Hey hey flower friends,
I really wasn't sure if I'd get anything up today as I was having some tech issues yesterday and this morning I was racing against the clock with wait for it...a scheduled planned power outage... that we forgot about haha. You know, I always heard YouTubers talk about tech issues and it's not until now that I understand how much of a thing it is... not enough phone storage, apps not working, videos jumbling etc etc. Anyhow, I wasn't quite successful getting everything uploaded etc yesterday, but today it was a success and so thank you for your patience!
This week for #APRflowerEd I'm showing you how to make a dried wreath. It's something I associate with Winter for some reason and something I love to make. It's particularly great to use up all your small, dried pieces. You can watch the video below by clicking the image or keep reading to learn how to make your very own.
What you need:
A wreath base
Scissors or secateurs
Binding wire, twine or string
Wire and floral tape (Optional: for pieces that need an extra or longer stem)
A selection of dried flowers or foliage—can be one flower type or many flower types just be sure to include some grasses and other bits that are interesting
Method:
Cut all your pieces to the right size—no bigger than the size of your hand and each flower of the same type can vary in size.
Plan out how you want to not only design your wreath but also make use of your pieces. You need to determine if you have enough pieces for your wreath base and make adjustments to achieve your desired results. For example, you want a full wreath but your ingredients will only allow you to make half a wreath or a slim full wreath.
Your plan can consist of several clusters that will be bound together around the wreath or individual pieces or a mix of both. Clusters are a posy of a few ingredients that will get secured to the wreath base at the same time. Don't plan on top of the wreath but next to it to the same measurements. Keep in mind that things move when you begin to secure your pieces and your placement can be the cause of you running out of ingredients despite planning.
Once you've planned your design and placement, grab your first piece or cluster and put it against the wreath base. You can either firstly attach the binding wire to the base or attach it with your first piece or cluster. Twist binding wire tail to original wire (keeping the wire attached to the spool) and wrap once or twice around the cluster and wreath base. Don't secure it too tight it can snap a stem or too loosely that the pieces fall out.
To have a wild wreath your placements want to be placed left then right (or vice versa), following this pattern all the way around (or to where you want it to end). To have a neat wreath your placements can all go in the same direction. Be sure to stagger or layer the clusters so they don't turn into clumps. Have some long pieces and shorter pieces so long as the stems at the end are even when securing to wreath base.
When you're finished, take a look at the wreath as a completed piece. Check to make sure there are no holes/gaps (meaning there are no flowers or foliage in a spot and that the whole piece visually flows) and identify any pieces that need to be pulled up or down or completely taken out to ensure you have the shape you are happy with.
If you're happy with the overall look, add some pieces to lightly and slimly cover the mechanics at the back (for visual appeal) and then grab the still attached binding wire and wither twist around a few times and tuck away exposing the stems or continue to wrap around the stems multiple times for a neat, finished look. You may need to cut the stems back a bit for a neater look or to add balance to the design. This is up to your visual preference.
Optional: add a bow or ribbons to the end or add some twine (as many as needed to make a thick rope) at the top for hanging. To hang your wreath without twine, simply attach a clear hook with mounting strip to the wall or use an over the door hook.
And there you have it. With practise you'll be able to get even more creative and come up with your own tips and tricks.
xo rose