DIY Christmas Ribbon Wreath

Welcome to my new blog! I still have some kinks to work out-like the horrible navigation bar and the fact I can't reply to any of your comments. So, I have probably mentioned 500 times that I am absolutely horrible when it comes to anything technology and computer related. Seriously, if it is more complex than word or email, I am totally lost. A couple months back I won a giveaway for a ecourse to help design your own blog, and I can honestly say, I was terrified! While it took a lot of work, and many trials and errors, I have come up with something I am pretty happy with. A little more work, and I will be back in business. Thanks to Desirae from Somerfrugal Design for making this process so easy!

 

I am going to pause from my 'Thanksliving' series, to do a little crafting. No, I am so not a craft blogger-I don't have the time or money to do all those super fun things, but with my week off school, I wanted to do something festive. I have had this urge for the past couple weeks to make a wreath, and I kept trying to talk myself out of it. Really, I live in a fairly sketchy apartment complex (yes, we are counting the days till we can get out of there), and there is not a chance in the world I could hang it on the outside of my door without it being stolen or vandalized. Was it completely practical to make a wreath-no! Am I so unbelievably excited that I did-YES! And, to top it off., this was not a pintrest find! WOOHOO!

So here was my inspiration:


From: Kristen's Creations

Clearly, I wasn't able to make this exact wreath. I got to Hobby Lobby and they didn't have red mesh...DUH! This close to Christmas, who was I kidding?! So, I had to get a little creative and come up with my own design. Thank God for 50% off sales at Hobby Lobby!!!!
SUPPLIES:
-Greenery wreath (choose size according to the door)
-2 base wired ribbons (I chose a red and a gold)
-2 wired printed ribbons
-Ornaments
-Picks (optional, I bought some but decided against them)
-Ornament/Letter/Design (again optional but way cute!)
-Wire and wire cutters
-Hot glue (I wired everything on, but this is a good option also)

My base ribbons. The red is a thicker ribbon to provide the bulk of the weight, while the gold had some design and glitter for a little extra bang!

Again, both ribbons are wired so they are easy to shape. I chose some fun ribbons to make my wreath festive and funky!

I debated on the size of ornaments, and am so glad I went with small ones. They looked like little berries on the wreath. I liked that the box came with a lot of ornaments so I could do clusters of 3. An odd number is always more pleasing to the eye :)

The picks were way cute, but I decided were overall distracting to what I had going on in my wreath. Choose what works best for yours-but mine are being returned today.

I intentionally did not take pictures step-by-step because I wanted a wreath to be your personal creation. I know when I see things that are completely step-by-step, I follow them completely and am not able to get creative.

But here are the steps I took:
1. I started with my red, wider base ribbon. I used the wire to secure it to the wreath, and wrapped it all the way around. Once I was happy with the spacing, I secured each loop with wire.
2. I did the same with the gold, spacing the gold in between the red. Play with this and decide if you want wider or thinner loops. I liked having the red and gold spaced very closely together.
3. I began with the white polka dot ribbon and cut 5 small strips. I used wire to create a loop off the wreath, and then wired that loop onto the wreath. Again, play with the spacing and number of loops you want.
4. I did the same with the green/red ribbon. I choose to do more of these, but smaller loops.
5. Next, I pulled out all of my ornaments and clustered them into groups of three. I wired them together as a cluster off the wreath first, and then wired them onto the wreath.
6. This is where any picks you choose to use would be added. Again, I did not use mine. Remember, you want an odd number.
7. Finally, I wired the ornament into the wreath using the hanger of the ornament. You could also use hot glue to secure the ornament, just be sure you don't glue on a material that will melt.

Seriously, that's it!!

 

 

 

So, by no means am I an expert, but feel free to ask questions on any part of the process! I would also love if you shared a wreath you have made for Christmas!