The Beauty and Simplicity of a Magnolia Wreath

I love the look of a magnolia wreath.  The beauty and simplicity is like no other.  I have wanted a magnolia wreath for some time now.  I'd see them at retail stores but I didn't want to pay the price they were asking for them.  I knew I could make one way cheaper.

#magnoliawreaths

#lovethem

So I had my daughter Tiffani cut a few branches off of her magnolia tree for me.

I already had a grapevine wreath in the attic from an old wreath.  I removed the old flowers so I could make my new wreath.  :)

It is really very simple.  All you need is a glue gun.  I glued one leaf laying towards the inside of the wreath, one towards the outside and one up the middle.  I alternated as I did each one because I didn't want them to lay the same way.

And....I did as I always do.  I burned my finger holding down a leaf.  :)  It only takes one time and you remember how hot it gets.  So be careful!

I'm not sure how long it took me to make the wreath.  I was in the garage with the music playing rather loudly.  I'd take a break every once in a while to snap a photo and grab a drink of water.

Once I was finished I hung it up on the door to the breakfast room.  I wanted the contrast of the green leaves on the white door so I could see where I needed to add more leaves.  You can see from the pic below there were a few gaps here and there.  It was really easy to fix.  Put a little glue on the tips of the leaves and insert them where you want them.  Easy peasy!

I love how glossy the leaves are...and I didn't spray anything on them!  :)

I am over the moon with my new magnolia wreath.  And the best part?  It didn't cost me anything.  I had everything I needed to make it.  :)

I am working on the hubs to have our pine tree removed so we can plant a Little Gem Magnolia tree.  He's coming around.  Then I'd have an endless supply of leaves!!!

I have three more wreaths to make.  Two for Brooke and one for Tiffani.  I think I'm going to make a smaller one for my breakfast room door.  :)

Hope you have a wonderful evening!!!

xoxoxo

Debbie

"Morning without you is a dwindled dawn."

-- Emily Dickinson

White Coffee Filter Wreath

Hello and Happy Wednesday!!!

I am SO happy to report I am finished with my white coffee filter wreath.  Woo Hoo!  Was it worth the time and effort?  Absolutely.  If you would have asked me while I was making it I might have told you the jury was out because I thought I would never finish.

Here is a pic of all of the filters fluffed out all around the wreath.  That would be over 200 filters please!!!

In this photo I have a colander inserted in the middle to raise the wreath up off of the counter.  Here you can see a few gaps where the filters did not stay together.  

I used Zots (from my secret stash of scrapbooking stuff) to help bind the filters together so there weren't any gaps.  The next thing I did was I grabbed a pair of scissors and trimmed any pieces that were standing out.  This helped give it a more rounded look.

I am very happy with the results and it only cost $10.00 to make this beautiful wreath.

---------------------------------------------------------

However, there are a few things I will do differently on the next one.  :)

I will fold and staple at least 200 filters before gluing them to the wreath form.  It goes so much faster if this is done before hand.

I will glue the inside row first and I will not place the filters in the center of the inner ring.  I will place them on the inside edge of the wreath towards the top ring of filters.  (Hope this makes sense to you.)

I will make sure I have Zots on hand to fill the spots where needed.

The next wreath I make will be with the tea stained coffee filters.  Similar to this one by Martha Stewart.  It is so beautiful!  I copied her in attaching my ribbon.  :)

I think these wreaths would be beautiful used in a wedding setting, be it at the church or the reception hall.  You get so much "wow" for so little money.  I can envision smaller wreaths placed on the end of the pews, hanging on the doors to the church, the doors to the restrooms, in the center of a table with a hurricane glass and a large candle, etc., etc.  You could embellish them with so many things to add a little sparkle or a little bling.

---------------------------------------------------------

Here's an up close shot of my new lamp.  I am so happy to finally have the lamp that belongs here.  I believe this is the fourth lamp I purchased trying to find the right one.  Can you believe I got this one for $34.00 at Hobby Lobby on the Clearance aisle?  I love it!!!  It has the mercury glass look I wanted and the slim shade.

 

I've been tweaking the mantle and here is the latest look.  I think it is still missing something.  Maybe I'll finish playing with it by Spring.  :)

Have I inspired you to make a coffee filter wreath?  If not for you maybe as a gift for someone?

Hope you have a wonderful day,

xoxoxo

Debbie

Coffee Filter Wreath

I have wanted to make a coffee filter wreath forever!  I am so excited that it is finally happening.  I ran out of filters so I don't have a finished photo for you.  I should have one on Monday.

I used an open pack of coffee filters we had in the pantry.  I am guessing there were about 200 in the package.  I folded the filters in half, half again and half one more time all while watching TV.  I chose to staple mine at the bottom so it would stay together.  Choosing to do it this way made the gluing process go so much faster.

