Dare to Make It: Holiday

How to Make a Surprisingly Simple Paper Wreath

Jeffery Rudell, contributor

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Put down the red and the green and pick up a completely different palette this holiday season.

Jeff Rudell

With just a few modest supplies and less than an hour of time, you'll have a beautiful jewel-tone wreath.

Jeff Rudell

If you don't have colored paper on hand, consider using paint chips from your local hardware store.

Jeff Rudell

Put down the red and the green and pick up a completely different palette this holiday season.

Photo: Jeff Rudell

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A friend of mine made a simple request to me: "Show me something I can make in an hour that isn't going to cost and arm and a leg and won't leave me frustrated and discouraged by the time I finish it."

In one sentence, she summed up what every crafter I know is looking for. We want to make something and have fun doing it. Yes, sometimes, we'll go to extraordinary lengths, but mostly, we'd like it to be simple and straightforward. So today, I am going to focus on just that and nothing else. All you'll need to accomplish this is a strong shape, a simple armature, an interesting palette, and the means to put it all together. What could be easier (and more appropriate) during these hectic two months we refer to as "the holidays."

The supply list is modest:

• A styrofoam wreath form of your own choosing (roughly $3 to $5 at most craft suppliers)
• Some colorful paper like Color-Aid (or, if you'd prefer, a stack of coordinated paint chips pilferred from Home Depot or your local hardware store)
  
• A hole-punch (I used a 3-inch-diameter punch)
• A hot glue gun

When you're done with your first wreath, made a second or a third. They are great projects to do with children and they look wonderful hung in groups of three or five on the wall of a guestroom or above a sideboard in a dining room.

During the holidays, I do what I can to stay clear of the predictable use of red and green. Why not take a clue from nature and create a berry-colored wreath this year?

Working around the outer edge of my styrofoam wreath form, I simply hot-glued an assortment of colored paper disks in place.

Once you finish the outer edge, add a second course of disks to the inner edge, again, gluing them in place.

A third tier of colored disks is added so that it slightly overlaps the outer course below it.

A fourth and final course of disks is then added to completely cover the wreath form and hide it from view.

The addition of some 1/2-inch, tricolored "berries" (punched from red, fuchsia, and burgundy paper) along with a wide ribbon from which to hang it completes this project in no time.

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Comments (13)

StylishO writes: Love It. The Possibilities are ENDLESS with color variations and personal touches. Thanks!
Posted: 7:46 pm on December 7th

ModernGirl writes: Thanks for this amazing simple project! I made mine in winter greys & blues and posted it in the gallery!
Posted: 4:33 pm on December 7th

Jeff_Rudell writes: Dear Judy: Sorry for the delay and for failing to note in my post that I used a 12" wreath. Don't let what I used inhibit you in choosing a size that best suits your purposes. I think a larger wreath with smaller circles could be just as handsome as a smaller wreath with larger circles could be. :-)
Posted: 9:59 pm on November 16th

fabric_lover writes: very, very nice---what was the size of YOUR styrofoam. Because you are using 3 inch circles, I would think a smaller diameter wreath than yours would probably need smaller circles. No? So I have already cut aroubd 80 circles on a die cut mahine and will grab a wreath tomorrow. Thanks for your help on this--I want to do it right. judy
Posted: 5:56 am on November 15th

frexprsn writes: Thanks for the great idea-i just happen to have a foam wreath! I have to tweak the colors a little for my deep red & light turquoise color scheme. This would be fun for an art class-small kids can use paper plates and construction paper if they have help with the scissors.
Posted: 10:32 pm on November 10th

helenrose writes: I can't take my eyes off this! What a great idea! and so colorful!! I am definitely going to make this and I don't think I can make just one. I'm thinking of all the color possibilities. This is one of those things where I can see myself making another and another and .....
Thanks so much for the inspiration!
Posted: 1:07 pm on November 10th

KnittnKittenPortland writes: I think I will shrink the great idea and put it on a card. Great comments with great added ideas.
Posted: 11:55 am on November 8th

k8edid writes: This is cool - you could even change it up by using a different punch like stars or trees or hearts. You could even use more than one type of punchout... hmmm... time to get out my toys! Thanks for the awesome ideas!!!!
Posted: 10:29 am on November 8th

Average_Jane_Crafter writes: oh my ... this has me swooooooooning. I'm in love! :)
Posted: 5:17 pm on November 3rd

mizzkitti writes: wow thats super cool! i'm totaly going to go pilfer some paint chips from the store :)
btw, i love your work, and sorry but your avatar looks like you have a halo of white hair lol XD cute!
Posted: 3:08 pm on November 3rd

Sister_Diane writes: Dang. That is absolutely fantastic!
Posted: 2:55 pm on November 3rd

Jen_W writes: Love this! And I even have a foam wreath lurking somewhere around here.
Posted: 1:08 pm on November 3rd

halfaperfectpair writes: i love this!! i just might go home and whip one up tonight!

:)
Posted: 1:05 pm on November 3rd

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