Making a wreath can be a simple and rewarding project using just a few materials and a basic wiring technique.
Simple Steps to Create an Easy Wreath
Creating an easy wreath primarily involves attaching natural or artificial materials to a wreath base using wire. This method allows for flexibility and can be adapted for various styles and seasons.
Materials You'll Need
Gathering your supplies before you start makes the process much smoother.
- Wreath Form: This can be a wire frame, foam, or grapevine base. Wire forms are common for this technique.
- Greenery or Other Materials: Fresh or artificial branches, flowers, leaves, berries, or fabric scraps.
- Floral Wire: Usually on a paddle for easy handling. Choose a gauge appropriate for your materials (often 22 or 24 gauge).
- Wire Cutters or Scissors: To trim materials and the wire at the end.
The Easy Wiring Method
This method focuses on securing bundles of material continuously around the wreath form using floral wire.
Here's how to do it:
- Prepare Your Materials: Cut your greenery or chosen materials into smaller, manageable bundles. The size will depend on the desired fullness of your wreath.
- Attach the First Bundle: Position the beginning of your floral wire paddle on the wreath form near where you want to start.
- Lay a small bundle of greenery on the form. Place the stems of your first bundle directly onto the wreath base.
- Wrap floral wire on a paddle tightly around the stems three times. Hold the bundle firmly in place and wrap the attached wire around the stems and the form to secure it. Ensure it's tight so the bundle doesn't shift.
- Do not cut the wire. Keep the wire connected to the paddle; you will use it continuously.
- Add Another Bundle: Place your next bundle of greenery on the form, overlapping the previous one by half. This covers the stems of the bundle you just attached.
- Wrap wire around the stems. Use the continuous wire from the paddle to wrap tightly around the stems of this new bundle and the wreath form, just as you did before.
- Continue adding bundles until you reach the starting point. Repeat steps 6 and 7, overlapping each new bundle over the stems of the last one and securing it with the continuous wire. Work your way around the entire wreath form.
Finishing Your Wreath
Once you've added bundles all the way around and reached your starting point:
- Lift the edge of the first bundles slightly.
- Wrap the wire around the form a few times to secure the last bundle.
- Thread the end of the wire through the back of the wreath and wrap it around the form or existing wire wraps to hide and secure it.
- Trim the excess wire with cutters.
- Add a loop of wire or ribbon for hanging on the back.
Customizing Your Easy Wreath
After the base is complete, you can easily add decorative elements:
- Bows: Secure with floral wire or hot glue.
- Ornaments: Wire or glue them onto the greenery.
- Pinecones or Berries: Wire or glue for texture and color.
- Lights: Weave battery-operated lights through the branches.
This simple wiring method creates a full, professional-looking wreath base that you can then decorate to suit any occasion or style.
