One of my favourite ways to welcome fall is by hanging a handmade wreath on my front door. I don’t always have the time – or budget – to scour the stores for craft supplies, so this year I ‘shopped’ my home instead. I wanted the process to be quick and simple, but still make a statement on my front door. I also wanted the option of re-using my stems for other decorating projects in the future. A TALL ORDER! BUT, I think I accomplished what I set out to do with this Lush & Leafy DIY Fall Wreath. It did not require cutting down my stems and this DIY was done without the use of a wreath form.
Ready to dive in?
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SUPPLIES NEEDED
● FAUX STEMS – Mine were purchased ages ago, so I have no direct link to them. If you are looking for good quality fall stems/branches, you can search out the following sources:
Etsy (International)
Michaels (US) or Michaels (Canada)
Afloral (US)
Decors Veronneau (Canada)
Fauxliage (Canada)
TIPS for choosing your stems: Choose ANY quality faux stem that a) you can bend and shape and b) are stiff enough to hold that shape. Most faux stems are already pre-wired with some flex built in. My stems are quite thick (as you’ll see), making them a good choice, especially when creating a solid base for making a wreath without a wreath form.
● (Optional): RIBBON (if you like the look of the velvet ribbon I used, but prefer a different colour, it comes in other colours. You can also find a wide range of other velvet ribbons here)
LUSH & LEAFY DIY FALL WREATH
STEPS
Step 1: Shape Each Stem Into a Circular Form
WITHOUT A WREATH FORM like a wire, wood, foam, or grapevine base, you will be RELYING ON THE STEMS to form the FOUNDATION OF YOUR WREATH.
Start by pre-shaping each stem into a circular form.
Since most front door wreath forms measure 12-14 inches across the interior, make sure that your ring measures about 12 or more inches, too.
Step 2: Attach Each Stem
Start by laying one shaped stem over another, slightly staggering them, so that there is some overlap of the foliage portions. Pictured below are TWO STEMS layered one over the other.
Taking your craft wire, begin wrapping the two stems together at one end.
TIP: Lay the wire over the stems with one hand and hold the wire role (or paddle) in the other. Lifting the stems, feed the wire underneath and towards the interior of the ring, then back around again. Continue wrapping the wire around both stems several times – approx. 3-4 for thinner stems; 5-6 for thicker stems.
Snip the wire off the roll (or paddle).
TWIST THE WIRES TOGETHER, starting at the base of the stems. This will keep the stems bundled together.
Then wrap the twisted wires back around the stems.
Attach the stems together in one or two other spots in the same way.
ADD YOUR NEXT (THIRD) STEM, making sure to STAGGER AS BEFORE. Attach the same way as before, making sure to wrap the wire around all 3 stems. This will ensure you have a secure foundation.
TIP: Where you can, wrap the wire around the same spots. This serves two purposes: 1) creating a secure foundation and 2) having fewer exposed wires to cover up later on.
Continue layering in one stem at a time and attaching to the base stems until you have covered the entire ring. By the time you layer in your FINAL STEM (pictured below), your circle should be COVERED IN FOLIAGE ALL THE WAY AROUND.
Step 3: ‘Artfully’ Attach the Foliage to Your Wreath Base
Depending on the type and weight of your foliage, you may need to ‘artfully’ attach it to the wreath form you’ve just created.
How can you know? LIFT YOUR WREATH UP and see how THE FOLIAGE SEPARATES FROM THE BASE.
My foliage is quite heavy and droops quite a bit so I will need to go back and choose areas to be attached.
TIP: If you like a lot of movement, then avoid wrapping the wire around all the offshoots. Leave some to naturally droop.
HERE IS HOW I DID THAT:
Below are some offshoots with foliage attached (to the right of the stems) that I’d like to bundle together.
Here’s a closer look at that section:
FIRST: I wrapped the offshoots together using craft wire.
NEXT, I twisted the two wires together to bundle the offshoots.
FINALLY, I attached the bundled offshoots to the adjacent interior stems, LEAVING SOME SPACE BETWEEN.
BY LEAVING SPACE between the offshoots and central stems, I am CREATING THE ILLUSION OF FULLNESS for this wreath. I’ll cover some of that space with the leaves, later on.
TIP: As you make your way around to bundle offshoots together and attaching to the interior stems, LIFT YOUR WREATH FROM TIME TO TIME to see HOW THE FOLIAGE BEHAVES. Is it drooping too much in one spot or not enough? This will help you DETERMINE WHERE TO ATTACH and which sections to leave alone.
Continue ‘artfully’ attaching your offshoots to the stems ALL THE WAY AROUND your wreath.
Step 4: Shape and Cover Wires
Since we are using stiff but flexible stems, you can go ahead and BEND AND SHAPE THE FOLIAGE to create as much or as little movement in your wreath as you want. BEND SOME FOLIAGE INWARDS and BEND SOME OUT to create MOVEMENT.
This is also when you should COVER ANY EXPOSED WIRES, but don’t fuss too much with that. It doesn’t need to be perfect!
TIP: Shaping it while it’s hanging is even better as it will give you the best perspective before you hang it on your front door.
Step 5: Optional: Add A Ribbon
I added this copper velvet ribbon for a more elegantly styled autumn wreath. But you can choose to leave it off for a less ‘dressed up’ look.
I love the statement this wreath makes on our door. It has a lot of movement and character and feels like it’s been plucked fresh from nature.
I hope you enjoyed seeing how to make this leafy diy fall wreath without using a wreath form AND without cutting the stems – a great option if you like reusing your craft and decor supplies.
Happy fall crafting,
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If you enjoyed this tutorial, check out these other fall craft and decor ideas:
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