If you’re looking for some easy holiday/winter door or wall decor this season, a holiday swag DIY may be just the thing. It’s simple, elegant and will takes just minutes to make.
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MATERIALS NEEDED
1) 2-3 types of evergreen branches or long cuttings. I used freshly cut balsam, white pine, and boxwood, but this works just as well with synthetic greenery that you can find at a craft store like Michaels.
2) Berry/Floral embellishments: Mine were synthetic pieces I purchased locally, but similar ones can be found online here and here. Of course, you might prefer adding pinecones, orange slices, or some other embellishments in keeping with your colour palette.
3) Twine
5) Velvet ribbon: I used a red velvet purchased locally, similar to this one or this one. But there are lots of other colour options available on Amazon.
6) Scissors
STEPS to Making a Simple, Elegant Holiday Swag DIY
Step 1: Layer Greenery
First, lay the longest, base pieces together. I used 3 balsam cuttings.
Place these one on top of the other.
Add the next layer: in this case, 3 white pine cuttings.
Make sure they are slightly shorter than the balsam.
Add a couple of cuttings of boxwood.
I used 2 pieces, making sure they were slightly shorter than the white pine.
Step 2: Layer in Embellishments
I used synthetic berries as my embellishments, clipped off of longer stems.
These should be wired together before attaching to the swag. Position them so that they cascade downward.
Attach them together using craft wire.
Layer over top of greenery.
I removed a couple of the faux leaves attached to the berries (the lighter pieces) as they did not capture that realistic feel I was trying to achieve. Often, you can simply pull the leaves off with ease.
Using the garden clippers, clip off any unevenness along the top.
Step 3: Attach ALL Stems Together
Attach all stems together using craft wire. Twist around the dominant stem/branch first.
Then, continue wrapping around the entire bunch, 3 or 4 times, or whenever it feels secure to you.
Snip off wire with wire cutters and tuck the tail into the stems/branches.
Next, wrap the ribbon around all stems a few times, covering the wire, before tying a bow or knot at the front.
Step 4: Attach Twine for Hanging
Attach twine to the back to create a loop for hanging.
Now, your holiday swag is ready to hang on a door or wall, indoors or out.
This was one of the simplest holiday DIYs I made this year and it’s quite possibly my favourite. It’s minimal and elegant and is a great alternative to traditional round wreaths.
If you’re looking for some additional pieces to whip up before guests arrive for the holidays, I suggest this be the one. So easy and beautiful, too!
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