simple gifts #4

This is our huge Christmas tree in our front yard. It's the tallest Blue Spruce I've ever seen! It's my favorite spot for my ornament photo shoots. I spy a wreath in the snow!

I was snowed in with the children for the second time in a week! Loved it! I won't tell you how long we stayed in our pajamas... it was snowing too hard to go outside for most of the day. What to do? Perfect opportunity to make some more gifts. We made four different versions of a wreath ornament. Three of them are perfect for older children or with an adult's guidance. The fourth wreath, my four year old taught me how to make! None of these require fancy supplies or sewing skills and we recycled. Hope you have fun, we did!

#1: felty star wreath with buttons

need:

-tiny embroidery hoop (we used ones with a 3 inch diameter)
-pinking shears
-glue
-white (or color of your choice) felt or batting
-ribbon or baker's twine
-assorted buttons

make:
see photos from #2 for any clarification
- cut out leaf shapes on the fold of your fabric. I was planning on using felted sweater scraps, but then I saw all of the natural cotton batting left-overs from my buckets... they work just like felt... maybe better as far as glue is concerned!
- attach "leaves" by sandwiching the embroidery hoop in the middle of each one and adhering with glue
- attach a slightly larger leaf to cover the hoop adjustment screw
- tie a ribbon or twine around the top
- glue buttons randomly around your wreath

#2: felty star wreath with toadstools

need:
- tiny embroidery hoop (we used ones with a 3 inch diameter)
- pinking shears
- glue
- white (or color of your choice) felt or batting
- ribbon or baker's twine
- embellishments of your choosing: our toadstools came from Small Stump


make:
- cut out leaf shapes on the fold of your fabric. I was planning on using felted sweater scraps, but then I saw all of the natural cotton batting left-overs from my buckets... they work just like felt... maybe better as far as glue is concerned!


- attach "leaves" by sandwiching the embroidery hoop in the middle of each one and adhering with glue

- attach a slightly larger leaf to cover the hoop adjustment screw
- tie a ribbon or twine around the top
- have fun getting creative with embellishments

#3: rag wreath

need:
- scissors
- scraps of fabric in rectangular strips
- yogurt lid
- jute/ribbon - natural embellishments


make:
- cut out a circle from the center of lid
- tie fabric strips all around the lid, keeping knots on the outside
- trim fabric ends to desired length
- tie jute or ribbon around the top for hanging
- embellish with notions or bits from nature

#4: "let me show you how" wreath

"That's not how you make a wreath", my four year old told her ten year old brother and me. According to her, real wreaths are green and made from "wire" and cracker boxes. It took me a second to figure it out, but I had seen several children making these at her school.

need:
- cracker box (cereal boxes work fine, but my daughter insists on only cracker boxes)
- 4 or 5 green pipe cleaners/chenille stems and one red (I found wonderful cotton pipe cleaners at AC Moore a while back)
- scissors
- pencil


make:
- cut out 2-3 inch ring from a box
- wrap green pipe cleaners around ring
- finish off with the red one and make a loop for hanging and optional bow.


Hope you have fun making and celebrating this weekend!