In our latest catalog, our creative stylists DIY’d a holiday wreath using ornaments from our bins–the result is a stunning, brightly colored and festive wreath to welcome guests. Since we often get questions about details in our photography, such as requests for paint colors used, we anticipated that a lot of you would want to know how it was made.
Supplies:
1. Strong stiff wire that can be bent into a ring. We used aluminum wire gauge 20, about 55” long–due to the scale of the products in the shot, our wreath was rather large, about 28″ in diameter. A wire hanger is also a simple way to go.
2. Ornaments. We used a total of 81 ornaments. For a smaller version, we’re guessing you could make a 14” wreath with about a third of the ornaments depending on how full you wanted it.
3. Strong tape to fasten the ends of the wire ring together or, pliers to twist the ends of the wire ring together.
4. Ribbon to hang the wreath.
Directions:
1. String one ornament at a time onto the wire ring, alternating colors, using smaller ones to fill in the gaps.
2. When the ring is completely covered in ornaments, fasten the ends together.
3. Use a ribbon to cover the spot where the ends are fastened together, and hang!
Tip: best not to go too large in diameter as the wreath could become too heavy and stretch out.
You say string one ornament at a time – what exactely does this mean? Not sure how to attached them. Thanks
I experimented briefly — run the wire through the wire loop of each ornament, as if you were hanging it on a Christmas tree. Hope that helps.
Just string the 20 gauge wire through the metal loop, already part of the ornament, that you would normally put your ornament hook on. It’s that easy. No glue. Just string the ornaments on like beads on a necklace.
LOVE this! Can’t wait to make one of my own for the Holidays – I’ve been wanting to freshen up my holiday decor and you’ve given me the perfect inspiration!
Thanks!
Thanks for this, I’m going to make one with my boyfriend’s daughter
This is great idea! I love crafting and I love you doing this for us!!!! Happy Holidays 2 u!!!!! pg
LOVE this idea! I’ve been trying to find something similar that still looked modern, but to no avail. Will definitely be trying this out! Thanks CB2 – I love you!
Fab decoration! Ooh the possibilities, the colors I could use.
I plan to make this for myself and, for all my sisters and brothers homes.
Thanks CB2
Siti
Thanks so much for sharing your great wreath project, no often you find that.
How were the ornaments attached to the wire?
Thanks,
Barbara
Kathie: take a look at the top picture. They string the ornaments on the heavy-gauge wire through the little loop that ornaments all have at the top. Instead of putting a hook there as you woulod to hang it on a tree, slip the heavy wire through. Then, arrange the ornaments close to one another, so that they pack tightly around the hoop formed by the wire.
Cute idea – thanks!
OMG… a great way to recycle pesky wire hangers! My friends and I will be making this on our annual craft day!
I would like to know- how did you keep the ornaments from twirling around the wire? Or, did you just let them twirl around until it was hung in place, and then arrange all the ornaments so they are on display?
Yes, this was one of my problems when I tried this a few years ago. In my experience, it’s just not as easy as this makes it sound.
I tried hot gluing the ornaments together to keep them from moving around, but the glue didn’t stick.
I imagine it helps that they’re not using all balls–that most of them (at least as shown in the picture) have two flat sides. I think that would be crucial, especially to filling in spaces.
They also said to use tape in the directions. So you’ll put an ornament on the wire and then tape it to the wire to hold it in place.
This is a great question. I have tried myself and can’t figure out how to do it. It doesn’t say anything about gluing or taping the ornaments. I put about half of them on and held it against the wall and the ornaments spun around. Any suggestions?
Amy asked how to keep the ornaments from spinning around.
I haven’t made this yet but am planning to attempt it. I noticed this:
The wreath on the back of the magazine shows the ornaments all the way around the wire whereas the one in the how-to photos is made lying on the table so the back is flat. When you pick it up, it propbably does spin all around and get mis-shapen.
Maybe if you form the wire and then hang one side of the wire by the ribbon (or have someone hold it) while you thread the ornaments on the opposite end of the wire it will come out full and perfect!!!
I absolutely love this idea and can’t wait to make one. I might make a craft luncheon at work and show everyone how to do it.
Hot glue the ends (where the holder is) on the ornament, this will keep the cap from coming off as you put more ornaments on the wreath. Also using plastic ornaments is another option if you wish to hang the wreath outside.
I am going to make this!! Great idea for gifts, too!!
What a quick but beautiful craft for the busy holiday season! I can’t wait to share with my crafty friends. Thank you so much.
Is there any easy way to bend the wire hanger into a perfect circle? Mine keep coming up oval. Thanks!
Dear Autumn,
I have a suggestion to your oval problem. Shape the wire to the desired diameter by looping it around a big basin or anything that is round. You
might have to shape the wire around a smaller diameter basin than desired because the wire will spring out a little. You can hot glue the ends of the wire after completing the project but not before checking the roundness. An oblongated wreath does not sound too bad. Actually, you
can make a wreath of any shape you desire. A rectangular wreath for your flat panel TV, mirror in the bathroom, computer monitor or even a foldable one for your fireplace.
have fun & good luck,
Bey
[...] for all of us, they give us instructions on how to make one ourselves here on the cb2 blog! of course, they recommend using their ornaments, but i think you could probably also find great [...]
[...] Here are the steps from CB2: [...]
For those of you who have made this with the CB2 ornaments, how many did you have to buy and what was the cost? I lovelovelove this wreath, but am not sure it’s in my price range.
Thanks!
Where did you get your ornaments from?
[...] party with our friends to make the wreath that is pictured above. Isn’t it cool? Check it CB2’s blog for directions on how to make the wreath, [...]
I used a macrame hoop. They are inexpensive and come in several sizes. Cut the seam open with a hacksaw and string the ornaments.
[...] following Thanksgiving putting up their Christmas decorations together, and while reading the cb2 Blog this project jumped [...]
Suggestions on where to buy the 20 gauge wire? I’ve looked for thicker wire in the past for other projects, but came up empty handed. I love this project by the way =0) thanks for posting!
Shanna-
I got the 20 gauge wire at a hardware store (tried floral wire but was not strong enough). Would recommend 18-gauge wire, though- it’s a little thicker, so the ornaments don’t cause it to droop.
My problem with this project is that the ornaments keep sliding down the wire and bunching up and they don’t seem to “stay” the way they do in the picture. Not sure what to do with this… I needed waaaay more than I thought I would to cover the circumference of the wreath, and then when I made into a circle, they were all bunched together. Hard to describe, but it sure didn’t look like the picture!
I did see another method that recommended hot gluing the “caps” to the ornaments so they don’t pop off. If anyone has any more suggestions, I would love them!
Ok, an update… I just finished this. I had bought 20-gauge aluminum wire, and there is no way it will support these ornaments! I ended up finding a wire coat hanger, which worked much better. It took about 60 ornaments to fill, though… eliminating the possibility of an inexpensive gift idea for about 10 people! Total, this wreath cost about $30- $35, including the glue gun I used to secure the tops to the wreath, the ribbon, the ornaments, and the 20-gauge aluminum wire I purchased that didn’t work.
Doesn’t the wire pop out of the ornament?