Holidays

Holiday Wreaths

Materials:
1-Flexible wire clothes hanger
1 or 2-Boxes sandwich bags, fold top not zip lock (150 - 200)
1-String of bead garland (get two if you want to mix colors)
1-Hot glue gun & glue sticks
1-Roll holiday ribbon (1" - 1-1/2" thick)
1-Small doll or decorative ornament of choice

Here we will start with the very old craft of the "Sandwich Bag Wreath." Using the basics of making this wreath and substituting materials of choice is limited only to your imagination! (Look for variations below.) Please read through these instructions before starting wreath as you may wish to change a few items.

Start by bending the flexible wire clothes hanger into a circle, (first pic below). Next, gather sandwich bag lengthwise, (folded top on one end and bag bottom on the other) tie tightly around top of wire. Repeat this step turning bags on wire as you go, (second pic below), keeping bags pushed tightly toward starting point. A regular sized flexible wire clothes hanger will use 150 to 200 sandwich bags. The tighter you keep the bags pushed together, and more bags you use, the fuller the wreath will be. Once hanger is filled with tied bags, fluff it out with your fingers so that it is full and even all the way around. (See wreath 1 pic below.) You are now ready to decorate your wreath. (Please note the clear bags can be spray painted using craft spray paint from your local craft store, if desired.) Make four bows from your ribbon. Glue each bow on wreath, one at top, one on bottom, one on either side. If you have chosen a small doll or ornament for the wreath's centerpiece, leave the bottom bow off. You will be glueing (or tying with florist wire depending on weight of item) your centerpiece here. Cut the beads from the garland and place in bowl. Glue three beads in center of each bow. If using two colors, glue other color beads on tips of bags spacing them in-between the bows equally, (see wreath 2 pic below). Allow glue to dry completely then hang your wreath on a door wreath hanger.

Variations: These wreaths can be made for any occasion or holiday. For a Thanksgiving wreath, glue colorful fall leaves on the wreath, adding small pumpkins and etc. to the center of them. Use this same technique for occasion or different holiday. (The bags also make beautiful Valentine's Day Wreaths!) Instead of using sandwich bags, use 2" - 3" wide strips of fabric, especially for the occasion or holiday, tying them around the wire hanger and decorate according to it's purpose. Another variation is to use long scrap pieces of fabric, white or very light colored, wrap around the wire until it's 3" - 4" thick. Then cover with long strips of fabric of choice and decorate to purpose. Just by using these basics and your imagination your creations can be unlimited! Hope you enjoy!

This craft submitted by: Libby

Hanger 1

I will try to post some more pics of variations as possible.