Handmade Holiday : A Fragrant Natural DIY Wreath

Thanksgiving is a mere two days away, can you smell the apple pie! This year I’ve been on a roll, maybe because last year I couldn’t balance the surge of a newly busy business season along with actually enjoying the holidays. So this year, my creativity was buzzing months ago with lists of gift ideas and DIYs I wanted to create and of course share with you. And this year I was going to get ahead of things, so I could actually relax and enjoy this wonderful season!

When you’re quick on time and still want to decorate for the remaining Fall days and Thanksgiving, make this wreath! Either to decorate your wall, or turn it into a centerpiece with lots of candlelight. You can pick up these greens at the supermarket, local florist, if you’re lucky outside and even home improvement stores. All you need is a wire wreath and a bit of time to tie several bundles of sprigs of these beautiful greens. It’s so simple, but this wreath simply hung on the wall with a few white pumpkins and fall colored branches becomes a lush natural focal point. A subtle grand statement for your Thanksgiving celebration!

I realized while I was making this garland and wreath it felt like sewing flowers, similar to the many days I spent doing cross stitching. This holiday season I decided to finally take it up again, something I’ve been wanting to for a long time, as a way to both relax and make presents. Plus it gets me in the groove of making wreaths, and which I will be going to be making plenty of next year for weddings and events.

Now back to this beautiful, elegant and one of my absolute favorite DIYs….

This DIY idea is a simple way to incorporate natural elements into your Thanksgiving decor, a holiday that is mostly focused on the food and loved ones. A quick how to you can make now to create a more charming Thanksgiving on Thursday!

You’ll Need

1 Wire Wreath Base {found here}
Silver Dollar Eucalyptus – 8 Stems
Fall Berry Branch or Seeded Eucalyptus – 3 Stems
Myrtle – 4 Stems
– 2 Stems
**You can interchange any of these greens and foliage for your favorites**
Florist Wire + Wire Cutters
Optional Autumn Additions : Cotton Stems, Pine Cones, Deep Colored Grasses Crab apples or or Branches

To begin, prep the greenery by hydrating the stems, cut at a 45 degree angle, well. Place in room temperature water for a few hours to settle.

You’ll want to cut off springs from the large stems at about 6 to 8 inches.

Begin making bundles of a mixture of each different green, you’ll need 8 bunches for a 14″ round wreath. Start with the wide silver dollar eucalyptus, then build atop with the other greens to make a lush little bundle.

With the wire, begin wrapping the bundle at the bottom several times to secure in place. Make sure to leave an overhang of wire, you DON’T want to cut it!

Make your second bundle, then place it atop the first greenery bundle until it just covers the exposed wrapped wire. Wrap the bottom of your second bundle with the wire securing place. Repeat this process with the remaining 6 bundles.

You last greenery turn 90* degrees, so that the wrapped end faces inward toward the garland.

Begin securing your garland onto your wreath base with the wire.

Finish the wreath by filling in gaps and empty spaces with extra springs of greens, securing in place with wire as needed. Do the same if adding stems, pinecones, etc…This is the part you can get really creative by adding festive touches to your wreath, you can’t fail, simply play around with the different additions to create a custom trimming in no time at all! Wait until you smell its seasonal natural freshness, exactly what we need when the days are colder and we are bound indoors more.

The result is a stunning fresh and modern wreath for the holidays! So simple and beautiful right?! And it can take you all through winter!

The best part is that as the season and life picks up and become busy, this wreath will keep! The leaves will dry and wilt a bit, but they remain their shape very well. When December rolls around you add more greens, branches, or wintery additions like pinecones, flowers and ribbons. Later this week, I’ll unveil one of my first Christmas stylings {one I put together in 20 minutes in the spur of the moment}, where I’ll feature a simple but elegant way to transform this wreath for Christmas. And you might be surprised with this festive party inspiration, so be sure to check the blog back on Friday.