Easy wreath update

I finally have the bathroom door on and a functioning toilet and faucet, but their are still some things that need to be done in the bathroom. But here it is, the week after Thanksgiving.  My cards are sent (mostly) and I finished decorating for Christmas today.  So I decided to write an easy post that may almost seem too simple, but something that I feel makes a big difference. I don’t know why more people don’t do this, so I thought I’d just put it out there.

I really love the look of fresh wreaths, garlands and trees.  I don’t want to spend the money on fresh ones that are only going to be up for a month!  A few years ago, I started adding fresh clippings from my yard to my fake evergreens and I think they look almost as good, and smell great.

If you believe that you are not very creative (which I believe that everyone is creative to some extent), this is the project for you!  It is ridiculously easy and requires no time.  Supplies needed:

• An old evergreen wreath with a wire back (the one in the picture loses needles every time I put it down)
• floral wire (or several green twisty ties recycled form the supermarket produce area)
• pruners and gardening gloves if using holly
• assorted evergreen trees in your yard
• ribbon and trim of your choice (plastic ornaments, floral picks, bead)

1.  Cut some small clippings  (6-10 each, depending on the wreath size) of assorted evergreens in your yard.  I used holly, and two types of junipers- a green and gold.  Use whatever you have, but variety makes it nice. I need to cut back my junipers because they invade the walkways.
2. Trim one of the evergreens to slightly longer than the branches of your wreath and strip off the lower third of it’s leaves/needles
3. Tuck the evergreens into the wreath in the same direction as the fake evergreens, alternating between inner/middle and outer. The stem in the back can be tucked under an adjacent fake evergreen branch or the wireframe on the back of the wreath. I have done this on a for years on a door that is used frequently and we have fairly decent wind on our hill and haven’t had any problems with the clipping falling out.
4. Do the same with the next group of evergreens, switching to an area that does not have the fresh greens
5. Repeat with the third set of evergreens, if using.
6. Add your trim with floral wire (or green twisty ties).
7. Loosely wrap the ribbon around the wreath. Make and attach bow with floral wire.

Now you have a beautiful wreath that looks real and is personalized for your decor.

 

On a side note, I do this to other evergreens on my porch and even inside.  I live in Pennsylvania, so it is usually cold enough that they stay nice throughout the season.  The inside ones need to be changed out after about two weeks.  I just throw them out when they start losing needles and add some fresh ones.

 

Happy Decorating!