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Now that the insanity of the holiday season has finally come to an end, I'm doing my best to get back into the swing of things. My everyday routine has taken a serious hit over the last few weeks, and while I do (for the most part) enjoy the craziness of Christmas, I'm so happy that calm and normalcy have returned to my life.
I ended 2018 with a video tutorial (my first attempt at one), and to start off 2019, I decided to take the same route! The only difference? No voiceover — yay! This project is a lot easier to follow and doesn't require much explanation, so I figured the video, along with a simple set of written instructions, would suffice. Plus, for some reason, hearing a recording of my voice weirded me out, so, if I can, I'm going to avoid putting myself through that again, lol.
Today's project demonstrates how to make a fun and colourful wreath to hang on your front door for Valentine's Day. Wreath-making is one of my favourite forms of DIY, which means I have one for pretty much every major holiday or special event. To find out where my imagination took me with this particular one, keep scrolling.
Materials
Styrofoam wreath form
Hot glue gun + glue sticks
Ribbon
Decorative accents
The thing that inspired me to make this wreath is a treat I used to enjoy as a kid: rock candy. Like Halloween, the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Valentine's Day is chocolate and candy — oh, and looove, of course, lol. So, with candy on the brain, I thought the best way to celebrate this special day would be to make a wreath that looks like a giant piece of it!
But how was I going to achieve the look of rock candy without actually using the real thing? After a bit of brainstorming, I realized that plastic vase filler was the answer.
I looked for some at a number of local dollar and craft stores, but I wasn't able to find the colour or quantity I needed to create the look I was going for. However, thanks to Amazon, I was able to purchase three bags of pink gems for a very reasonable price. And because of my free Prime trial, they arrived at my doorstep less than two days after being ordered.
Tip: I used a 16-inch wreath form. Three bags (150 pieces each) of vase filler was the perfect amount to cover the entire thing. Depending on the size of your wreath, you may have to adjust the number of bags you purchase.
The steps for this DIY aren't very complicated — but they are time-consuming.
All I did was use my hot glue gun (and A LOT of glue sticks) to adhere the vase filler to the front panel of my wreath form. I stuck them as close together as possible, and made sure the layout was completely random. If you've ever seen a stick of rock candy, you know how imperfect and jagged it is, and I wanted to replicate those qualities in my wreath.
Once the front panel was completely covered, I added gems around both the inner and outer edges. I did this to not only make the wreath look fuller, but also to conceal any Styrofoam that was still visible.
I then set the wreath aside to dry and began working on my decorative accent.
Because I wanted the pink gems to be the star of the show, I decided to stick with a small, traditional accessory for this wreath. I found a festive decoration at Dollarama comprised of three glittery hearts, however, it was just a tad too big.
So, using a pair of linesman pliers, I removed the outer heart, and attached the remaining two to the lower, lefthand side of the wreath with some glue.
To finish everything off, I cut a gorgeous strip of purple ribbon, tied a bow, and hung the wreath on our front door.
I'm so glad I was able to make my vision of a rock candy wreath a reality! And while I think it's the perfect look for Valentine's Day, this idea certainly isn't limited to it. With a simple colour change, you can create a crystallized wreath for any holiday.
If this project inspires you to get crafty, let me know by sharing your creations with me! Leave a comment or use #katiesaracreates on social media. And don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on future posts!
Happy crafting!
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