How to make a festive fall wreath for under $20
Since Labor Day represents the unofficial end of the summer season, why mourn the end of summer, when you can begin to get into the fall spirit? Many retail shops are already inundated with tons of Halloween merchandise and fall decorations making it hard not to get excited for the change of season. One of the best ways to decorate a home seasonally is with a festive wreath. Many of the store-bought varieties are quite expensive and can set you back $40 or more, so with just a little bit of creativity, a small bit of your time, and some craft store supplies, you can make a much more economical and personalized wreath for your home.
Supplies: One large grapevine wreath*
Three or four bunches of silk flowers and leaves in a variety of colors you like
Sturdy pair of scissors or tin snips
Floral arranging wire
*Grapevine wreaths make the best base because you can intertwine the silk flowers' wire stems through the vines to anchor them, and the floral arranging wire only needs to be used to anchor stubborn flowers or larger decorative items.
Choose a wreath that's relatively circular so you have a good shape to work from, some can get kind of hinky and funny shaped in storage or shipping, and it's best to start with a good shape rather than attempt to reshape it later, as the vines can be a little bit brittle. I tend to like the darker brown grapevine as it is a good backdrop for the bright oranges, reds, marroons, yellows, and purples of fall.
Take time picking out your flowers. Make sure you have a good variety of colors and textures to add visual interest to your wreath. Think back to elementary art class, you're going to want complementary colors so that the wreath is more vivid and visually appealing. Think purples and yellows, reds and greens, etc. I like to mix in flowers with fall leaves, but the sky is the limit, and the best part about making your own wreath, is that you can make it look exactly as you like.
As you start to think about placement remember that less is often more. It's easy to get carried away and go bananas, winding up with a seasonal fiasco. It's definitely okay for bits of the grapevine wreath to peek through, and keep in mind that odd numbers of items tend to be more visually appealing than even groupings.
Trim the silk flowers/leaves from the bundle, leaving yourself enough at the end to weave through the grapevines. I like to space things out around the wreath and then fill in the gaps from there. Carefully anchor your flowers/foliage weaving them through individual vines to secure them. Thick wires should be anchored with the floral arranging wire. Simply trim a piece of wire, wrap it around the flower to anchor and then wrap the wire around the vine, twisting to secure it. It also helps to take a step back from time to time to see if your colors are blending the way you would like them to.
Don't get stressed out or frustrated. There is no right or wrong way to go about it. Have fun! Homemade projects like these are simple, fun, and very economical. It's a great activity to do with kids, just make sure to supervise little ones while trimming and working with the wire. Fall is just around the corner and this inexpensive and festive wreath is a great way to welcome the season and maybe to get in touch with your inner Martha Stewart for a second.
