If you missed anything this week, make sure to get caught up now:
Day 1: Branchlers + free printables
Day 2: Quick + easy tree ornaments
Day 3: No sew sweater stocking
Today I'm excited to share how I added lots of fresh greenery to our home (for free!) and a new mini-wreath DIY I discovered that might be my favorite holiday trick yet.
First, we have the garland.
A large banister and staircase calls for a massive garland, and a ton of evergreen clippings. Luckily, our front yard is covered in evergreen bushes so I spent about an hour gathering clippings one day...
Larger peices make this easier and faster, so I'd recommend cutting at least 1 foot sections.
I read somewhere that you should hammer the ends of the stalks so they absorb more water and soak them overnight before assembling so they'll last longer. It has been over three weeks and they're still green, so I'm glad I followed that advice!
My supplies were simply floral wire and a spool of twine.
I had two different species of evergreen so I ended up alternating them both for a more organic/layered look.
Starting with my first piece, I wrapped the stem around the twine a couple times then wrapped that with the floral wire near the base. About halfway down my stalk I added another branch and did the same.
If your branches aren't very full, you may need to add more.
The twine just helped to keep everything in line while the floral wire actually secured them so they wouldn't fall off.
Keep in mind you don't need to cut the twine or floral wire until the very end—just keep wrapping. It went by faster than I thought!
To keep it fuller looking, be careful to wrap the wire under the smaller branches instead of gathering it all underneath the wire—try to keep it as close to the stalk as possible so the pine needles can hang freely.
I only attached most of them about halfway to let the tops hang loose.
I think this photo was taken after only 30 minutes or so—I thought it was going to be a pain but it was actually enjoyable and went by fast!
I had to make over 30 feet though, so it still ended up taking at least a couple hours.
Once I was happy with the length, I found this sticky-back plastic apparatus in the garage and sec it to the end of my banister, along with some floral wire to secure the garland.
That was all I needed—the weight of the garland wrapped around the banister held the rest of it in place.
To finish it off, I bought a few spools of wired burlap ribbon and made a large bow for each post (four in total).
Can't get enough of bows this year!
Okay, ready for the easiest wreath you'll ever make in your life? All you need is just one evergreen clipping, some floral wire and ribbon (optional).
Step 1: Cut the branches off the main stalk of your clipping.
Step 2: Take your floral wire and make a circle (then cut the wire and wrap the two ends to secure). It doesn't have to be perfect.
Step 3: Place your first branchlet along the hoop and tightly wrap it (in the center) a couple times with your wire.
Step 4: Take the middle of your second piece and join it with the stalk end of your first, and wrap it a couple times around your hoop (don't cut the wire when you're done wrapping, just keep going!)
Step 5: Repeat until you make your way back to the first piece, being careful to wrap only stem so the pine needles hang free.
How easy is that? It literally takes just one minute.
Of course I had to put a bow on it.
I hung them to the front and back of our bedroom door using small clear command hooks. I love it against the black and think it's the cutest thing ever—one day after all of my doors have been remodeled they'll each get two for Christmas :)
You could put them on anything though—kitchen cabinets, coat hooks, backs of chairs, mirrors—you name it. Find an evergreen near you and go crazy.
Check back tomorrow for the final installment of my last minute DIY holiday projects! Next up is another one that cost me $0 to make... stay tuned!
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