September Wreath

The absolute longest month of the year for me is September.  The kids are back in school and our summer adventures are behind us.  Thus, I start looking forward to cooler weather and pumpkins.  But, the reality in southern Texas is, it's still summer.  Sweltering, humid, the swimming pool feels like bath water, summer.  A couple of weeks ago, I was feeling especially trunky for fall.  Seeing that it was approximately 103 degrees outside, I had two options.  Either, feel really sorry for myself, or turn the A.C. low, light a spicy candle and craft me up some autumn.

I chose option 2.

 My first project (of several to be revealed later) was this lovely burlap wreath. 

Burlap wreaths seem to be on every crafters to do list this fall.  Since I had yet to make one, I decided to join the burlap train.  It helped that Hobby Lobby had a display of needed materials staring at me right as I walked in the door.

There are tons of online tutorials that I perused to get me started.  But, I tweaked mine just a bit to add a little versatility to my wreath.  As I was about to hot glue my "S" to the wreath (making it a permanent situation)  I thought to myself, I've got some extra pipe cleaners here, why don't I use those instead.

It just took a staple gun, a couple of well situated pipe cleaners, and a few seconds to stick that bad boy on.  I also attached my big floppy green bow (actually a cheap scarf) using another pipe cleaner.  Now I have the option of mixing things up in a couple of months.  I'm thinking some indian corn for thanksgiving, a wooden snowflake for January, a pink polka dot bow and heart for February...you get the point.

Don't worry, I didn't forget about October and December.  It's just that those months are so special to me that they warrant their very own wreaths entirely.  Of course, this burlap confection would look pretty snazzy with a pumpkin or winter greenery attached too.

Now my front porch is slightly prepared for cooler weather, even if its months before we see any.

xoxo,

Spring Wreath

We've had a burst of spring down here in south Texas.  I know its only January but, our winter lasts all of 2 weeks.  Pretty dang awesome, right!?  That is, if you can get through the endless summers of course.  

I was searching the shelves of one of my favorites joints, Hobby Lobby, when I came upon this ribbon.

So cute, right!?  It also comes in green and pink.  Oh the possibilities!  

I was inspired right then and there to make this wreath:

Here's the ingredient list.  Two rolls of that neato ribbon, an 18 inch straw wreath, or foam or whatever floats your boat, some felt for flowers, and a ton of hot glue.

I started it off by wrapping the wreath.  Lots of dabs of hot glue on the back side, keep it all in place

Here she is, all wrapped up!

 Next came the artistic part, forming some felt flowers.  There are a ton of tutorials out there for these, but here's my version...

First of all, free hand a spiral circle on your felt.  The bigger the spiral, the bigger the flower.

 Next, cut it out...obviously.

 Then, starting in the center, start rolling, gathering and or pleating it into a flower.  This is where the hot glue becomes your best friend.  Unless, of course, you have a tendency to burn yourself like me.  There's a reason why I no longer own a high-temp glue gun.  I can't be trusted.

 This flower was loosely rolled and gathered.

 This one received no gathering at all.

 And for this one, I pleated it pretty heavily.  All of these different looks started out as a spiral.  Pretty fun right!?

 I also made a few burlap flowers to add to the mix.

Here's a close up of my flowers smooshed onto my wreath.

I wanted a touch of sparkle and thus hot glued some beads I had laying around into the center of some of those flowers.

One of my favorite parts was hanging her up with a green polka-dot scarf I recently got for a steal through Groopdealz.  She's just stapled to the top of my door.  Shhh, that's our little secret.

After reviewing these photos, I realized that my wreath was a little lopsided.  So, I went outside and squished her back into place.  Straw wreaths are cool like that.  I probably would have preferred using a foam wreath form, but couldn't find one big enough.  I like my wreaths big and bold!  However, I promise she looks symmetrical (mostly) hanging on my door now :).

xoxo,