Fall Wreath

My pal Kelly asked me for a fall wreath, so I put together a few of my favorite tricks.  

I grabbed a foam wreath (they sell these at the Dollar Tree, but you can find larger sizes at any craft store, they just aren't as cheap).  I found some yarn from Hobby Lobby on clearance that matched the fall colors I had in mind.  I simply wrapped it around and around.    I used some felt I had in my house already to make some flowers to attach.  Very easy and affordable.

Pencil Door Hanging

I made this pencil wreath last month as the school year geared up.  

 Step one is to cut out the shape and then run some glue or no fray glue around the edges so the strings won't fray away.  Cut out two of the same shapes and I do this to both the front and back.

I then paint my design on plastic.  Since the holes are so large in burlap it takes a lot of paint and this helps the paint kind of 'pool' and stick better.  

 Once it dries, run hot glue along three side's edges and glue the paint front to the blank back.

 I left an opening so I can stuff this.

I stuffed mine with paper b/c I plan to add some heated vinyl with a name or word eventually, but you can also stuff these with plastic bags or stuffing.  

Glue the last side and then add some rope for hanging.  These would be cute as a pumpkin or I've seen cute summer watermelons and flamingos.

Vintage Jewelry Projects

I love collecting vintage jewelry and brooches.  The goal is to spend as little as possible though, so I collect them at salvation army stores and thrift stores.  You can get a great deal when you find those bags with only 'one earring.'  I'm not going to actually uses the jewelry for it's original purpose, so I'm OK just having one earring, but I love repurposing something that had a life before...in this case, I hope it was a fun one.  

I recently did a segment for Good Morning, Texas.  They asked me to bring some projects using old jewelry.  I'll link the video here, but I'm also including a few pictures.  I used some of my brooches to decorate frames.  

I also made a wreath with some using a dollar store wreath I covered with some burlap ribbon.  The only tools I needed were a glue gun, so it was really easy, and I love getting to look at these vintage jewels in their repurposed form.
http://www.wfaa.com/entertainment/television/programs/good-morning-texas/turning-vintage-jewels-into-keepsake-items/456078403

Dollar Store Bunny Wreath

 I've really been into pink and white this Easter.  I recently saw a wreath like this online and knew just where to grab the pieces.

They sell foam wreaths and bunny ears at the dollar store.  You can also find boas there, but they aren't always in stock, so I used a coupon and got two for half off at the craft store.  

 I took the ears and stretched them around the foam and then taped them into place.

 I then taped the edge of the boa onto the foam wreath and started wrapping it around.

 It took two boas to cover the whole thing.  You could spray the foam white if you want to space out the boa a little more (but not see the green foam), but.....the point is-easy and adorable and it fits right into my current decor.

Scrap Wreath

I saw a few wreaths made out of scraps on pinterest lately and I just so happen to have lots and lots of scraps....

 I adapted it a bit and used a foam wreath I had on hand from the dollar tree.  I found this little hello chipboard at Hobby Lobby (I used a coupon) and then I just started gluing fabric and tying on scraps of ribbon.

 Not too shabby for two dollars in supplies.  It's a bright little wreath in my craft room made with the remnants of projects past....see....I knew I need to save those scraps!

Vintage Ornament Wreath

I recently scored some really great bags of antique ornaments at a thrift store.  I took a video of some of the bags of goodies here.  The only thing I didn't get in a grab bag was the little elf on the top of the wreath.  I bought him at a vintage days show a few weeks back, but I knew I wanted him for this wreath to join the other grab bag elf.  

I got a foam wreath form and two strands of tinsel at the Dollar Tree.  

 The tinsel helped me get the ornaments to stay better.  I just took my glue gun and started gluing.  The nice thing is a lot of the ornaments with imperfections (like the deer with no front paws) could be covered by other ornaments.

I tried to space out the large ones, and then fill in the rest with the smaller ornaments.  

 The only ornaments I refused to glue were the two elves.  I'm in love with these.  I took a long pin and I pushed it through the felt down into the foam wreath.

Pumpkin Painting-Gone Pickin'

I picked a picker last year.  He had all this random junk treasures...including this rusty old broiler lid.  He was at a parking lot sale.  He had junk, beautiful, beautiful junk.  This little lid got a makeover.  I love the rust and figured it'd needed pumpkins and a message.  I'm skipping the wreath this fall and adding a large broiler lid to my door instead.  Somebody has to keep the neighbors entertained.

Dollar Store Halloween Wreath

 I made this wreath last year using dollar store items, with a few thrown in from the craft store.
First, I used these birds I posted about last year that I sprayed with black paint to look like crows.

I covered the whole wreath with moss (I just wired it on) and then added black roses, black Christmas balls and sparkle spiders (from Michael's).  

Cotton Branch Wreath

I'm a little late to the party, but in my defense....it took me forever to find cotton branches.  I heard they sold these at Michael's....and I finally found some in the fall section this year.  I purchased seven branches one week when they were 40 percent off.  

 Instead of using a wreath frame, I just used some brown wire (also bought with a coupon) to tie together the branch that I curved into a circle and connected.

So....for less than 30 dollars (I don't know the exact amount) I made one of these wreaths that usually cost at least 40 dollars+.

Baseball Wreath

 I'm headed to GMT today to demo some summer wreaths.  I've been posted those tutorials over the last few days.  I'll post the video later on facebook, but in the meantime, here is the final wreath.

 I'm going to demo this bubble wreath on Good Morning, Texas.  It's soooooo simple, and requires no glue.  I decided to deck this guy out for baseball season.  I bought all these ribbons at Hobby Lobby for half off (they sell their ribbon at half price for 50% off every other week, so...check your adds..if they aren't on sale this week, they will be next week-this makes them 1-2 dollars).  I did go to JoAnn for the baseball ribbon.

 I just found places all over the wire frame within the bubbled burlap and tied a knot until it was totally covered.

I found some used baseballs from a thrift store nearby, and a chalk board to write messages on (perhaps the score?) and I added those as well.  I'm ready for a (continued) great season, Rangers.

Dollar Store Wreath

 I put this wreath together for less than five dollars (and half of that was for button covers).

 I got this wreath form at the dollar store.  I found this ribbon in the clearance section at Hobby Lobby for less than two dollars (and I only used half), and then I bought a few scraps of felt and burlap.

 I glued one end of the ribbon to the wreath and then wrapped it around the wreath/glued again when the two ribbons met.  I just made some simple felt and burlap flowers using some of these techniques.  I also bought these buttons for half off at Hobby Lobby and used some scrap fabrics for the center.