Brighten your morale and beat the winter blahs by getting yourself excited for spring with these five DIY wreaths from DIY design guy Nicholas Rosaci.
Coloured coffee filter wreath
Materials:
- 100 standard coffee filters – basket style
- 12” wreath form (foam)
- Food colouring – red, green, yellow, and blue
- 4 small bowls filled halfway with water
- Glue gun and glue sticks
- Pencil with an eraser on the end
- Hardware to hang wreath
Method:
Colour the water in each of the bowls with its own colour by mixing the water with 2-4 drops of the food colouring.
Dip the ruffled end of a coffee filter into the first bowl of water. The coffee filter will change colour as it slowly absorbs and wicks up the water. Set aside to completely dry. Repeat to create roughly equal amounts of coffee filters coloured with each of the food coloured water – red, green, yellow and blue.
Tip: Add a few extra drops of food colour into the water bowl to create a more saturated colour or mix colours as desired to create a new colour for an ombre effect.
Place the eraser end of the pencil in the center of the filter bottom. Gently pull and squeeze the ruffled ends of the filter closer together around the stem of the pencil to form a loose “cone” shaped “flower” with ruffled edges and a pointed base.
Keep the pencil inserted in the flower so that the eraser end is on the inside of the pointed flower base. Use a small dab of hot glue to affix the outside of the pointed flower base to the wreath form and then remove the pencil. Glue all of remaining flowers around the wreath and in no particular colour order, filling in all of the gaps so the wreath form is no longer visible.
Hang the wreath to you door and enjoy its multi-coloured and ombre effect.
Spring garden hose wreath
Materials:
- Standard green or other coloured garden hose (short length)
- Lightweight fabric garden gloves
- Glue gun and glue sticks
- Rubber coated wire twist ties
- Pipe cleaners
- Faux flower blooms
- Decorative ribbon / bow
- Hardware to hang wreath
Method:
Wind the garden hose into a circular wreath shape and discreetly secure with wire twist ties or a dab of hot glue to keep the hose from unravelling.
Create a large bow with the ribbon and use a pipe cleaner to pinch the middle of the ribbon. Affix the garden gloves to the back of the bow using the same pipe cleaner ends twisted to keep in place.
Attach the bow / garden glove assembly to the front of the garden hose with hot glue or a twisted pipe cleaner.
Discreetly affix the faux flower blooms along 1/3rd section of the hose where the bow and garden glove assembly is attached, and secure in place with a dab of hot glue, twisted pipe cleaners or the stems of the blooms. Pick bloom colours that will complement the colour of the garden hose.
Hang wreath on door for a whimsical and fun spring summer effect.
Gumball elegant spring wreath
Materials:
- Gumballs
- 16” wreath form (foam)
- Spray paint – outdoor/indoor krylon – gloss
- Decorative wide ribbon
- Hardware to hang wreath
Method:
Use a dab of hot glue and glue the gum balls to fit tightly around the wreath form with minimal gaps. Completely cover all sides except for the flat back.
Cover the entire wreath with several light coats of spray paint. Let each coat dry completely before applying the next. A final coat of acrylic protective spray will ensure the most durable finish.
Use a wide decorative ribbon to loop around the inside of the wreath and hang at desired length and tie a bow.
Aged paper plate rose wreath
Materials:
- 50 standard paper plates with frill edges
- 16 “ grapevine wreath form
- Spray paint – outdoor/indoor – krylon – gloss
- 2-3 cups of black tea
- Glue gun and glue sticks
- Hardware to hang wreath
Method:
Slightly crumple the paper plates and soak in a large container with water and a few tea bags. Remove from the tea, flatten and let dry completely on newsprint or on an oven rack at very low heat.
Spray paint both sides of the paper plate and if desired, the grapevine wreath and let dry.
Cut each plate into a spiral. The outer edge of the spiral should be cut wavy to create a more realistic flower petal look.
Create the paper roses by winding up the spirals in a circular fashion starting at the center and creating outer layers as you wind. Use small dabs of hot glue gun to keep the paper spiral flower from loosing shape. Each flower should look slightly different, some wound tighter than others for the best effect.
Affix the paper roses around the front face of the grapevine wreath.
Umbrella vessel wreath
Materials:
- Colourful and/or patterned decorative umbrella
- Various faux flowers and greenery
- Decorative ribbon / bow
- Basic packing paper
- Hardware of your choice to hang
Method:
Insert some rolled up packing paper into the bottom half of a closed umbrella to give the umbrella a more full shape.
Create a large bow using a decorative ribbon and tie about halfway up the umbrella.
Separate some of the ribs of the umbrella to form a shallow pocket creating a vessel to hold flowers.
Select an assortment of faux flowers and greenery of your choice. Insert and arrange the assortment into the shallow pockets of the umbrella.
Hang the umbrella on a door at an angle if desired and primp the arrangement for the best effect.
Courtesy Nicholas Rosaci