holiday wreath :)

call me crazy for breaking this out so early! hey, at least i'm not trying to talk about xmas tree decorating!! :) i've been in a wreath-y mood lately, and i love just a little holiday decor out for thanksgiving... i feel like it kicks off the season right :) a little wreath love on the door is a good way to just dip your toe into the pool of holiday decor, without having to dive in :)

[ok, enough with the random metaphors...]

i love adorning and styling my holiday wreath each year. i guess i could just pack it away, with all the pieces on it, and save myself some time, but the truth is, i like to keep it fresh & different each year.

here's what you need to spruce up a faux evergreen wreath, holiday-style:

--a faux evergreen wreath :)

--ribbon or tulle (between 2 and 3 yds, depending on the size of your wreath)

--holiday ornaments

--ornament hooks

--ribbon or tulle for a bow (can be the same as above or different from the ribbon or tulle above)

i usually start with a basic circular faux evergreen wreath. mine always gets smooshed from being packed away, but they’re a bit flat when you first buy them too. i like to fluff it, so that it is more full, and looks more realistic.

once it’s fruffed, I begin with a basic ribbon or tulle. just wrap it around, spacing it so that you have plenty of room to add interest between ribbon pieces. for this wreath, i used gold tulle. i should also note that i didn’t buy anything new for my wreath—i just raided my christmas tree decorations. i like to do this because then my wreath and my tree coordinate, and i have a running holiday color scheme / theme throughout my home.

don’t worry about the ends yet… just make sure they’re not hanging out. as i go, i usually adjust the branches, so that the tulle [or ribbon] is nestled in nicely…i might even make some of the braches arc over the tulle a little.

once you’ve got the tulle on, start thinking about ornaments. i used two types of ornaments from my christmas tree stash. i like having a little variety (the glossy / shiny ornaments vs. the glittery ones; the small vs. large; cranberry vs. gold, etc), but i try to not let it become schizophrenic. i still like things to coordinate well :)

i didn’t just attach them right up front… i set them in the wreath to see how i might want to arrange them first. notice how i tried to group them in certain places [i.e. the upper left with two shiny and one glittery, or the lower left, with two glittery], to give it a litte interest, so that it’s not just evenly spaced and boring. i like my wreaths to look a little random, but well-balanced, if that makes sense.

once i know who i’m putting where [they’re not just inanimate objects anymore… we’ve given them homes, they’re now our friends], i’ll go ahead and start attaching. i just use the ornament hooks. lucky for me, i have an overhang over my door, so i don’t get much rain or wind. if you do, you may want to use something a little more substantial, like fine-gauge wire. if you need to tack down the ends of your tulle or ribbon, do that while you’ve got the hooks/wire out.

and the last part is the bow. i chose a ribbon with some wire in it so that i can fruf my bow a little, and have it stay lovely all season long. i nestled it in the wreath at the top, just a little off center, to add character :)

doesn’t she look lovely?

i love it :) it's super easy, and each year, i can make it a little different by using a different grouping of ornaments, or a different bow or ribbon... and i feel so posh, like i've got custom holiday decor each each, when really, i just get to change it up a bit with the stuff i've already got :)

linking to...
house of grace
new nostalgia
sumo's sweet stuff
the diy showoff
the diy showoff holiday holiday highlights :)
my backyard eden
the thrifty home
shabby chic cottage
crafty cierra
house of hepworths
life as lori
fireflies and jellybeans
the shabby nest
finding fabulous
tattertots and jello
funky junk interiors
fingerprints on the fridge
the french county cottage
the girl creative
between naps on the couch
cottage instincts
keeping it simple
tools are for women too