Burlap Petal CHRISTMAS Wreath

I couldn't go to the Pinner's Conference a few months ago.

Mostly because I didn't want to...

But I DID want to make this:

Super cute Burlap Petal wreath by the insanely creative girls over at Find it, Make it, Love it!

Luckily for people like me they made a step by step tutorial on their blog HERE.

If anything I say doesn't make sense, try their tutorial instead...

I made a slightly fuller CHRISTMAS version:

I absolutely LOVE it and it was one of the quickest/easiest/best-turning-out-est wreaths I've ever made!

You will need:
*straw wreath form (mine is the big 18" one)
*plain burlap for covering the form
*decorative burlap for your "petals" (I used 40 feet of burlap ribbon)
*something for your bow
*hot glue gun and TONS of sticks
*pins

To make the "petals":

Cut a 5x5 square of burlap:

Fold down the top to make a triangle. Glue the bottom point together:

Fold down one side point to the bottom point. Glue the points together:

Fold down the other side point to the bottom point. Make sure all the points are glued together:

Now the original tutorial had you just make the petal and pin it on, but I needed a bit more durability... so I glued!

Once you have a pretty good pile going (I ended up needing 84), you can start to assemble.

Cover your wreath frame with more burlap:

Start in the center of your wreath. Put glue ONLY on the bottom point of your petal and glue it on. I also put a pin in mine:

Now glue another petal right in front of your first petal, overlapping as much as you like: 

Continue until you have the whole middle row finished. (I had to snip off the bottom tip of my last petal to squeeze it in at the end):

Now start the inner row! Glue/pin one petal between each center petal FACING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, again overlapping as much as you like:

Just keep gluing/pinning one petal in each gap. The inner row is more crowded, so you'll need to overlap a bit more:

Ok, you probably noticed my petals in the above picture are spaced every-other gap. This is what the original tutorial told me to do. I ended up liking a really-full look better, so I altered (ripped off) my first attempt and ended up with this for the inner row:

The outer row is super easy and by now you've got this down! Glue/pin a petal for every center row gap IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION of the center:

This outside row has a bit more room, so you will need to have less of an overlap:

Here is what everything should look like all done:

The bow is obviously optional, but I like the look! I just used the leftover burlap from wrapping my wreath frame! The Find It, Make It, Love It tutorial has a great tip on how to make a "cheater" bow that is always perfect:

TA-DA!:

Go make your own!

Split Pea Wreath

Ok, I realize EVERYONE has already made one of these...

But it's new to me!

I made a Split Pea Wreath:

I really like it! Especially on my black door!

For the few people in the world that have NOT made one of these and posted it EVERYWHERE, here is a little tutorial!

*******READ THE ENTIRE THING BEFORE YOU START*******

I changed my mind 1/2 way through to what I consider a much better way!

You will need:

* a wreath form. I used the largest straw wreath form known to Man found at Hobby Lobby.
* a pan. Please do not use your favorite pan!
* glue. Mod Podge is pictured because that is what EVERY other tutorial suggested, but I switched to a glue gun later...
* bags of green Split Peas. I ended up using 4 1/2 bags.

1. Dump a pretty deep layer of peas into your pan:

2. With your wreath in and/or over the pan of peas, GENEROUSLY spread on your glue. This picture is my Mod Podge attempt:

3. Scoop up a handful of peas and press them into the glue:

4. Repeat repeat repeat until you have a scant layer of peas all over your wreath.  

*****Please expect a GIGANTIC mess!!! We're talking worse than glitter because it hurts when you step barefoot on peas!*****

5. Carefully walk away and let things dry really good.

6. Here is where all the other tutorials tell you to keep doing layers of Mod Podge and Peas until fully covered.

Well after 2 days and 3 "layers" this is all I had:

I do NOT have time for that crap!!!

So out came the glue gun!

7. Squeeze out a thick layer of glue gun glue onto a little patch of wreath, still trying to keep things contained over that pan:

8. Press a handful of peas into your hot glue. As long as you get a big enough handful, you will not even get burned! Hold it there for a second:

9. Dump off the excess into the pan and repeat...

Yes, you can only do a 2x2 inch section at a time with the glue gun, but the results after one "layer" look like this:

Sooooo.... DONE!!!

I'd rather do a little at a time and have it work than spend all week doing big and useless patches!

10. Spray a few generous layers of finishing spray to keep the sun fading minimal.

11. Glue some felt circles or something on the back because HOLY COW these peas will scrape up your door!

Ta-Da:

Good luck!

Seriously though,

GLUE GUN!!!

Easter Wreath!

Since I am on a wreath-for-every-holiday kick, I made this:

My Easter Ribbon Wreath!

