I love a pretty fall wreath hanging on my front door. The only problem is that in California it’s still over 100° outside. So having a wreath on my front door when the weather screams summer feels kind of funny to me. Even still, I didn’t let that stop me from creating a wreath for display, but instead of the front door, I hung it in front of one of our mirrors inside our home. It instantly gave that room a more cozy vibe. So while it feels like summer outside, it looks like fall inside.
I’ve been into dried flowers lately and initially wanted to make a wreath with dried flowers. Instead, I chose flowers that would dry nicely and made a wreath with mostly fresh flowers (the hydrangeas were slightly dry), and then I allowed them to dry on the wreath.
Supplies:
–18″ grapevine wreath
-fresh flowers that would dry nicely (I used one bunch of each of these: hydrangeas, craspedia, seeded eucalyptus, marigolds, caspia, button poms, and pyracantha.)
-floral wire
-wire cutter
Step One: Cut the stems of the flowers to about 5″ – 7″ in length. Decide on the placement of your flowers on the wreath, and insert the flowers that are individually stemmed into the wreath first. The marigolds, craspedia, and caspia inserted into the form of the grapevine wreath nicely. I wanted to clump all the same flowers together instead of mixing them with each other.
Step Two: Continue to add the remaining flowers and wrap the stems to the wreath with a floral wire until your entire wreath is covered. You can also wrap the stems of the flowers that were already inserted to secure them in even more. Tip: to keep the direction of the flowers continuous, have the stems of the flowers all going the same direction as you work your way around, layering the heads of the flowers on the previous flowers’ stems.
Also, when working with hydrangeas, you want them be somewhat dry when you put them on the wreath, otherwise the petals will clump together and fall flat. A few days before making the wreath, place the hydrangeas in a vase with fresh water covering half the length of the stems. After a few days, when the water has evaporated, the hydrangeas will be dried, and that is the optimal time to use them in a dried wreath or dried flower arrangement.
The last photo above is what the wreath looks like dried two weeks later. The marigolds aren’t as full, and all the colors have dried to a muted tone with a little hint of brown in it, but it still looks perfectly autumn. Maybe once the weather feels more like fall here, I’ll make another one for the front door. –Rubyellen
Credit // Author and Photography: Rubyellen Bratcher. Photos edited with Imogen from the Folk Collection.
42 Comments
Wow, I am blown away. This is so beautiful. I love the idea of using fresh flowers that will dry prettily so it can be kept up for an extended time. This would be magical in my home and go fantastically with my current decor.
Cat
http://oddlylovely.com
I LOVE this! Beautiful!
Very beautiful wreath and I love the idea of making one for the inside if you are in a more tropical climate…I live in Jamaica so def stealing this idea!
I love this! It’s so versatile for other seasons too!
http://thelollyprojectblog.blogspot.com
Homemade wreaths are always the prettiest! Thanks so much for sharing this, I think I’ll have a fun time picking up things for mine!
http://everydayingrace.blogspot.ca/
This is so beautiful x
That is so gorgeous! And trust someone who comes from freezing weather, sacrifice the wreath and take the sun…
xoxo
The Accidental Mama
http://www.theaccidentalmama.com
Wow, I really, really like this! It’s so natural + beautiful. My MIL likes these with just the berry holly for Christmas, and this definitely gets my mind thinking of DIY Holiday gifts. Thanks for sharing this!
~Sacha
Very gorgeous! I live just outside of Los Angeles and I CAN NOT WAIT for cooler weather as well… it’s so sad to see everyone playing in gorgeous fallen leaves while we’re boiling away here!
Really pretty and looks simple! Looks like something even I could do…since I tend to never do any crafts because of lack of time…
Hi Elsie and Emma! Great blog filled with even greater design ideas! Just wanted to let you know that I have nominated you the One Lovely Blog Award!
Cheers,
SannyDiaries.com
The wreath is just brilliant! Inspiring me to make one (possibly 2 😉 )xoxo
Hi Elsie and Emma! Great blog filled with even greater organization and design ideas! Just wanted to let you know that I have nominated you the One Lovely Blog Award!
Cheers,
SannyDiaries.com
This would be so cute in a victorian style bed room.
http://thatsmagsforyou.com
This is so lovely! And you totally helped me identify a flower that I’ve been meaning to pin for my wedding next year (craspedia). Thanks!
So pretty. I’ve been wanting to make one of these http://www.hannamarielei.com
This is so beautiful!
xo
http://www.iolablog.com/
Flowers can always make our life more romantic. love your handmade work. it’s such a good example of decorating the room and making life more romantic.
WONDERFUL.
I love this idea.
It looks like autumn!!!
Greetings & Love
Ines
http://eclectichamilton.blogspot.de/
This is such a beautiful wreath, I love the colours!
always wanted to make these. thanks for the helpful post! x
-Jianine
Oh, so pretty! I love wreaths throughout the entire year, and made of what ever is in season. <3
How beautiful!!! I love trying new flower arrangements!! Let’s see if I can do something like this!
xx,
E.
http://www.theslowpace.com
This is adorable. I love that its made with fresh flowers.
Love this! Just curious as to where the wreath base came from. I’ve been having a helluva time trying to find one. Perhaps my Michaels just doesn’t carry this style?
Definitely want to try making this!
so beautiful!
xx nikki
http://www.dream-in-neon.com
this is such a beautiful wreath! the color tones are fabulous.
I’ve been thinking about making a pretty wreath for the season and this one is just gorgeous!
I love that it can last after the flowers dry and still look great.
Gorgeous! More floral posts, please!
Paulina
https://www.etsy.com/shop/Smallwhitewave?ref=hdr_shop_menu
I’ve seen them at all my local Michael’s. It’s typically in the section where they have dried flowers and branches.
The colors on this wreath are so pretty
This wreath is absolutely beautiful!
rae of love from berlin
Oh so much beautiful decoration with flower and I really love the idea of using the real flower here instead of the artificial one. But I am wondering if they the flower get pale soon, what to do?
Oh so much beautiful decoration with flower and I really love the idea of using the real flower here instead of the artificial one. But I am wondering if they the flower get pale soon, what to do?
Excellent presentation with the combination of flower. Excellent Idea you have shared with us. Thanks for the post.
This is an lovely post. Really working well. Great Jobs.
wow look at those photos beautiful!!!
I word appropriate for this decoration “Gorgeous!”, Nothing else
Wow! Awesome work.
Innovative idea! Just amazing. Thanks for sharing your creativity.
Excellent presentation with the combination of flower…thanks for sharing.