don't forget you can download apps on your smart phones for Michael's and Hobby Lobby coupons. I picked up the wire wreath form for 40% off, it only cost me $1.79.

Now, that that is out of the way.


Supply list:

Fabric ( I am guestimating but I got about 1-1.5 yards of each fabric)
Wire Wreath Form (Medium)
Sharp Scissors
Yard stick or measuring tape

I love fabric, but I do not know the difference in them, so I can't tell you if it's poplin, cotton blend, rayon etc... What I can tell you is, the white fabric was a little stretchy, the red with the white stars is shinny and not easy to cut, it is very clingy, the stars and stripes is stiff, and the blue with small white stars is; I think, plan ol' cotton fabric.

*The stars and stripes is printed and the red with white stars fabric is printed on both sides. This is something I suggest you find. If all the fabric is only printed on one side, I personally don't think it would have turned out so well.

My circle fabric cutter you see in the above photo didn't work well cutting. You don't need one!

The most time consuming part is cutting the fabric. I cut long 1 inch strips and then cut those down to 9 inch strips. (For all my fellow OCDer's it does not have to be perfectly 1 inch by 9 inch strips. As my eyes were crossing from all the cutting, some are more narrow others are wider!

 

After all the strips were cut, the fun begins. It  didn't take long to tie them on the wire form maybe 1.5 hours.

 

I started at the inner most circle and worked around. I made an assembly line and I went from one fabric to the next.

 

 

When I was ready to start the second row I pushed the first row of fabric toward the center of the wreath form to give myself working room.

 

 

When I finished the 2nd row, I was almost out of white fabric, so I stopped there. I though about going back for more fabric, but the wreath is full and looks great!!!  I'm super happy how it turned out. My next rag wreath will be a Gamecocks wreath.

 

 

 

I thought about adding some ribbon or an initial... Would love to hear what you would do!

 

Halloween Wreath for Grandma Fread :)

I know I have been MIA from my site, but it is not without warrant. I do currently have several unfinished projects going on ;}  My Hubby's family will be coming for Thanksgiving this year (they live in Missouri and Kansas) which means big projects around the house!  Poor, poor Hubs!

Now that you know that useless bit of information... I got a text from my Aunt asking me to make a Halloween wreath for my grandparents they're 91!!! 

You know most of my projects I do on the cheap, but it's my g'parents and I want to do it up right! I get my handy dandy smart phone, hit up Michael's and Hobby Lobby with my in store coupons, and still come out pretty good.

I hit there Halloween decor and starting picking up stuff at random with no real thought about how it would end up.

I did make sure I had the black, purple, orange and green deco mesh, black ribbon and a circle foam.

I covered the circle foam in the black ribbon, took the deco mesh (I use floral pins and hot glue to hold in place) and worked my way round the circle. Once this was completed it's just a matter of putting everything in place.

I took my larger items the WELCOME sign, owl, witches hat, BOO!, large spider, large pumpkin and the squiggles (for lack of a better word) and placed them around. I always go back and forth, moving, adjusting, and arranging everything. I also like to let it hang up on the door so I can see how it will lay.

 

 

 

Once I have the bigger items like I want them, I hot glue and pin them in place. After this I place the small green and black spiders around, green, purple, and black glass balls, small squiggles, etc.

This project at most took an hour, more like 35-45 minutes.

Let me know your thought!! I would love to see your projects too.

Happy Halloween!
Mel :D

Clothes Pins and the 4th of July

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I saw several clothes pin wreaths but not one for the 4th. See the wreath I made last year HERE. Anyhoo, I started taking last years wreath out of the closest to put it up again, and got inspired to make a new wreath from clothes pins. It is a very easy project.

You need red, white and blue spay paint, a wire circle, silver paint for the stars, and don't forget the clothes pins. I bought 200 for $4.00, I wasn't sure how many it would take.

This project cost me $8.50, and that's because I didn't have white spray paint on hand, I ran out of blue, and I had to buy clothes pins.

The steps, I had a wire wreath on hand. I picked it up at a yard sale about a year ago for .50. Seriously! Go hit the weekend yard sales people it is a terrific way to get things CHEAP!

This is the ring I picked up

 

I got a pair of needle nosed pliers and clipped the rings.

 

I ended up with 2 rings, I guess you can say I did this project for $8.25, LOL.

 

 

Take your clothes pins and circle them around the ring. DO NOT PAINT THEM FIRST.

 

 

Mama's little helper :)

 

and

 

124 clothes pins later

 

Let's count by 5's :)

 

You will count out your red and white clothes pins first. I counted groups of 5's and ended up with 40 in each group, and the remainder I painted blue.

 

Get out the spray paint and go to town.  Side note, the red and blue paint covered the raw wood easily, the white however, did not. I bought a cheap $1 can and had to use the entire can.  

 

 

I got side tracked watching the paint dry :)

 

After and hour or so the paint was dry.

I started with the blue and then the red and white.

 

alternate 5 red and 5 white.

Before the stars

 

and after :) 

 

I think this project turned out really cute:) would love to hear your thoughts!

 

 

 

After thought: The clothes pins stay on really well, but I think I may hot glue them on after the holiday's.

 

Happy Crafting,

Mel:D