Filled with holidays, family, and cool weather, autumn is a fun and festive time of year. We all look forward to donning sweaters and savoring pumpkin spice everything. We also enjoy decorating our homes with the rich, jewel-toned and warm colors of the season. This year, kick it up a notch with one of these DIY wreaths. They’re easy to make, affordable, and great craft projects for children.
Hydrangea Wreath
If you have hydrangeas in your yard, try making a dried hydrangea wreath this fall. All you need is a grapevine wreath and some hydrangea blooms. Cut hydrangea blooms ahead of time, leaving a 12-inch stem. You will then have two options. The simplest way to dry them is to place them in a jar with fresh water about halfway up the stem. Leave them in the jars, out of direct sunlight, until all the water has evaporated. Alternatively, you can use vegetable glycerin like many florists. Mix one part vegetable glycerin with two parts hot water. Place your hydrangeas in jars of the mixture and store them out of direct sunlight for about two weeks before using. Both of these methods will help your hydrangeas retain their color and be pliable enough to work with. Now, all you need to do is weave the stems through the grapevine wreath until they’re firmly in place. You can use as few or as many as you’d like to get a full look.
Chalkboard Wreath
This DIY wreath is perfect for those who love to shop at thrift stores. At your local shop, find a tray or platter with a smooth surface. Next, paint the center of your tray with chalkboard paint. Decorate the outer edge by gluing on faux fall foliage, wheat, flowers, feathers, or pinecones. Attach a bit of ribbon to the back to hang it with, and customize it with your own fall-themed message. Provide chalk for visitors to say,”Hi!”
Related Blog: Add Life and Color to Your Dormant Garden with Fall Annuals
Indian Corn Wreath
This super festive wreath is also super simple to make. All you need is multi-colored corn, glue, and a straw, foam, or wooden wreath form. If you’re using a foam wreath form, we recommend wrapping it in burlap, or another neutral fabric, in case any shows through the corn. (You don’t want to distract from your masterpiece.) To begin, pull the husks back on the corn and try to arrange the husks so that they’ll look nice in a bunch at the top of the ear. Next, glue the corn onto the wreath with the husks pointed out. To keep your wreath looking neat, make sure the tips of all the corn are even. It’s as simple as that!
Embroidery Hoop Wreath
If you love minimalist decor, consider making an embroidery hoop wreath. They’re simple, elegant, and easy to make. Purchase a large embroidery hoop and give it some fall flair by gluing on wheat sheaths, bittersweet, or other fall foliage. We recommend leaving some open space and attaching your decorations to about 1/3 of the hoop, starting in the middle of the bottom. While it looks great with natural color, you can also spray paint your hoop before adding other materials.
Wheat Wreath
Wheat wreaths have been around for hundreds of years. Ancient Etruscan rulers wore them as diadems. Today, they’re an inexpensive and fun way to spruce up your house for fall. To create your own, you’ll need wheat, along with a wreath form and a way to attach the wheat. You can use a straw form and pins for attaching the wheat, or a wire wreath form and floral wire. Take small bundles of wheat and either pin them or wrap the base with wire to secure them to the form. Alternate the way the bundles are angled to achieve a full look. You can also create a similar look with corn tassels. If this sounds like too much work to be fun, but you love the look of wheat, you can always hang a large bundle of wheat, tied in the center with a ribbon, on your front door instead.
Fall Foliage Wreath
This attractive wreath is actually one of the simplest DIY wreaths to make. All you need is a grapevine wreath and some plant clippings, or artificial berry or leaf stems from the craft store. Take your stems and weave them into your grapevine wreath. Keep adding until it looks as full as you like. If you want to use natural materials, great options include clippings from bittersweet, Chinese lantern plants, beech trees, magnolia trees, and pine trees (with cones, but with the needles removed). While other natural materials like maple leaves may initially look great, they fade and fall from their branches quickly.
Rag Wreath
Perfect for crafters or quilters with extra materials on hand, this wreath uses strips of fall-colored fabric. You can use a couple of different wreath forms for this project, including straw forms, foam forms, or even a wire coat hanger you’ve unfolded and shaped into a circle. Obviously, the foam and straw forms will give you a thicker wreath. Cut a bunch of fabric into strips between 7 and 14 inches long, depending on your form and taste. Try attaching a few sample pieces before cutting them all to make sure they’re an appropriate size. Then tie pieces of fabric onto the form, pushing the knots close together until it’s full.
Harvest Wreath
Just glue pine cones, acorns, faux apples, gourds, rose-hips, or pumpkins onto a grapevine, straw, or foam wreath form until it’s as covered as possible. If you’re using a foam form, it’s best to wrap it in fabric or burlap before getting started in case any shows through. To give your wreath a bit of extra personality. you can spray paint some or all of your materials ahead of time. We think a mix of natural and gold acorns adds a fun touch! You can also finish your wreath out with a bow.
Monogram Wreath
Consider creating a monogram wreath for a really personal piece of fall decor. Start with a grapevine wreath and a painted wooden letter. Once the letter is dry, glue it to one side of your wreath. Then glue on some faux foliage, sunflowers, or berry stems on either side of your letter.
Yarn Wreath
If you’re a knitter or crocheter with a stack of yarn on hand, this wreath is for you! Wrap a straw or foam wreath with yarn in a variety of fall colors like orange, red, green, and brown until it’s completely covered. Then add a few personal touches with a bit of glue. Great options include fall-colored flowers, pine cones, a bow, pom-poms, or artificial foliage.
Grab the kids or some friends and get crafting! These fun DIY wreaths are a simple and affordable way to get ready for autumn.