I'm sure you loaded up on JoAnns 50% off Easter ribbon a few weeks ago and would like to make one as well! Here's how:

You will need:
***some type of wreath frame (mine is one of those cheap straw ones, just covered in white ribbon)
***a bazillion strips of ribbon cut to 4.5 inches in length (I used 12 rolls of 9 foot ribbon)
***scissors to cut said ribbon
***glue gun and TONS of glue gun sticks

Here is where I cheated. The only not-very-helpful tutorial I could find about ribbon wreaths says to SEW all the strips of ribbon in half. So for me, that would be about 288 little strips... not going to happen!!!

I just folded mine in half and put glue on each side:

Then I stuck it to my frame with the little ends flaring out so the ribbon stands up straight:

I decided to do a big batch of each type of ribbon I had at a time to make sure things were evenly distributed.

Here is my lovely wreath in progress after one go round:

And after four:

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Not hard, just time!

See all these holes:

Make them all go away!

Pretty soon:

Ta Daaaaaa! Finished Easter Ribbon Wreath!

I like how this one looks so much I just might copy it with different ribbon for a different occasion!

One last tip, I will say it was nice to have my wide ribbon be wired. After all was glued and done I could "fluff" it out to even any gaps!

Let me know if you make one!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!

I thought I would share a good last-minute craft for St. Patrick's Day:

A paper wreath!!!

Don't be scared! This really is super easy and surprisingly quick!

I was originally inspired by this wreath HERE. She has a great tutorial you can check out if my fast version doesn't work for you...

Supplies:
*cheap straw wreath with the plastic ON
*tons of cheap ribbon to wrap said wreath
*6 different patterns of scrapbook paper (2 sheets of each)
*paper cutter
*glue gun and extra glue sticks

Step One:
cover the ugly straw wreath with your ribbon. You really don't see any of the ribbon, but I picked a green color just to be safe!

Step Two:
cut a bazillion 1x6 inch strips of paper. I needed about 22 strips for my first row, 28 for the second, 33 for the third, 37 for the fourth, 40 for the fifth, and 42 for the sixth.

Step Three:
glue each paper strip together at the bottom, making sure not to crease your paper!

Step Four:
starting on the inside of your wrapped wreath frame, glue on the paper strips in a row.

Step Five:
glue on row two right behind row one. Things look kinda goony at this point... just keep going!

Step Six-Nine:
keep gluing on rows! It's up to you how smashed together you want things. I liked mine a bit more open. 

Step Ten:
glue a loop on the back for hanging and Ta-Da!!!

You just made a cute paper St. Patrick's Day wreath in one sitting!!!

...or several sittings!

Whatever it takes to get crafty!

ERIN GO BRAGH!!!

Felt Rose Wreath

My Mom and I wanted to make Valentine's wreaths. So we did what anyone would have...
we Googled it!

Here is what we came up with:

I REALLY like it!!!

Want to know how to make it?

Of course you do!

Supplies:
-straw wreath (leave the plastic on)
-1 1/2 to 2 yards of red felt
-glue gun and TONS of glue sticks
-scissors
-circles to trace
-10mm and 5mm pearls

To make the roses, cut out a circle of felt. Mine were about 6 1/2 inches for the big ones and 3 1/2 inches for the little ones. You can cut out a couple at once to save time :)

Cut a spiral into the circle, leaving a circle in the middle. Again, I did 2 at once.

Ok, now it's one at a time! Roll up your circle starting with the outside pointed edge of your spiral.

Keep rolling until you get to the middle circle you left when cutting. This is where you glue down your rose. If you cannot handle glue gun burns, walk away now; this project is not for you!

Here is your finished rose! You can keep it as loose or tight as you want. The felt is very forgiving! Just play with it. If you really mess up, just unroll and start again.

My finished roses were about 3 inches for the big ones and 1 3/4 inches for the little ones.

Repeat...

Repeat...

Repeat...

I needed 13 big roses and 103 little ones. It depends on how much you squish them in there and how tight you keep your roses.

Cut long strips of the felt as wide as you are comfortable and wrap up that awful straw wreath. Trust me, it is a BAZILLION times easier and cleaner to leave the plastic wrap on!!! Just make sure you glue gun every once in awhile to keep things in place.

Glue gun on your big roses in a circle around the center of the wreath.

Start filling in little roses. I recommend starting on the inside, but it probably really doesn't matter! This is where it's up to you how far back you want your roses to go and how squished together you want them to be.

Making progress...

Ta-Daaaaaa!

Well, not really. Mine still needed something.

So here is where you add your pearls!

Big pearls in big roses and little pearls in little roses. Please expect to fry your fingertips with the little pearls. I found I made less of a glue gun stringy mess if I put the glue on the pearl and not on the flower. Hence the burns...

Close up of your finished product:

See?! It needed the pearls!

My husband calls this my "Quiet Book Wreath" since it's made out of felt. Sigh...

Let me know if you try it!