Christmas
Wreaths For Doors Or Tables
by
Colleen Moulding
First
gather together:
A circular wire wreath frame
Lots of moss
Florists wire on a roll
Florists stub wires
Wire cutters
Evergreen foliage, anything you have available, possibly holly, Christmas
tree cuttings, ivy, anything you can find in the garden.
Pine cones, natural or sprayed gold
Walnuts, natural or sprayed gold
Bunches of twigs cut to approx 3" long, natural or sprayed gold
Berries from the florist or the garden
Dried orange slices (Slice, then bake in the oven on a very low heat
for 15 minutes, turn
then leave for cook another 15 minutes.)
Ribbon for bow if desired.
Cover your frame with moss
Begin by taking handfuls of the moss and attaching it to the
frame by binding it on with the wire from the roll. Continue all the
way around until the whole frame is covered with moss. Twist two or
three stub wires together to make a hanging loop and fix this to the
top of the frame. If you are worried about your door or table being
damaged by the wreath this is a good time to fix a piece of plastic
to the back, don’t worry it will be completely covered by foliage
when the wreath is complete.
Wire
your materials into bunches
Make little bunches of your foliage by wrapping a few stems together
with a stub wire, then twisting the wires so that you have a little
wire stem to fix into the wreath. Do this with all your materials.
To wire a pine cone, hook a stub wire into the almost closed layers
at the bottom of the cone, then twist the ends together to make a
little stem as with the foliage and berries.
Wire walnuts by sliding a wire through the bottom of the nut. Wire
orange slices by bending a stub wire in half like a hairpin and using
that to secure the slice.
Wire your twigs into little piles and wrap with wire. Tie with a piece
of ribbon or
raffia.
Add
your bunches to the base
Starting with your green foliage, secure bunches all the way
around the wreath into the moss until the moss is completely covered.
Now add the berries, orange slices, twigs, walnuts and cones at regular
intervals in any design that pleases you.
Add
a bow
Mist your wreath thoroughly with water, and continue to do this
once a day throughout the holidays. Add a beautiful bow, hang on the
door and wait for the compliments.
For
the table
Wreaths such as these can also be used on the table, perhaps circling
a display of candles. Be sure never to leave a lighted candle arrangement
unattended.
Other types of wreath
Grapevine
or willow wreath forms can be used as the base for lovely everlasting
Christmas displays of dried or silk flowers and Christmas decorations.
Wrap with ribbon or artificial foliage before adding your decorations.
The easiest way to attach these to the form is with a hot glue gun.
Make
large or tiny for the tree wreaths from cardboard circles to which
you attach a small piece of wadding to give a slightly padded look,
then cover with ribbon or fabric, (glue or staple in place) before
decorating as above. This is a super project if you have to entertain
lots of children as they can all take a few home for the tree. Finish
with ribbon hanging loops.
©
Colleen Moulding 2001/2005
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