I think I’ve said this before: wreaths are possibly the most popular submission item to Dollar Store Crafts, year-round. As I made this wreath, I was reminded why they’re such a popular crafted item: because they’re fun, easy to make, and infinitely customizable. You can use your favorite materials (whether they’re clockwork gears, yarn, monster fur, or radishes), you can add basically anything to serve as an accent piece, and in just a few minutes’ time, you can have a fun and functional piece of decor that is as unique as you are.
Because wreaths are so popular and all of you are so creative, I’ve decided that we need to have a Wreath Contest (two ways to win)! Thanks for entering, but the drawing is now closed!
But first, the tutorial! I channeled my inner Ruffles & Stuff and Living with Lindsay and made a ruffle for this Burlap Ruffle Wreath!
Project Estimate:
- 15″ wreath, $1
- Burlap, on hand or about $1
- Wooden plaque, on hand or $1 and up
- Ribbon, on hand or $.50
- Sewing stuff (machine or needle & thread)
- Hot glue gun
Total: $1 and up
A word about the supplies:
- Wreath: The dollar store has faux greenery wreaths that are not terribly realistic, and not terribly full and lush. But let’s face it, you aren’t going to spend a buck and expect the greenery of the wreath to be the star of the show. No, the one dollar wreath is definitely a background player, which is a great canvas for your creativity!
- Burlap: So I’ve been reading all the good frugal decor blogs lately, and I have seen a lot of burlap! I was excited when I received this plaque from Jack at CarveIt.ca and the package was wrapped in burlap. I was able to recycle the burlap packaging into the materials for this wreath!
- Ribbon: I had it in my stash, and I’m sure you do too. If not, you can get it at your craft or big-box store for about $.50, or at your dollar store for $1.
- Plaque: Get a custom plaque from CarveIt.ca, or make your own from a dollar store plaque (I’ll leave you to figure out how to do that yourself!)
- Substitutions: You can use anything from your stash instead of my suggested materials.
To Make:
The Wreath:
Pull out the spokes of the wreath to extend it to its 15″ size.
Here’s the wreath at its fully-extended size. See what I meant about “not terribly lush”? Still, what a bargain for a buck!
Burlap Ruffle:
I cut strips from my burlap fabric (about 3″ wide). I sewed two of them together to make a longer piece.
Adjust your sewing machine straight stitch to the longest length and sew along one long edge of the burlap to gather into a ruffle. If that isn’t ruffly enough for you, you can manually pleat the ruffle as you sew it. If you don’t have a machine, use your needle and thread to sew a long basting stitch through the long edge of burlap and gather into a ruffle.
Burlap Bow:
I had a bit of burlap ruffle left over, so I gathered it into a circle to make a bow.
Pinch the circle in the middle.
Tie in the middle with a piece of ribbon.
Assemble the Wreath:
Hot glue the ruffle to the center of the wreath. Trim any excess burlap that covers the wreath too much.
Wrap the ribbon (or any other adornments) around the wreath.
Secure ends of the ribbon to the back of the wreath with a bit of hot glue.
Squeeze some hot glue on the back of the plaque and place on top of wreath. You might want to turn wreath over (as shown here) and add some extra glue. I did, because I felt like the hot glue was already starting to dry by the time I put the plaque on the wreath and I wanted to make sure it was secure. Since hot glue is pretty easy to remove, I am not worried about using it on the plaque. I’ll be able to remove it and remake it when I feel like it.
Place a long cut piece of burlap for ties, glue it, and then glue the bow on top of it. I put mine off of center, side-ponytail style! You’re done! That was easy, wasn’t it?
Wreath Contest
Thanks for entering, but the drawing is now closed! Click here for drawing results
See the pretty plaque in the center of my wreath? It was made by Jack at CarveIt.ca, and he has generously offered to provide a couple of custom plaques (8×8″, the same size as this one here) for my readers! You can design custom signs at his website or email him custom art and he makes awesome signs. Check out this amazing sign Cathe at Just Something I Made designed. Super sweet!
One custom plaque will be awarded at random to a commenter in this post.
- To enter, comment on this post and tell me what your favorite wreath would look like (or DOES look like), or a material you’d like to use on your next wreath, or any wreath-related opinions you have, or a link to a cool wreath you’ve come across while internetting it up.
- Contest ends Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 8pm Pacific time.
- I will choose a winner by Random.org drawing and announce it on Thursday morning
- Winner receives an 8×8 plaque like the one shown here, with custom text.
The other custom plaque will be awarded to someone who MAKES a wreath.
- To enter, tell us about it over here in it in THIS post. Check that post for more details.
Jack has also offered my readers a discount on a custom version of this sign with your last name on it.
