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Making Your Own Natural Holiday Wreath

© Deborah S. Tukua

www.hollycreekbooks.com

Next time you walk around your neighborhood, look around. You may find ingredients for a natural holiday wreath.

The structure of the wreath – the actual undecorated wreath – can be bought at a local craft store, or the adventurous can fashion it from grapevines or willow twigs. But what really makes the wreath is its decorations -- and those are limited only by your imagination.

Here are some suggestions

• Pinecones and hemlock cones
• Cotton bolls
• Sweet gum seed balls
• Nuts in the shell: hickory, pecan, walnuts, or others

To make a Holiday wreath, first get your undecorated wreath. Then, gather enough materials from the list above to cover its front and sides. Other needed materials are

• Glue gun and glue sticks
• Newspaper or disposable tablecloth
• 1 can white or gold spray paint (optional)
• Coordinating ribbon tied into a bow (white, red, or gold is usually preferred)
• Floral wire

Here’s how it’s done

1. Cover the surface of your work table with newspapers or a disposable tablecloth. This will protect your table from the hot glue, and make cleanup easy.
2. Using the hot glue gun, affix glue to one side of the balls, nuts or cones.
3. Press the objects into place on your wreath as closely together as possible. Hold each object into place for a few moments until the glue has set.
4. Continuing gluing and positioning the cones, etc. until your wreath is completely covered.
5. Optional step: Take your wreath outdoors and lay it on a newspaper. Using the spray paint, spray it the desired color. Allow the paint time to dry. Gold paint yields a festive, holiday flair. White paint resembles a snow-covered winter palate. Left unpainted, the natural brown wreath gives a rustic country mood.
6. Using thin floral wire, affix the bow to your wreath, either at the center-top or center-bottom.
7. Optional: To add to the natural look, attach a life-like artificial bird to the wreath.