| You will need:
One florists foam ring, 41 cm / 16 inches
(If you can't get one of these use a beech twig one or form your own
by tying soft twigs together loosely into a ring. Use raffia to tie
it with and it can look very stylish)
String
secateurs
Scissors
Roll of florists wire
medium gauge stub wires 20 cm / 8 inches long
1.5 metres / 1 1/5 yards red ribbon, about 3.5 / 1 1/4 inches wide
Assorted greenery, choose from this list: holly, ivy, pieces mistletoe, laurel,
off cuts of fir tree
Plus any or all of the following to add interest:
cinnamon sticks
dried apple rings (see below for how to do it)
Dried orange rings(see below for how to)
pine cones, small ones are best
red apples
kumquats
Method:
Clip the greenery pieces into sprigs about 15-20 cm, 6-8 inches long.
Push the fir pieces into the wreath. Work in one direction and
ensure the pieces are firmly fixed. Cover the whole wreath. Tie a length
of string around the top and form a loop from which to hang it later.Now
add sprigs of the other greenery at intervals around the wreath. Make
sure holly leaves point up. Push in well to hold.
Prepare fir cones by wrapping the centre of a stub wire around the base and
twisting the ends together to form a stem.
Bind 3 or 4 sticks of cinnamon together with florists wire, twisting
the ends to form a stem. You can disguise the wire with a piece of raffia
over it tied into a bow.
Wire apple rings either singly or in 2's or 3's, folding the wire
in half as before and twisting to make a stem. Orange slices can
be wired similarly.
Apples or kumquats can have wires pushed through the centre and stems made
too. They should not later be eaten if used as a decoration.
Make a large bow from the ribbon. Thread a stub wire through the back
of the knot and twist the ends together.
Start adding the optional items trying to spread them around the ring, pushing
their stems into the foam.Try and balance the design.
Finish by positioning the bow at the bottom of the ring and
pushing the wire in. Trim the tips of the ribbon into V-shapes.
The wreath is now ready to hang.
You can make many variations on the wreath. you can spray some of
the greenery gold of silver before you start, spray the fruit similarly or
add tiny wired Christmas baubles, tiny wrapped boxes to look like gifts or
add mini crackers. |