On the website, the sign shown here (8×8) costs $45 + shipping (painted and finished). Dollar Store Crafts readers’ price: as low as $25!
Offer Details:
- $35 + shipping painted and finished (A $45 value)
- or $25 + shipping unpainted unfinished (A $35 value)
- Shipping is around $10
- These prices are in Canadian dollars, so slightly less in US currency (Click here to find the conversion)
- Email Jack at [email protected] with the subject Dollar Store Crafts and the text you want on the sign and he’ll send you a preview and invoice
24 Comments
haley
I really want to make the Book wreath from this website!
And those plaques are beautiful. What a great website to share. Thanks!
cj
If I should find the time, I would love to make a wreath out of beads and ribbon! One day I will actually do it with all of my “extra” beads in my collection…but I’ll hang it in my studio because my neighbours would totally swipe it…
Love the blog!
Vone
I really loved the pinecone wreath I made last year. http://howtodosomething.blogspot.com/2008/12/how-to-make-pinecone-wreath-part-2.html
I also made a huge wreath out of paper mache that was a lot of fun too. I love wreaths for Christmas but don’t have enough places to put them.
The link to the “Make” a wreath part of the contest doesn’t seem to be working.
Birdie
That’s surprisingly pretty for such a low cost. How thriftily fabulous!!
Jessica Y
I like big, overblown wreaths. Which is ironic, because there is a simple straw Ikea wreath on my door now.
Sherri S
I love Dollar store wreath forms. I’ve made 3 different holiday wreaths (1 Thanksgiving and 2 Christmas). I’m not sure I can pick my favorite! All 3 are posted on my blog. ;-)
Mandi
This year I was unpacking our holiday stuff and I found a plain wreath form. I had a cute snowman decoration that didn’t have a place to go. So, I stuck him on the wreath, added garland that looked like beads, added a bow, and tied on some jingle bells. It only took about 30 minutes, but it looks great on our door! I want to make some of the book wreaths from y’all’s tute… it’s on my to-make list.
Thanks for the chance to enter!
Jessica H.
I saw a gorgeous white felt snowflake wreath on BHG.com If I had anywhere else to hang a wreath, I would make one. My windows are full as it is!!!
Sarah
I made the book wreath from this site and LOVED it. I’m going to try a gum drop one next and get another entry for this great contest! :)
Lea-Ann
There is a wreath in the neighborhood by my kid’s school that I Love. It is HUGE, and it has lots of randomness, that I know I could never pull off. It has teal tinsel, purple balls, and red led lights, but for whatever reason it really works.
Holly W
I love big shining and sparkling wreaths. I am plan to tackle making the one with all the dollar store ball ornament on a coat hanger tomorrow with the kids.
jenjen
That is a really cute idea. I love the burlap element!
XOX
Jen
Jennifer Elton
I saw this white Ruffle wreath that was made out of felt and I absolutely love it.
ynaffit
I’d like a wreath with birdhouses… A hexagonal shape, each length will have a little birdhouse and 4 pickets of fence, making a large or small wreath! Birds are welcome all year long, to it’d be festive for every holiday!
Jennifer M.
I love the ball ornament cluster wreaths and the book wreath. I’m making a pine cone wreath now.
AmandaR
I am going to make a succulent wreath to enter into the contest. I just need to find the time to do it. I’ve seen them around for $90. I have the wreath form and the succulents. I just need to put them together!
Jen VG
I want to make one of the wreaths made from all christmas balls. I really love how they look. I am sure once I got going I would like to make several in different color combos.
Jen VG
Myrnie
I love wreaths :) I’d love to try something solid next time- solid pine cones, solid radishes, solid roses…totally all the same thing.
living with lindsay
Oh, my! That’s gorgeous!
Kathy V.
It turned out very nicely, Heather!
Vicky
Just Love, LOVe your Burlap Ruffle Wreath! And Jack’s plaque is great! I’d love to see a wreath (made with dollar store stuff, of course :) traditional red & green with a little glitz! vicmeier(at)hotmail(com)
Jennifer
Every year I splurge on the live pine wreath at Costco–that way I get my Christmas Tree Scent and can live with my fake tree for another year!
AmandaH
I love grass wreaths. I found this one at Better Homes and Gardens http://www.bhg.com/holidays/christmas/wreaths/easy-holiday-wreaths/?page=3. I think I’m going to make a whole assortment of different grass wreaths this year.
Samantha
I want to try making a painted pinecone wreath with my two preschool-aged children this year! Thanks for all the wonderful inspiration, DSC! I’m in love with your site!
I also love the wooden plaques and hope mine is the random number selected tomorrow!