Christmas decorating - 12 unique wreaths you can make

Wreaths are part of Christmas and there are thousands of different designs in the market place. These wreaths are not the bought kind.  I selected them because they are quirky, interesting and easily crafted at home with a bit of elbow grease and ingenuity.  Check the links provided for instructions. 

 Shabby Love

 Cut twigs into slices on a band saw and glue on a foam wreath form.   Love it.  If you don't know someone with a band saw, you need to cultivate a new friend! I would skip the bow and just use a burlap loop.

 BHG

Cover a wreath form with satin ribbon and glue on seed pearls. That should keep you busy for awhile.

 Our Unexpected Journey

You can purchase large MDF letters at Michael's  or cut your own.  It is important to seal MDF with primer or Varathane before beginning. Water and MDF are not a good match!. I would paint the form red before attaching the berries with glue.  If you can't find MDF letters, cut one out of foam core that can be purchased at any art supply store.  

 CasaSugar

Feathers are hot this year. The appearance of yours will depend on the kinds of feathers you can find.

Base Decor 

 Love the warn wreaths that seem to be everywhere this Christmas.  It's a great way to use up odd bits of yarn.

Good Housekeeping

I've loved buttons since I was a child.This white-on-white wreath is so cute. Simply wrap a straw wreath with cream-colored muslin fabric and stitch on a multitude of pearly buttons.It you're not in a stitching mood, use hot glue.

Good Housekeeping

 3 D paper stars are beautiful when  massed into a wreath. Directions can be found at link above.

 Living Artfully

 This is a take on ornament wreaths that have been around for awhile.  This one is very effective because of the colour scheme and the variety in ornament sizes.There are detailed instructions on the link above.

 Creative Decor

 I can't resist silver stars on green. This can be purchased but it would be so easy to make.

 Good Housekeeping

This one is for the birds!  Recycle a wooden frame by covering it with nontoxic glue, then sprinkling it with bird seed. Place the wreath outdoors for all your feathered friends.

Good Housekeeping

 First, wrap a straw wreath form with red ribbon, then use a hot-glue gun to attach each piece of candy.I've seen a similar one with striped peppermint candy. Very effective.

And who could resist a wreath made out of old bling?

If you have a favourite unique wreath I'd love to hear about it. 

Christmas decorating: If you like red

The traditional colour of the Christmas season is red. I like the simplicity of using just one colour in repetition to create sleek designs. It's the repetition of shape that gives them that wow factor.

  

 Houzz

How simple can it get?  These snowflake designs are made out of craft sticks glued and spray painted.  They look smashing with this white chair and light coloured walls.  There's always positives  when you choose a neutral colour scheme! This would not look half as interesting on a darker wall. I think I would also have red candles.

 

 

33 Shades of Green

 Clear vases can be filled with all variety of berries covered in water and then float candles on the top.  So simple.  Having at least three of varying heights makes the arrangement interesting.

 BHG

 Here's a variation on the idea above. Add cranberries to the bottom and then water and add an amaryllis.  Invest in two artificial ones and you can re-use each year.  I've gotten mileage out of mine I purchased at Michael's. I'd skip the ribbon, but that is a personal preference; I'm not a gal for visual clutter.

 Trendy Tree

The sleight is the focal point in this display, the reindeer add visual interest and energy, and the trees add strength.  The leaves soften the whole look.  This is so effective against the white.

Trendy Tree

Another take on using red trees,  this time with "sparkle pods" garland giving lots of energy to the strong verticals the trees provide.

 Your Nest Design

You often see large candy canes from plastic or glass, but what do you do with them to make an interesting display?  This is a simple idea easily put together from the dollar store.  The white vase is the necessary part. It has interesting details and height and is the prefect sophisticated element to add oomph to this design.

 House and Home

Here's another table centerpiece built on one colour and repetition.  Two shapes always makes it more interesting- roses and berries. Carnations would be a more cost effective substitute. 

 BHG

Ornaments, the larger the better, provide a striking look when hung from a drapery rod with sheer ribbon.  Alternate satin, shiny and sparkly.

Simple ideas for Christmas decorating

Each year I seem to do less and less decorating for the Christmas season and what I do changes slightly.  One thing stays the same- simplicity.  There was a time when I went all out and it took days to set everything up.  Now I do a bit here and a bit there as the mood hits and presto, I'm ready. Here's a few sneak peeks at this years efforts. I like to reuse what I have in different ways and I depend on greenery from my garden to add life to the arrangements.This year a can of silver metallic Krylon spray paint has been my friend.  I'm spraying everything in sight.

 This is plastic and was a bronze colour last year.  It was weary from the weather last winter and a shot of metallic silver brought it back to life.  I left a few hints of the bronze showing for variety.  This is one of my all time favourite wreaths.

 

Directly below it is my flower pot that has been every colour possible. I like the silver.  I also spray painted the stalks of dried goat's beard from the garden and inserted them in a bed of broom.  The ornaments were ones I had on hand except for the purple one.

 

 Here's the arrangement on my front door step.  There's a carport on my house so it works well to protect things from the wind and snow.

 The only addition to this display on my dining room table is the insertion of the amaryllis.  I've had it for awhile and it changes location and has a new purpose each year.

 My fluorescent green berries and beads get a new home in this lovely green,  bronze, and black vase.  The candlesticks are usually in the dining room. It's all very understated.
 

On the picture frame mantle in the family room I'm using a repetition of varying heights of candles  and spray painted pine cones.  The wreath was gold with cream and pink poinsettias from years ago. It took on a great sculptural look when everything was sprayed the same colour.

That's where I am so far.  More ideas later....