How to make an oversized christmas wreath

Make an Oversized Christmas Wreath

24
STEPS
TOOLS

Get a lil' helper to assist  you in gathering  a big bag of evergreen boughs deep in the hundred acre wood.

Get a lil' helper to assist you in gathering a big bag of evergreen boughs deep in the hundred acre wood.

Gather your supplies.  Line your work surface to catch the cuttings.

Gather your supplies. Line your work surface to catch the cuttings.

Wrap ribbon around the hula hoop to camouflage the purple plastic.  I secured the ends  of the ribbon with a loop of tape on the underside and a bit of wire.  I don't have quite enough ribbon.

Wrap ribbon around the hula hoop to camouflage the purple plastic. I secured the ends of the ribbon with a loop of tape on the underside and a bit of wire. I don't have quite enough ribbon.

For this wreath I chose white pine.  Start covering the hoop with a few cuttings of the pine boughs.  Secure them with the wire onto the hoop.  Continue securing the pine and be sure to overlap.

For this wreath I chose white pine. Start covering the hoop with a few cuttings of the pine boughs. Secure them with the wire onto the hoop. Continue securing the pine and be sure to overlap.

Once you get the hang of things, you can go all the way around the hoop with the pine. I'm only covering the base of the hoop.

Getting there...

Getting there...

Now I'll line the backside of the hoop with the fabric mesh. Unroll the whole roll of it and keep it in one long piece.

Make a gather like this

Make a gather like this

Secure it to the back of the hoop with a twist and tie of the wire.

Secure it to the back of the hoop with a twist and tie of the wire.

Make another gather using about 10 inches or so of fabric.  Eyeball it...don't worry about exact measurements.  Wire this gather onto the hoop about 6 inches or so from the previous one.

Make another gather using about 10 inches or so of fabric. Eyeball it...don't worry about exact measurements. Wire this gather onto the hoop about 6 inches or so from the previous one.

Keep going with the same pattern

Keep going with the same pattern

Complete the round.  Too pouffy for my liking.  I'll tame those poufs down by creating a gather in the middle of each one and secure it again by wiring it onto the hoop.

Complete the round. Too pouffy for my liking. I'll tame those poufs down by creating a gather in the middle of each one and secure it again by wiring it onto the hoop.

Like this.

Like this.

With the ends of the wire that are left on the hoop, secure some small sprigs of pine onto the mesh.

With the ends of the wire that are left on the hoop, secure some small sprigs of pine onto the mesh.

Continue around the hoop, overlapping the sprigs to cover the twigs.

Continue around the hoop, overlapping the sprigs to cover the twigs.

Start decorating.  The decors have wire picks so tuck them under the wires that are securing the pine boughs.

Start decorating. The decors have wire picks so tuck them under the wires that are securing the pine boughs.

Start adding some color.

Start adding some color.

Bad shot but we're almost there.

Bad shot but we're almost there.

Tada!  Not bad for a first try ;)

Tada! Not bad for a first try ;)

The magic ingredient missing from the supply list.  Rub a handful of oil all over your hands because they will be full of sticky sap.  (the smell is so beautiful though).  Wash with soap afterwards.

The magic ingredient missing from the supply list. Rub a handful of oil all over your hands because they will be full of sticky sap. (the smell is so beautiful though). Wash with soap afterwards.

Now we need snow!  I'll complete those gates with some garland later.

Now we need snow! I'll complete those gates with some garland later.

  • 24" hula hoop (or larger)
  • Ribbon
  • Fresh cut evergreen boughs
  • Dollar store Christmas decorations
  • Fabric Mesh
  • Thin wire
  • Pruning shears