Christmas Decor: Wreath Edition

Wreaths have a wonderful way of ringing in the new season. What I love most about them is their diversity. You can make wreath look however you like and still bring Christmas Cheer! Here are some ideas for you to consider when making your wreath this year.

Snowball Wreath

Perfect for little ones to help make, just hot glue fuzzy white pom-poms to styrofoam or cardboard bases and you have a very festive winter wreath.

Pretty Bow Wreath

Start with a Styrofoam base and wrap with a 2" ribbon. Hot Glue ribbons until completely covered. Beautiful.

Making Memories Wreath

This is perfect to give as a gift (especially for grandparents). Make frames out of wrapping paper or painted popsicle sticks and glue to an evergreen wreath. Add colourful bulbs and you have a gift worth hanging every year.

Cinnamon Stick Wreath

Cover a styrofoam base with 2" ribbon and hot glue cinnamon sticks until completely covered. This can make a wonderful room air-freshener as well!

Buttoned-Up Wreath

I am looking forward to making this one! This is perfect if you have a huge button stash, and it is perfect for little ones as well. Start with a cardboard base and hot glue buttons until you like the look. Use different colours that match your decor or strong colours to make a bold statement.

Snowy Pine cone Wreath

Scavenge your backyard or neighbourhood for those perfect pine cones. Spray with flocking and this baby will be ready to welcome winter with open arms.

(photos BHG.com, ball wreath martha)

Lampshade Makeover

Could your lampshades do with a makeover? 

This is so easy to do and great for the seasons. Super Cheap too!!! :)

What You Need

• Kraft paper
• Tapered or bell-shaped lampshade. Ours is a bell-shaped shade 8 1/2 inches tall x 6 inches in diameter at the top and 12 inches in diameter at the bottom
• Fabric to cover lampshade (for ours, we needed about 1 1/2 yards)
• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Iron
• Fabric wash-out marker
• Sewing machine and coordinating thread
• Hot-glue gun and glue
• 5 inches of grosgrain ribbon
• 5 covered buttons and assembly tool (look for a kit containing both)

What to Do

1. Place kraft paper on a protected work surface.
2. Measure the circumference of the top of the shade and add 4 inches for each pleat. We have five pleats so we added 20 inches to the 20-inch circumference of the shade, giving us a total of 40 inches.
3. Lay the lampshade on its side on top of the kraft paper.
4. Using a pencil, trace along the top of the shade as you roll it across the kraft paper, creating an arch. Complete two full rotations of the shade to equal the 40 inches.
5. Return the shade to the starting point, lining the top line up with the top of the shade and tracing along the bottom of the shade as you roll it across the kraft paper. Complete two full rotations of the shade, creating a second arch.
6. Connect the arches together at the ends by drawing a line from the top arch to the bottom arch.
7. Use scissors to cut out the band of kraft paper, adding 1/2 inch at the top, bottom, and each end.
8. Press fabric and lay wrong side up on your work surface.
9. Place kraft paper band on top of fabric and trace using a fabric wash-out marker.
10. Cut out fabric band and hem top and bottom using 1/4 inch seam allowance.
11. Secure on end of the band to the top of the shade using a hot-glue gun.
12. Begin wrapping the fabric band around the shade, stopping every 5 inches to fold in a 1-inch pleat, holding it temporarily to the shade with a clothespin or office clip.
13. When completely clipped in place, use hot glue to secure the band to the shade and to glue down each pleat.
14. Use grosgrain ribbon and a covered button kit to cover five buttons to hot-glue at the top of each pleat.

TIP: An all-over patterned fabric works better than a stripe.

(courtesy bhg)