This year I decided to make a couple of Christmas decoration wreaths for some friends.  I personally find it hard to make Christmas quilts, I do not like the idea a quilt would only be used for a short time every year.

So armed with a hot glue gun, some tinsel and lots and lots of Christmas baubles (sourced predominantly from thrift stores) I started making my first wreath.  There are lots of instructions on-line and I decided to go with Georgia Peachz instructions (http://retrorenovation.com/2010/12/11/how-to-make-a-christmas-wreath-out-of-vintage-ornaments/) because I was using mainly vintage glass ornaments.  Her instructions are:

• Start with extruded foam wreath base and wrap in tinsel-tone garland securing with hot glue.
• Important to add a wire loop here before proceeding.
• Glue larger ornaments around the outer rim of wreath form.
• Lay flat and then fill in with smaller ornies.
• I like to mix up ornies with kitschy little things.
• Important to use HIGH TEMP hot glue.

That’s it in a nutshell!

What is not mentioned is how many decorations you need.  The answer is A LOT.  I added some newer decorations for texture and size (mainly the glitter baubles and small glass decorations).  The other thing that is not mentioned is how dangerous a very hot glue gun can be. – I now have a wonderful collection of burned fingers, but I think it was worth it.

My colour choice for this wreath was based on a handful of bright pink vintage decorations I had.  I used purples and light & dark pinks to compliment the hot pink.

I delivered the first of my wreaths on Saturday and my dear friend, Margaret was appropriately impressed.  Okay I had actually told her that no matter what she thought she had to oh and ah…. too much time, effort and burn cream had gone into making this!