I LOVE making wreaths! The Fall wreath on my door I made a couple of years ago was faded and totally didn't match the spooky decor we put up this year. Soooo, I thought, why not make a Halloween wreath and hopefully inspire someone to make one too?
I promise, it's not hard! It just takes a little imagination, creativity and a few minutes at the craft store to pick up some supplies...
I chose a grapevine wreath, Styrofoam skulls, a little metal sign, some black leaf garland, and purple glittered black roses...but you can chose from a variety of items. A garland of some sort and a couple of focal pieces usually works well, as you don't want it to be too busy.
I plugged in the hot glue gun and inserted wooden dowels in the base of the skulls while waiting for it to heat up. If they are too long, cut them short enough to not stick out of the back of the wreath...
Then, hot glue around the dowel where it meets the skull to give it extra hold. When in doubt, add hot glue (but not to your finger ;-) tee hee...
I decided to add black glitter to the eye sockets to jazz it up a bit...but of course adding glitter is always optional. I prefer Martha Stewart's glitter and glittering glue but you could use any kind. So, paint the glue first...
Now, it's time to move on to the wreath itself.
Start by hot gluing the end of the garland into the back of the wreath. Please do this over a covered surface, so that if the hot glue drips through, you don't burn yourself or ruin furniture...
Then, you summon your nifty little studio helper, tee hee! Yes, I do that whenever I can...so I can't take credit for the whole wreath, it's true.
She winded the leaf garland around and around trying to space it out a bit until it reached the starting point...and then I hot glued that end the same way I did the other one...
It's time to add those spooky little Skelly's you made!
Just pop the dowels through the bottom of the wreath and hot glue them really good in there. I kind of pull the wreath apart a wee bit to fit in the tip of my hot glue gun...again, being careful the glue doesn't drip through to the front...
I found these purple glittered black roses that were perfect to add a splash of color! So, I just cut off the stems...
For a final touch, I added the 'Ghosts were people too,' sign, by sliding it onto an broken branch and hot gluing it really good. Then I covered it with a black leaf so you couldn't see any glue...
There were a lot of cute Halloween signs but I thought this one suited the purple and black skull theme! Better yet, make your own little sign...oh, I should have thought of that earlier, tee hee.
Sooooo, here is the final Spooooky wreath...
I will say...if I were to do this one again, I might spray paint the grapevine wreath black before adding all the decor. I think it would make it a little more spooky...oooh, and maybe sprinkle some purple glitter on it too ;-) Glitter is a girls best friend...isn't that the saying? Oh, wait...no, that's diamonds, tee hee. Well, not this girl...I LOVE glitter!
So, I hope you've been inspired to try making your own wreath. They are so fun and fairly easy to make. Not to mention much cheaper than buying one already made (not that there's anything wrong with that because I've seen some really cute ones on Etsy ;-) But, I think this cost me about $15 to make, yay.
Jamie :)
love it! i've never been a big fan of halloween, but i'm seeing so many amazing ideas ... i may have to change my mind!!!
Posted by: Paula Weigel | Thursday, October 08, 2009 at 08:54 AM
spooky and cute!! good job!
Posted by: tristan | Thursday, October 08, 2009 at 09:09 AM
GREAT job! I LOVE it!
~TidyMom
Posted by: TidyMom | Thursday, October 08, 2009 at 09:16 AM
How talented are YOU? That is just too freaking cool... where do you come up with the design ideas for these things?
That wreath is nicer (and more creative) than anything they sell in stores. You should totally try selling them!
Posted by: robin | Thursday, October 08, 2009 at 09:24 AM
That is so awesome, Jamie! Very gothic. :) I like that the sign says WERE...very appropriate. Thanks so much for the tutorial!!! Theresa
Posted by: Theresa | Thursday, October 08, 2009 at 09:50 AM
Wouah, je craque complètement sur ta bannière, fantastique !
Qu'est-ce qu'elle me plaît !
Happy Halloween !
