Easy to make eucalyptus wreaths to decorate your home or use as a gift. Make your own for a fraction of what one would cost you to purchase.
Approximate Time: about 1 hour
Supplies:
- 2 - 3 packages eucalyptus branches
- heavy duty scissors and wire cutters
- spool of wreath wire
- metal ring or wooden embroidery hoop
- silk leaves and flowers in fall colors
- thick craft glue or a glue gun
- raffia and/or ribbon (optional)
Instructions:
- Cut the branches into 3 - 6 inch lengths. Varying the length of your pieces will make your wreath look better.
- Gather several of the branch pieces into a bundle, wrap the bundle with wire and attach the bundle to your wire ring or embroidery hoop with additional wire. I used two metal rings from an old lampshade to make the two wreaths pictured.
- Continue to attach bundles to the frame, placing one over the bottom of the other to hide all wires, to complete the wreath.
- Glue on silk leaves and flowers to add fall color. I used odd leaves and flowers that had fallen from full branches, so these were basically "free".
- If you prefer, add a simple raffia or ribbon bow, which you can wire or glue on.
- Use additional wire to make a hanger for your wreath.
- Wreaths can be stored in a plastic bag and used for several years. They also make lovely gifts.
Note: The first wreath was made with dark green branches. The second with red branches, though they look black in the photo.
By Marie E. Cecchini from West Dundee, IL
