Christmas Wreaths For Doors Or Tables
by Colleen Moulding - colleen@allthatwomenwant.com

Description: Ideas and instructions for making Christmas wreaths.

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First gather together:

A circular wire wreath frame
Lots of moss
Florists wire on a roll
Florists stub wires
Wire cutters
Evergreen foliage, anything you have available, possibly holly,
Christmas tree cuttings, ivy, anything you can find in the garden.
Pine cones, natural or sprayed gold
Walnuts, natural or sprayed gold
Bunches of twigs cut to approx 3" long, natural or sprayed gold
Berries from the florist or the garden
Dried orange slices (Slice, then bake in the oven on a very low heat for 15 minutes, turn then leave for cook another 15 minutes.)
Ribbon for bow if desired.

Cover your frame with moss:

Begin by taking handfuls of the moss and attaching it to the frame by binding it on with the wire from the roll. Continue all the way around until the whole frame is covered with moss. Twist two or three stub wires together to make a hanging loop and fix this to the top of the frame. If you are worried about your door or table being damaged by the wreath this is a good time to fix a piece of plastic to the back, don't worry it will be completely covered by foliage when the wreath is complete.

Wire your materials into bunches:

Make little bunches of your foliage by wrapping a few stems together with a stub wire, then twisting the wires so that you have a little wire stem to fix into the wreath. Do this with all your materials. To wire a pine cone, hook a stub wire into the almost closed layers at the bottom of the cone, then twist the ends together to make a little stem as with the foliage and berries. Wire walnuts by sliding a wire through the bottom of the nut. Wire orange slices by bending a stub wire in half like a hairpin and using that to secure the slice. Wire your twigs into little piles and wrap with wire. Tie with a piece of ribbon or raffia.

Add your bunches to the base:

Starting with your green foliage, secure bunches all the way around the wreath into the moss until the moss is completely covered. Now add the berries, orange slices, twigs, walnuts and cones at regular intervals in any design that pleases you.

Add a bow:

Mist your wreath thoroughly with water, and continue to do this once a day throughout the holidays. Add a beautiful bow, hang on the door and wait for the compliments.

For the table:

Wreaths such as these can also be used on the table, perhaps circling a display of candles. Be sure never to leave a lighted candle arrangement unattended.

Other types of wreaths:

Grapevine or willow wreath forms can be used as the base for lovely everlasting Christmas displays of dried or silk flowers and Christmas decorations. Wrap with ribbon or artificial foliage before adding your decorations. The easiest way to attach these to the form is with a hot glue gun.

Make large or tiny for the tree wreaths from cardboard circles to which you attach a small piece of wadding/batting to give a slightly padded look, then cover with ribbon or fabric, (glue or staple in place) before decorating as above. This is a super project if you have to entertain lots of children as they can all take a few home for the tree. Finish with ribbon hanging loops.

Copyright 2001, Colleen Moulding. Colleen Moulding is a freelance writer from England where she has had many features on parenting, childcare, travel, the environment, the Internet and many more subjects published in national magazines and newspapers. She has also published a variety of women's and children's fiction. Her work frequently appears at many sites on the Internet and at her own site for women and children http://wwww.AllThatWomen Want.com a magazine, web guide and resource for women everywhere.

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