Deck the doors!

In the process of writing up a tutorial for my paper flowers technique, I was trying to think of unique was to incorporate them into a project. And, like a lightning bolt, it hit me... these would make an AWESOME Christmas wreath. Then, when I discovered that the American Crafts "Flair!" was the p.e.r.f.e.c.t. size to cover the brads in the center of the flowers... it was like the crafting gods had their divine intervention!



What you will need...

For the wreath base:
*One 18" styrofoam wreath
*16 yards of ribbon to wrap the wreath base with (all my ribbons are the American Crafts holiday line sold at Michael's in individual 3 yard rolls... you'll need 6 rolls)
*One roll of extra-wide wired ribbon for the bow at the top of the wreath
*Picture hanging wire
*Hot glue gun

For the flowers:
*One sheet each of 6 different styles of patterned paper (all papers and other products here are from the new American Crafts holiday line)
*24 large brads
*24 rubberbands (I use the colored rubberbands you can buy for children's hair at the grocery store... don't worry about the colors b/c you won't see them)
*Glue dots
*3 packages of American Crafts holiday Flair! (coincidentally, there are 3 different set of Flair! with 8 designs per package. That equals 24 pieces of Flair!... which is exactly how many flowers you will need. See, I told you... divine intervention of the crafting gods!)

Start out by wrapping the wreath with ribbon, securing along the way with hot glue. Ideally, it would be great if you could get 6 rolls of the same ribbon. However, if your Michael's is as small as mine, you will only be able to get 2 of the same design. It's not that big of a deal. You won't really see it anyway when the wreath is done... unless you're looking at it from the side. And who really looks at it like that if it's on your front door? Not me. Anyhow, wrap the wreath...



Set the wreath aside, and start working on your flowers per the previously mentioned tutorial. Each sheet of patterned paper will provide you with (4) 5" squares to make flowers from. Once you have the basic flowers assembled, glitter the edges of them with glitter glue. Usually, I'm the biggest Stickles advocate, but in this case... I used the cheap stuff from Michael's. Trust me... you'll need that big bottle, and it gets a thicker line of glitter that is preferable for this project...



Then, add your Flair! to the middle of the flowers, and you'll be done with them. Now, all you have to do is adhere them to the wreath base using hot glue. I overlapped them so that none of the ribbon below was visible. This will leave you with a gap at the top, but that's okay because we're going to cover it up with that pretty bow! Just tie a simple bow from a 2' length of extra-wide wired ribbon, and trim the ends. Secure the bow to the wreath with more hot glue, and run a length of picture wire through the back of it to provide a hanger for your wreath. Voila! Now, you've got a beautiful wreath that will greet your guests at the front door year after year.



**THANK YOU so much to all of the ladies over at 2Peas that voted for my wreath... #1 by votes in LESS THAN 45 minutes! That's just freaking amazing. And, layout of the day to boot! Thank you!!! xoxoxo, Holly**