If you're still in need of a centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table, please check out the article for October 12th for instructions on making a cornucopia basket. These beautiful baskets are simple to make and when completed bring the feeling of a bountiful harvest to your holiday table.
This week, I will continue with Christmas craft ideas. I will be sharing the instructions on making miniature Christmas wreaths. These are by far one of my most favorite projects. I thought it would be interesting to incorporate the same basic ideas I use when making regular dried flower wreaths to create miniature Christmas wreaths. The design of the wreaths is only limited to your imagination, so go forth and be creative!
Here is a suggested list of items/supplies for the project: 2" grapevine wreath, red satin ribbon ΒΌ" width (green or gold), greenery of your choice-I use green plumose, a fern like stem that is very delicate, or real cedar leaves, plain and lightly sprayed with gold paint on tips, (these leaves have a very nice holiday fragrance), gold colored galaxy gyp, holly berries, I use the most realistic looking artificial ones I can find, miniatures, for example, real pinecones and small cinnamon sticks, small artificial peppermint sticks, small or medium jingle bells, small magnets (optional), glue gun, clear glue sticks and miniature wrapped presents and ornaments.
Snippet: I buy artificial Christmas stems. They're loaded with small miniature items that you can clip off to use on your wreath. Unless you plan on making multiple wreaths, it is usually less expensive to buy several stems of miniatures than packages of miniatures.
Place the wreath on a flat surface (try to determine a top and bottom, grapevine wreaths come in unusual shapes). Select your ribbon and cut approximately 32". Start at the lower right portion of the wreath. Loop the ribbon around the wreath and tie a tight knot. Leave about 5" hanging from one piece of the ribbon, with the other piece, wrap the ribbon over and under the wreath, all the way around, until you end up back at the knot. Use the remaining piece of ribbon in your hand along with the 5" hanging from the knot and tie a tight bow. Leave the excess ribbon hanging and cut the ends at an angle. Next, cut 6" to 8" of additional ribbon. Loop the ribbon through a rib at the top of the wreath or you can loop the ribbon around the wreath, whichever you prefer. Tie a knot at the end of the ribbon. Leave approximately 1" unused. Clip the ends of the ribbon at an angle. You have now created the loop used to hang the wreath.
