SUPPLIES & TOOLS:
DIRECTIONS:
- Wreath Base
- Floral Stems
- Floral Picks
- Floral Wire
- Floral Tape
- Needle Nose Pliers
- Wire Cutters
- Hot Glue Gun
- Hot Glue
DIRECTIONS:
- Click DOWNLOAD PATTERN(S) for everything you need for this project.
- NOTE:
- Welcome to the ultimate guide for crafting the perfect wreath! Whether you're crafting for a season or specific holiday, this guide will help you choose the best base for your project and ensure your creation is both sturdy and stylish. Follow along for the essential skills needed to bring your vision to life, from selecting materials to adding those finishing touches.
- CHOOSING A BASE
- Wire Frame: These bases are lightweight and easy to work with, great for a variety of decorations.
- Grapevine: Grapevine and evergreen bases offer a more natural look and provide a realistic backdrop to the floral added on top of them. An evergreen base such as pine or boxwood will need to be fluffed to create a fuller silhouette.
- Foam: Styrofoam and floral foam bases are good for creating a clean look, and they are easy to cover with fabric or artificial flowers.
- Hoop: Floral hoops make beautiful and elegant statement pieces. They can be a more challenging base to work with as they offer less surface area of attaching embellishments.
- When selecting the base, keep in mind the decorative elements you will add. If you are planning a dense floral design that will be heavier, consider using a sturdier base so that it can support the weight of all those florals. The bases mentioned are all weather-resistant, allowing you to hang them indoors or outdoors. However, If the wreath gets a lot of exposure to the sun, hot glue and floral tape can lose hold over time, and you might notice some elements slipping.
- PREPARE THE GREENERY
- If you are using a grapevine or boxwood base, you likely won't need to add greenery and filler to create a foundation; simply fluff the leaves that are already on the base and you'll be able to add the floral. When using a wire frame, hoop, or foam base, attaching greenery will create a foundation for the florals. There are two methods for attaching greenery and flowers. Use one or both. The goal is security, so doubling up on wire and glue will help make the wreath durable.
- FLORAL WIRE
- Gauge: Floral wire comes in different gauges, and the gauge refers to the thickness of the wire. For wreath-making, a gauge of 20 to 24 is ideal for attaching flowers, greenery, and other decorations. A thicker wire (around 18-20 gauge) is great for creating the base structure, while thinner wire (22-24 gauge) is better for securing smaller elements.
- Color: Green floral wire blends well with natural materials and can be less noticeable in the final wreath. If you're working with a holiday or themed wreath, consider using wire that matches your materials, such as gold or silver for festive accents.
- Before you begin attaching any elements, cut lengths of floral wire into manageable pieces, 6"-12", so they are ready when you begin attaching flowers.
- HOT GLUE
- Use high-temperature hot glue, especially if you're working with materials like wood and floral foam. Low-temperature guns are best for delicate materials like ribbon and fabric.
- Opt for clear glue sticks that will dry transparent, making it less noticeable on your wreath. Choose strong bond glue sticks, which provide better adhesion and durability.
- Apply small dabs of glue — about the size of a pea. This allows for better control, reduces the chance of messy strings of glue, and ensures the glue is applied only where needed.
- Hot glue cools and sets quickly, so position your items as soon as you press them into place. Once the glue begins to harden, it will be much harder to adjust the placement.
- BUILDING THE WREATH
- This is where the creativity comes in! Placement, color, balance, texture - that's all up to you. Different size flowers and various textures really create depth in your design. It can help to arrange the flowers before you glue or wire them on. This will give you a chance to visualize the layout and make adjustments.
- Work in small sections, adding one item at a time. This gives you time to adjust each item's placement before the glue sets.
- Begin attaching decorations on the inside edge of your wreath (or from the bottom if you have a top-heavy design). This ensures that the wreath looks full and balanced from all angles. As you work outward, layer items over any exposed glue to keep things looking neat.
- Start with larger blooms to anchor the design and add the smaller elements around those to fill in the gaps.
- Mixing textures and shapes creates a more dynamic look, so consider adding ribbon, berries, ornaments, mushrooms, pinecones, or anything that brings the look to life.
- FINAL TOUCHES
- To complete the wreath, hide any wires by tucking them behind the flowers or trimming the loose ends. Remove any hot glue strings. If this wreath is going outdoors, it's a good idea to secure the flowers with hot glue and wire because expose to the sun and warm temperatures can move things on the wreath. Now that your beautiful wreath is on display, it's time to start planning the next one!