Monday, May 25, 2015

DIY: Spring Wreath


Creating a custom wreath is an excellent way to brighten up a wall or door on a budget, as well as an opportunity to let your own style shine.  Your personal preferences will give a unique look to this type of flower arranging, whether you'd like a traditional symmetrical wreath, or as in my case, you might prefer a more natural free form look.  Here's what happens when you combine a simple $3.99 grocery store floral bouquet, a grapevine wreath (purchased years ago and used over and over again), some of the ivy that grows wild everywhere in my town, and a bit of ribbon.

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Besides the materials, the basic supplies you will need are a pair of scissors and some wire.  If you don't have florist wire, twisty ties from bread or other baked items work well too.  The bouquet I chose for this project consisted of several varieties of flowers, which allowed for some choice in what to use.

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One thing I noticed about ivy (besides its abundance!) is that almost immediately after cutting it, the newer, recent growth leaves start to wilt, while the leaves on the main part of the vine last a few days.  My solution was to clip away these newer leaf bunches, so that what remains are the older leaves on the main vine.

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Starting with the ivy as the base layer, wrap it around the wreath to your liking.  Then fill in areas with snippets of small flowers, such as the purple ones I used.  The great thing about using a grapevine wreath is that there are plenty of nooks and crannies to slide and poke your cut pieces into.

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Notice how I've chosen to leave the upper right quadrant open, without any ivy or flowers in that area.  It's nice to leave some space, as a place for the eye to rest.

Next, dot around the perimeter with yet another variety of flower such as these bright green pom pom flowers:

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Then, add some larger flowers.  The bouquet I used came with three roses.  I opted to use only two, although I did consider using the third in the open space, but decided against it.

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I used a bit of hot glue to attach any pieces that were loose and unable to stay tucked in on their own.  If you don't have hot glue, then of course any household glue will do.  I used four lengths of florist wire, each about 10" long, to secure everything down, twisting the wire together at the back of the wreath at approximately equal distances around it.

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And lastly, I added a blue ribbon with white polka dots for an extra punch of spring color.  

Although this fresh flower wreath will only last a few days, you may consider making one for a special party, as it can be a welcoming sight on your front door or porch, making your guests feel welcome while adding some excitement and color to the celebratory atmosphere.

Have fun making your own custom Spring Wreath, and remember to let your own style shine!         
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3 comments

  1. Lovely looking wreath June! Such a shame it will only last for a few days. Have you thought about using small tubes for the flowers? You can see an example on my blog, the wreath with pansies: http://www.cloverhome.nl/flowers/the-joys-and-sorrows-of-gardening/

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  2. Hi Pauline - thanks for taking a look and your input. I have been thinking quite a bit about what florist supplies I might like to stock up on. In fact I have a small list right now, and I think I will add some of those tubes to it. It's a great idea.

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  3. A lovely post June, and your wreath is beautiful! I'm going to bookmark this post and have a go myself this summer - I'll keep you posted!

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