Keepsake Christmas Decorations ? Part 3
Posted on Apr 21, 2010 under wreaths | Comments are offDo you enjoy making Christmas decorations that you can hang on your walls to add bright colors as you celebrate the holidays? In Keepsake Christmas Decorations, Part 1 and 2, we made Picture Wreath with your child’s picture and a “Hand” made Rudolph. In Part 3 we will make a really beautiful keepsake wreath. This is a great project that is easy to make and really adds Christmas feeling and Christmas smell to your home. I made a keepsake Christmas wreath that my friends always say looks pretty and smells good, too. When they find out that I made it, they want to learn how to make one, too. With Christmas just around the corner, it’s time to gather some materials and make one for your own home.
Materials needed: 6″ grapevine wreath, 3/8″ red satin ribbon, ¼” fancy satin ribbon (red and green), 2 or 3 small red silk poinsettia flower pedals, a miniature red berry branch, 2 or 3 sticks of cinnamon, a piece of eucalyptus, scissors, straight pins and a hot glue gun. First, cut a 2″ piece of the fancy red ¼” ribbon and glue the 2 ends together and set it aside. This will be the hanging loop.
Drop a piece of glue on the back of the wreath and pin down the 3/8″ red ribbon. Start wrapping, from the pinned section, the red satin ribbon around the wreath at an angle, about 1″ between each wrap. When you get all the way around the wreath to where you started on the back, place a drop of glue by the pin and lay the red ribbon across it. Remove the pin and secure both ends with a straight pin. Leave a 6″ tail and cut the ribbon.
Next, take the fancy green ¼” ribbon and, beginning where the larger red ribbon started, pin the green satin ribbon beside the first pin and wrap it around the wreath, just beside the red ribbon. Secure the end of the green ribbon the same way as you did with the red ribbon. Again leave a 6″ tail and cut the ribbon. Give the glue an hour or so to dry.
While the glue dries, take the 3/8 red satin ribbon and cut an 18″ piece. Take the eucalyptus and break it into 3 pieces, about 8″ each. Gather the 2 or 3 sticks of cinnamon, the 3 pieces of 8″ eucalyptus and tie them together using the 18″ piece of 3/8″ red ribbon. Tie them tightly together and make a bow, like when you tie shoes. Pull the bow open until the loops are each about 2″ long. This will give you a nice piece of ribbon hanging off the Christmas cluster.
You may remove the pins and turn the wreath over, putting the glued area on the bottom. Now you can take the Christmas cluster of cinnamon sticks and eucalyptus and glue it to the front of your wreath. Using the glue gun, attach the cluster to the front of the wreath, at a slight angle. Because the cluster will be heavier than ribbon, take 2 pieces of 8″ red ribbon and also tie it onto the wreath, one under the poinsettia and another under the bow. Break off a few small pieces of the red berry branch and glue it under the bow. Take the small poinsettia petals and glue one on the cinnamon sticks by the bow and the other under the bow.
While holding the wreath, look and turn it so that the Christmas bow cluster is about 8 o’clock, then find the top and glue the holding loop. You have just made a beautiful Christmas wreath that is sure to be a keepsake for years to come. This is a great gift idea, too!