The folded filters look pretty just sitting in the container.  :)

I used my new cordless glue gun which I dearly love.  It makes it so much easier to work with by not having to deal with the cord getting in my way.

My other glue gun is 29 years old.  It was the first gift the hubs gave me for Christmas when we were dating.  It has been taking a really long time to heat up.  It has lasted way longer than I thought it would.

I decided to leave the plastic on the wreath so it wouldn't make a big mess.  :)

The first thing I did was I started gluing the filters on the outside of the wreath then I moved inside the ring of the wreath.  Once I finished them both I moved on to the outer ring.

And here is where I ran out of filters.  :(  I figured I would't have enough and I didn't.  I'll be going to the store for more tomorrow so I can finish it.  I am so excited!!!    Once I fold and glue the rest of the filters I will fluff all of the filters out.  I imagine I will be doing some trimming, too.

I will be using this ribbon to hang it once I have finished it.

 

I have so many things pinned on my Pinterest board.....not sure I'll get to all of them!  However, I am over the moon to get this one done!!!  Do you have anything on your Pinterest board you are wanting to make?  

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and are staying nice and warm!!!

Hugs,

xoxoxo

Debbie

Mardi Gras Wreath Made Over

Hey there!  How are you doing today?  I hope things are going well for you.

This year Mardi Gras is on February 9th which is just around the corner.  I pulled my Mardi Gras wreath out of the attic and I can describe it in just one word.  Pitiful!!!  It really needed to be taken apart and remade...no questions asked!  I don't know about you, but I always seem to work on crafts when my house is clean.  I am ALWAYS making a mess after I have cleaned.  What's up with that?

My goal was to rework the wreath using the deco mesh from the wreath and also from left over deco mesh I had used on the LSU tree a couple of years ago.  I have to say reusing the old mesh took way more time as I had to keep flattening it out, then rolling it up.  But I pushed through and I am so glad I did.

I am very happy with the way it turned out and it didn't cost a dime.  Just time and patience.  :)

I called for "clean up on aisle 3" but no one showed up so I was left to clean up my mess.  This photo does not show how messy it really was.  There was glitter everywhere along with needles and fibers from the mesh.

Here is our refreshed wreath in all its glory.

We have a few things out on the porch, but not everything.  We (hubs) still needs to hang up the garden flag.  Unfortunately I can't do it as someone needs to hold the ladder while you hang it up.

Before I tell you my story, keep in mind I am very afraid of lizards.  Seriously!  I do not like lizards.  It's unfortunate for me because we have tons of lizards of all sizes, colors, etc. in our yard.  OMG!  In the summer, around the pool, lizards are everywhere!!!  Lately I had noticed that with the cold weather I wasn't seeing any so I didn't think anything of it when I grabbed this lantern and brought it inside to clean it before placing it on the porch.

Do you see the little guy there on the bottom of the lantern?  OMG!  I hand the lantern laying down on the counter in the kitchen trying to get some little brown leaves out.  Holy crap!  I was so lucky he did not start running on the counter because it would have been really, really bad.  

As I was going to remove what I thought was another leaf, I realized it was a lizard.  I screamed so loud, two different times my throat was sore.  I was just praying to God he did not jump off before I was able to get the lantern on the table on the porch.  I no longer cared that it was dirty.  No siree!!!  Didn't mind at all.

I must have scared the bejeezus out of him because he didn't move for quite a while.  I was beginning to think he was dead.

 I checked again a little later and he was gone.  Phew!  I dodged a lizard!!!

I don't have any purple or gold ribbon so this will have to do until I get some.

The entire time we had the foyer remodeled I was cringing just imagining that lizards were getting in because they would leave the door open.  Forget the fact the AC was on...I didn't want those pesky things inside.  The guy thought I was hilarious.....I told him I was serious.  :)  He obliged and shut the door when he could.

Is there anything you are afraid of?  Do you have any stories to share?  I'd love to hear them.

Hope you have a great rest of the week!

xoxoxo

Debbie

Summer Wreath

I finally got around to making a wreath for our front door.  :)

I've had the wreath form and a full roll of the pink and green deco mesh in my stash so all I needed were a few things.  I fell in love with the green paradise sign.  I think the pink flamingo screams summer time.

I am not quite happy with it.  I think I need to add a few more things to fill it out.

Imagine my surprise when I saw the fall decor....

and the Christmas decor.

I want to experience summer before I start thinking about decorating for Christmas.  Heck, with all of the rain we've been having summer has just arrived.  The water in the pool is finally a comfortable 85 degrees!!!

There are plenty of crafts to make if you want to get a jump start.

Have you been in the "crafty" mood?  If so, what are you working on?

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Take care,

Debbie