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This year, I pulled out my two fall wreaths from storage and found them to be tired, crispy, crunchy-looking things with molding fruit sprays and evidence of insects who liked the grapevine. Hardly symbols of an abundant autumn harvest.
It clearly was time to revive the wreaths, and while shopping in the crafts store, I made a few purchases that will make them do double duty in December, too. Here’s how to do it. Supplies1 grapevine wreath2 fall garlands1 bag of sphagnum mossSeveral berry sprays "Found" objects, such as pine cones, twigs and acornsProtective paint coating (in a spray can) 1 wire-ribbon bow Fine craft wire or grapevine-covered craft wireWire cuttersHot glue and gun Bug sprayDirections1. Start with a grapevine wreath. If you are starting this project from scratch, buy a wreath at the crafts store. 2. Buy some garlands. In the crafts store, I found acorn-laden strands of garland, some even with orange and burgundy leaves that could stand up to the weather. Look for garlands that are water-resistant or that can be sprayed with a clear protective paint coating to make them last longer. You’ll need at least one garland per wreath, but my rule is that you can never have enough stuff on a wreath as long as you stick to a fairly monochromatic, or subdued, fall color scheme. I used two strands of a nutty garland in natural tones for each wreath. 3. Also buy some berry sprays. Look for ambers, oranges, deep wines and harvest colors that complement autumn leaves. 4. Get a professional to make the bow. You will find a large selection of wired ribbon in fall themes and colors, and you might ask the ribbon-counter person at the crafts store to make you a bow for your wreath. (You will need to tell them the diameter of the wreath.) Ask them to leave the tails on the ribbon long so that you can trim them to the perfect length later. Select a solid color with a little shimmer that will look good with your garland and quite possibly work in December, too.5. Out with the old and in with the new. If you are working with an old wreath, pull out all of the things that make it look tired. On mine, it was the summery-looking hydrangeas, the molded fruit sprays and an old ribbon that just had to go. 6. Start inserting the garland. Wrap it around the wreath and into the grapevine wherever you can to make it look like it’s growing out of the grapevine. You want it to appear loose around the perimeter of the wreath base; not tightly wrapped in a circle. If you can’t weave it into your wreath, then you’ll need to wire it to the wreath wherever you see a likely place (use fine craft wire or grapevine-covered craft wire). This will secure the garland, especially if you are placing it on an exterior door. 7. Place found objects and berry sprays. To thicken up a new wreath, hot-glue sphagnum moss (which you buy by the bag at any crafts store) in thin layers and add some thick tree limbs and sticks to the center edges of the wreath. I like to use found objects, such as abandoned beehives, seed pods, acorns, bird nests and the like to thicken up the inside of the wreath a little. These add some real interest, too. Take the fall-colored berries and sprays and place them into areas where you see openings for them. Try moving them around until you achieve a balanced look that you like. When you get everything where you want it, use craft wire to hold objects in place, hiding the wires as best you can. (Grapevine-covered craft wire is great for this, because the wire simply blends with the wreath.) Work in the bow, but remove it before the next step.8. Spray against bugs. Give your finished wreath a light spray of a fragrant bug spray. (I used Raid Ant and Roach spray in Country Fresh scent.) This will deter insects, geckos and birds from making your wreath their home.9. Put the bow back. Tie it in place using craft wire.10. Hang the wreath. I hang my wreaths using a single thin, silver wire from one nail on the door — so that they seem weightless.
One wreath, two holidays
While you’re at the craft store, pick up a few Christmas sprays, such as glittered fruit, glistening pine cones or snow-crystal garland. Use these items to replace a few of the very fall-like touches on your wreath. Some of the orange and red berry sprays, however, might still work nicely. Also, keep the pine cones and the acorn garland and simply add the snow-kissed items. Change the bow to a red one, if you like. Or start with a brown or amber metallic bow that will work nicely for both holidays.
While you’re at the craft store, pick up a few Christmas sprays, such as glittered fruit, glistening pine cones or snow-crystal garland. Use these items to replace a few of the very fall-like touches on your wreath. Some of the orange and red berry sprays, however, might still work nicely. Also, keep the pine cones and the acorn garland and simply add the snow-kissed items. Change the bow to a red one, if you like. Or start with a brown or amber metallic bow that will work nicely for both holidays.
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