SPRING WREATH

I know, I know, it's still winter and there is no end in sight. But that doesn't mean that it can't be spring in your home. I think we should all start to get ready for the transition because I can't stand the thought of winter any longer.

Supplies:

cardboard at least 7"x7"
ruler
pen
knife
leaf punch
different papers
glue gun
glue stick
ribbon
tweezers

Directions:

Step 1: Find a circle around the house that is about 6" in diameter and trace it onto the cardboard. Draw a vertical line from the top to the bottom of the circle. Draw a horizontal line from the left side to the right side of the circle. This is to help you place the 2nd circle in the middle.

Step 2: Find a circle around the house that is about 3.5" in diameter and place it where the lines cross. Trace it.

Step 3: Using your knife, cut along the lines of both circles. Don't worry about it being perfect, the leaves are going to extend over the edge.

Step 4: Wrap the ribbon around the circle. Attach using the glue stick. Try to get it the center or your wreath will hang crooked.

Step 5: Punch out the leaves. There are so many leaf punches out there, I got mine at Michael's and it is by Martha Stewart. In order to give the leaves some dimension, pinch the leaves at the base. In this particular wreath, each of my papers are a different thickness. So use choose paper based on the color & pattern, not thickness.

Step 6: Using the hot glue gun, place a dot of glue on the cardboard and place the base of a leaf into it. Use the tweezers to adjust the placement and press it further into the glue. This keeps you from burning your hand. The smaller the dot of glue, the less time it takes to dry. You can blow on it if you are impatient.

Step 7: You will, at some points, have to put the glue on the leaf and then attach it to the cardboard. Just do whatever feels good to you. I usually play with the placement of the leaves a little before I commit to securing each one with glue. If you want to make sure that your outer and inner profile of the leaves are perfect, glue those down first before you go filling in the center.

Step 8: When choosing where to place your next leaf, make sure that you are covering up the cardboard and glue. If you do that, your wreath will end up being full enough. Sometimes it is necessary to tuck leaves behind instead of sitting them in front. I end up using both techniques and when you are bridging the last gap, you will have to do this.

Step 9: Use your tweezers to pull off any hot glue strands that are hanging around your wreath.

Step 10: Hang it up.

This is the 2nd one I've done like this, so you may want to practice just a bit before you set out to make the real one.

The best part about these is that you can make them any color and for any occasion. You can have one up all year round!