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Looking for a gorgeous way to ring in the festive season? Try this striking idea! All you need is a series of galvanised metal hoops (available from craft stores such as Spotlight), foliage cuttings from your garden, green florist wire and scrap ribbons. You can add in the odd hanging Christmas ornament, too!
FOLIAGE WREATH
Here’s how
STEP 1 Using secateurs, snip a collection of tree branches for each wreath you plan to make. Aim to harvest 5–7 short branches of single varieties for each hoop.
STEP 2 Place a metal hoop on your work surface. Position first branch against the wire hoop and bend it slightly to suit the curve of the hoop. Tie branch in position with green florist wire, twine or fishing line.
STEP 3 Place next branch over woody end of first branch, then attach to hoop.
STEP 4 Repeat Step 3 until all of metal hoop is covered. Trim final branch with secateurs so it fits snug into the first branch, or let it drop away from the hoop (this will be the bottom of your wreath, if so).
STEP 5 Repeat Steps 1–4 to make more wreaths. Use different single-variety foliage cuttings for each wreath.
STEP 6 Use scrap ribbons or twine to suspend a collection of wreaths from an overhead rail or ceiling hooks. Position them against a wall for dramatic impact. You can string a hanging Christmas ornament onto the ribbon and position it at the top of the wreath before suspending it. Hello, Christmas cheer!
Maker’s tips
- For a longer-lasting display, harvest foliage from olive or bay trees. Banksia and eucalypt branches dry out nicely, too.
- Branches with a bit of flexibility make it easier for you to create the rounded wreath shape.
- Look for artificial foliage branches at craft or discount stores for wreaths you can bring out and enjoy year-after-year.
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