BOUNTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL HOLIDAY WREATHS
Ingredients
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A metal wire frame is the most versatile support for wreaths (we used a 12-inch round form here but go with whatever size suits. You can find them online and at most craft stores).
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22-gauge floral wire, cut into 5-inch strips
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Floral shears
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Wire cutter (use something sturdier than your floral shears)
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3 different types of greenery (for example you could pick 2 types of evergreen, like redwood, douglas fir, or pine, and 1 type of a more delicate greenery like bay leaves, holly, magnolia, herbs, or seasonal flowers)
Instructions
1. Lay out your greens, grouping them by type. Unless you want to be sweeping up holly spring for days on end, it's probably best to do this outdoors—or spread out some newspaper indoors. Make 6 bunches of each type of greenery (for a total of 18 bunches). To make each bunch, cut 4 to 5 pieces of the greenery using your floral shears (good, sharp shears will be your very best friend here). The pieces should be about 5 to 7 inches long.
2. Begin attaching the bunches—one by one—to your wire frame. Attach each bunch to your wire frame with the 5-inch pieces of wire, winding around each stem a few times to ensure it's secure. Make sure each bunch overlaps with the previous, to cover the stems. Spin the wreath as you add on more bunches, working in a counter-clockwise fashion until you come full circle.
3. Take a look. Once your wreath is complete, check for any gaps and adjust as needed. Depending on how polished you want your wreath to look, cut off any excess stems or foliage; the end result should have nicely landscaped curves around the outside. For the purpose of hanging, create a floral wire loop and secure it to the back of your form, or you can use ribbon to create a loop. Keep in mind that a wreath is delicate, so if you're planning to gift yours, make sure it's carefully secured in a box when you transport it.
