Simple Plans for a Fuss-Free Holiday Wreath

Hang a holiday wreath on your front door to welcome guests, add style, and spread cheer. Consider making the wreath yourself, particularly if you have some tiny helpers looking for a holiday project. I never would have thought I could make a wreath before I tried it. At my 10-year old daughter’s “holiday night” at school, a group of crafty parents turned the library into a wreath-making station. They put a few big tables together and covered them with pine branches, ribbon, wire clothes hangers, florist wire, and wire cutters. It turns out that’s all you need to make a unique holiday wreath. Just add warm drinks and a few friends, and your wreath is all but done. My 10-year old can manage the whole project herself, while my 4-year-old loves looking for just the right branch or ribbon to adorn the wreath as it grows. Here’s a simple tutorial for making a basic holiday wreath without a lot of fuss.

Basic Holiday Wreath

EQUIPMENT

Wire clothes hanger

Greens (like pine, eucalyptus, magnolia, holly branches, citrus leaves, or stalks of fresh rosemary)

Florist wire (wrapped on a paddle)

Wired floral picks (optional, for adding adornments like ornaments or sprigs of holly)

Glue gun (optional, for making bows)

Ribbon (optional, for making bows or wrapping your wreath)

Ornaments (optional, for decorating your wreath)

Flowers (optional, real or faux for decorating your wreath)

METHOD

1. Bend the wire clothes hangar into a circle, leaving the hangar intact for hanging your wreath. This is your frame.

2. Attach florist wire to the frame, leaving the wire on the paddle so that you can continue wrapping your wreath using a continuous strand of wire.

3. Add a small bundle of greenery to the frame and wrap it with the florist wire, leaving the wire on the paddle. This is your starting point.

4. Layer another small bundle of greenery on top of the first bundle, again wrapping the greenery with the florist wire, leaving the wire on the paddle.

5. Using this same method, keep adding greenery to the frame, creating a base layer of greenery.

6. When you get to the starting point, tuck the florist wire under the frame, secure it with a knot, and snip it with the wire cutters.

You now have a simple green wreath. You can stop here for a clean look, but this is where we like to add some adornments, like ribbon, bows, sprigs of holly, berries or small ornaments. If you want to add a bow to your wreath, use a glue gun and ribbon to make one that’s just the right size and style. Use the wire floral picks to attach bows, sprigs, pine cones, and ornaments. Hang your wreath and enjoy!

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