From France,
Tatieva, painter
Posted by: Tatieva | Thursday, October 08, 2009 at 10:18 AM
That is really cute Jamie!! Thanks for the tutorial!
Posted by: Sara | Thursday, October 08, 2009 at 11:32 AM
OMG! This wreath is beautiful! Makes me want to go make one now! Oh, and I love your header!
Posted by: Kendra | Thursday, October 08, 2009 at 06:57 PM
Spooooooky!
Posted by: Heather | Thursday, October 08, 2009 at 09:25 PM
That is so cool!!
Posted by: Melanie @ Whimsical Creations | Thursday, October 08, 2009 at 09:28 PM
So I get to this post via a Tweet by Tidy Mom. I give it a once over and see that I really like the idea of this wreath. Then I scan up to the pic of the blogger up at the top. I think to myself, "Gosh that looks a lot like Jaimie. The same girl that used to turn around in Geometry class and doodle crazy stuff on my notebook. I was intrigued so I read more...and it is you! WOW!! Kelli (Helms) Mayhorn here! Remember me?
Posted by: Kelli | Friday, October 09, 2009 at 08:44 AM
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrl,
LOVE THIS! i think i'm gonna have to make it's twin! so spooky and sparkly and fabulous!
happy weekend, sweets!
jes
xo
Posted by: jes | Friday, October 09, 2009 at 12:12 PM
Ghosts are still people, just in a different dimension. Hehe. I love it! And love the new header. Are you gonna be Dorothy this year again?
Posted by: Kristin | Friday, October 09, 2009 at 03:03 PM
Dearest Lovely Talented Crafty Jamie Woo~
Oh, how I love love love coming here!
You are so much fun- I love the wreath! And what an organized "ghoul" you are labeling your potions with a little help from a Fanciful Twist muuuhahahahah
I totally dig the glitter in the skull's eyes BTW it takes them to a whole new level!
...and I cant wait to see baby costumes...
sighhhhh
I think you've invented "Spooky Chic"
XOXOXOXOXO
Posted by: Rhonda Roo | Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 09:58 AM
Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest. This is actually my very FIRST time participating in this and I am so glad I came across your blog. It is BEAUTIFUL and I love how it shows step by step instructions for the crafting challenged, like myself. I can't wait to poke around here a little bit more and see all your grand ideas!
Thanks.
Posted by: Florrie Nuttall | Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Wow! Good job!
PS Thank you for stopping by my blog on my sits day!
Posted by: Yaya | Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 06:59 PM
That is one wickedly cool wreath! Nice job!!!!
Posted by: Denise | Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 11:43 PM
AWESOME!!!!! Please come decorate my house!!!!!
Posted by: Sarah Brown | Sunday, October 11, 2009 at 12:53 AM
Oh my... that's so cool!! I love it. But what I love the most is how it has glitter... that cracked me up! And pink glitter to boot!! Just adorable... I think you are so lucky to have three girls! What fun.
Blessings and maigc.
Posted by: The Magic Onions | Sunday, October 11, 2009 at 10:38 AM
You are always so creative... and seem to have alot of fun... will you be my friend??!! This is a cool idea!
:)
~Tabitha
Posted by: Tabitha Blue | Sunday, October 11, 2009 at 03:33 PM
Great wreath!! I love the black/purple roses especially.
I know you say it's easy... but coming from a aethestically-challenged person like myself... I dun think I can do it! :P Haha! Hope you had a great halloween!
Posted by: Sandra | Sunday, October 11, 2009 at 11:46 PM
LOVE the color you added to the black roses. and the glitter in the eyes! Amazing little touches
Posted by: Lauren | Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 04:03 PM
What a great wreath!! I love the glitter and the colors! The sign is great too, and so true!
Posted by: Karen - The Graphics Fairy | Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 04:25 PM
I love it!!!
Posted by: Jessica | Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 04:27 PM
Very spooky chic!
Posted by: Amy at The Red Chair Blog | Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 08:16 PM