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A wreath is a classic holiday decoration piece. I know DIY sounds exhausting for most people; they would much rather buy an already made wreath.
But you can create a fresh take by collecting magnolia leaves and making a wreath. Also, holiday decorations can be very cheap when you collect them from your own backyard.
Try adding a statement piece on your front door this holiday season. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make a simple magnolia wreath.
Step 1: Gather Magnolia Leaves
This DIY project will cost you almost nothing when you have easy access to a magnolia tree. You can gather fresh or dried leaves; they both produce very beautiful results.
I like mixing dried and fresh leaves on one wreath. Try looking for pictures of DIY magnolia wreaths online; you will see how the results look when you use dried and fresh leaves.
The amount of leaves you collect depends on how big a wreath you want for your house. A 10-inch wreath needs around 80 leaves, but you can go bigger.
Magnolia leaves fade to beautiful light green when exposed to direct sunlight. You don’t have to worry about the wreath looking awful after a while.
I used large and medium-sized leaves to make the wreath look full and powerful.
Step 2: Determine Your Wreath Ring
There are several ways to determine which wreath ring you will use. If you want everything to be complete DIY, cut cardboard, foam or use a grapevine wreath.
A cardboard ring will work perfectly when your front door is protected from rain and water. But if it’s exposed, use other materials to make the ring.
If you are using a foam wreath, ensure you collect leaves with long stems. The long stems are necessary for insertion into the foam. If possible, clip the leaves yourself from the tree.
Measure the diameter of the circle you want and use a pen to mark it on the cardboard. Cut the circle out with precision.
Use a big bowl to cut the outer circle and a smaller circle to cut the inner circle. That way, you won’t have to measure every time.
You can also tie tree branches together to the wreath. Use a thin wire and twist it around the branches tightly until you have a complete circle.
If this sounds like too much work for you, buy an already made wreath ring from the nearest craft store.
Step 3: Glue Your Leaves onto the Wreath Form
Once you have your ring and leaves, it’s time to start making the wreath. My first wreath project didn’t come out as I envisioned, but I nailed it the second time.
But if you can get it right the first time, you will be much better off. Fix all the leaves on the wreath facing the same direction with a hot glue gun.
Step back every once in a while to ensure the piece is coming together nicely. Checking allows you to correct mistakes as you go.
Usually, most people prefer painting some of the leaves with fun colors. If you are going to paint them, I would suggest leaving the fresh green leaves alone.
Only paint the dried or semi-dried leaves. While gluing them on the ring, ensure you alternate between the painted and the green leaves.
You should also make the wreath as dense as possible. No one should be able to spot the glued stems.
When you get to the end of the circle, tuck the last leaves under the first leaves. You should not see where the circle starts and where it ends when you look at it.
If you are using a foam ring, insert the steams into the form and follow a similar pattern so that the leaves look uniform. If inserting the leaves is difficult, use a small screwdriver.
The leaves should not be sticking out straight from the foam. That is why you need to insert them at an angle. Repeat the same thing until you have covered the whole form.
Step 4: Fill the Gaps
It’s normal to leave a few gaps while making the wreath. Use the extra leaves to fill such gaps and rectify thin areas.
By the time you are done, the final piece should be dense and beautiful. Stick to the same pattern even while filling the gaps.
A few mistakes can make take the wreath’s beauty away. Some people use magnolia seed pods to create more depth.
Once you are done, display the piece on your front door and enjoy your hard work.
Conclusion
Follow these simple steps for a 15-20 minutes DIY magnolia wreath-making session.
Step 1: gather magnolia leaves
Step 2: determine your wreath ring
Step 3: glue your leaves onto the wreath form
Step 4: fill the gaps
