Thursday, May 27, 2010

S is for Simple, Sweet wreath

Good morning! This post is linked to the letter "S" on Alphabe-Thursday! You can click here to read all the other Stupendous S posts for the week, too!

I wanted to show you how to make a simple, sweet, inexpensive wreath using a wreath form, a tiny bit of ribbon and your glue gun!

First, grab a little bucket and go out to your garden.
Gather up a bunch of the dried hollyhock blossoms from the stalks of hollyhocks. You can just pluck the dried ones off the stalk.

I also cut a few of the blossom tips off where the green seed pods are showing for a little extra ornamentation on my wreath.

Haul your little bucket to your work area (if you can do this outside I'd recommend it) and grab your wreath form, scissors, ribbon and glue gun. Attach your ribbon loop by going around the wreath form and then tie the ribbon into a knot. Secure the loop to the wreath with hot glue. Start securing blossoms around the wreath. I found it more effective to put glue on the form and then a bit extra on the blossom to make it more secure. I also put an extra blossoms randomly on top to hide any bits of the wreath form showing through.

If you want to use the dried blooom tips gather several together into an attractive little bunch and either wire or tie the bunch together with ribbon. Using copious amounts of glue attach the bloom spray to the wreath form and continue to build around it with dried blossoms.
Continue until the wreath form is completely covered!

And....ta da.... simple, sweet, inexpensive...

post signature

66 comments:

Amy said...

Lovely wreath Jenny! Perhaps I'll make something using Lavender.

Bossy Betty said...

I am amazed by this! So pretty!

RNSANE said...

Why, even someone with crafty skills might accomplish that. But I know I won't. I already have enough for the rest of my life.

Fresh Local and Best said...

I am impressed by your crafty eye. :)

Pondside said...

Well done - very crafty and creative - two things that I am not, no matter how Simple the project! Simply grand post!

Diana said...

Beautiful Jenny! Now I know something to do with my Hollyhocks, thank you sweetie! Love Di ♥

Lola said...

So impressive & pretty - and great ideas for other flowers!

XOXO LOLA:)

jeff campbell said...

What a wonderful post and
So nice Miss Jenny
As for Hollyhocks
I don't have me any.

Blessings

Marlene said...

Is there no end to your talents?! Wow - this is gorgeous!

myletterstoemily said...

how lovely, and i think even i could
make one, now after your excellent
instruction!

Susan Anderson said...

Gorgeous!

=)

Michele {The Scrap Shoppe} said...

Stunning! And I love the color.

laterg8r said...

that is genius, although i have no idea what a holly hock is LOL :D

Debbiedoos said...

Jenny, I am impressed, I love it!~ My Mom has a ton of Holly hock, she even gave me some seeds and I planted them, they do not seem to like the Carolinas...I have nothing this year and according to my Mom they go Hock wild!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Beautiful! Now I have to grow hollyhocks, wait for them to die and then harvest and make a wreath! Whew, maybe I'll just enjoy yours!!!

Kat said...

Love it Jenny! If my plants would stay alive long enough to actually flower I might attempt this :) Kathy

Tina said...

Great idea! I have plenty of hollyhocks...I just may try this. I'm not usually very crafty...but you explained it so well I think I could handle it!

~✽Mumsy✽~ said...

That's a beautiful wreathe, Ms. Jenny! Instead of a grade, can I just have the wreathe?

"Cottage By The Sea" said...

I love making wreaths and the Hollyhocks are beautiful but, I don't have any around here. I may have to make a wreath with Status and sea shells?

marĂ­a cecilia said...

Jenny, this is great!!! I was throwing all my dried hollyhocks into the compost or kepping some in glass vases, but this, this is gorgeous!!!! Thank you...
Maria Cecilia

Mardell said...

Cute*Cute*Cute! :o) You're so clever, Jenny. It looks fabulous on your front door!

jenn said...

i like it alot. and i left you a present on picky, which i'm sure you'll hate, but you got it anyway. and no, you don't have to take it. but it's there.

Betty said...

Very nice! What a great idea. I wish I could grow those in my backyard. I'd have to make my wreath out of weeds. They always seem to grow well!

mrs. c said...

That's a mighty fine looking wreath! If I was to go into my yard and cut things for a wreath, it would be made of hosta leaves, magnolia blossoms, and daisies (they are growing wild on the road). Maybe that would be a fun post, "wreaths from stuff in your yard".

Maggey and Jim said...

SPECTACULAR!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maggey

Anonymous said...

Oh, that is so pretty. You are incredibly crafty with your hands!

myletterstoemily said...

dear jenny,

your comments were so much wiser
and astute than my post. thank you
so much for taking the time to share
truths that could transform a young
mom's life.

blessings,
lea

Nicole Carpenter said...

Okay, I know you dont want to participate in the blog awards, but I wanted to know that I mentioned you on my latest post:)

If you want to check it out... head to TheFickleNickle.com

mub said...

Very nice! I am going to forward this on to my aunt because they have hollyhocks that grow taller than their house!

Cheryl said...

I love all the gushing up above because it saves me from having to do it.

*sigh* Jenny, oh Jenny. *multiple head shaking* The IDEA is lovely but having none of the supplies on hand except the glue gun, I'd actually have to get up off of my butt and go somewhere to *gasp* shop. {shudder} Nothing dries pretty around here ever. I could try using the helicopter seeds from the maples ~ after I get up the courage to face retail.

Amanda Lee said...

I love it! Maybe Mrs. Matlock needs to start a design blog?

Unknown said...

I love the color. It looks great on the door.

Brenda said...

Very pretty! I hope the hollyhocks I put in last summer have reseeded.

Busy Bee Suz said...

This is so darn SWEET. I love it.
How long does it last Jenny?
Do you mind if I get all my cuttings from your yard. I don't have anything like that here...perhaps I could use palm fronds? Or maybe the dollar weeds that are taking over our property?

w said...

oh it's absolutely gorgeous. i don't have a garden. and i don't know what hollyhocks are.

but i have palm trees. and they drop a bunch of seeds. so. i suppose i could make a wreath out of the seeds... it'd be ugly.

Carol said...

AWESOME! Love it!

Sarah said...

Jenny, this is one of the most charming wreaths I've seen. If I had some hollyhocks, I'd be making one of these. I need to look and see what I might find that would work to do the same. This really is lovely! ~ Sarah

Ms. A said...

Wouldn't look nearly as nice with my weeds.

Jeanie said...

Hahahaha....Thank you so much, Jenny, for even thinking that I could possibly do this, but my skill level when it comes to crafts is pretty much nonexistent.
YOUR wreath is beautiful and it was fun to see how you created it. It was a great "S" post, even for the "S"kill impaired.

Unknown said...

darling! some folks are just to talented and creative for their own good. unfortunately i am not one of them.

Dee said...

I do not do well with glue but I may be able to do a wreath like this. I will just have to find a neighbor with hollyhocks. This may be a nice project to do with my grand daughter.

Sue said...

That turned out beautifully. I haven't had Hollyhocks in my yard for the last 4 houses. When I was a little girl we would make dolls out of them, with full skirts.

S.

Viki said...

I guess my first step would be to plant some hollyhocks LOL. Don't think that will be happening. Your wreath looks gorgeous though. I bet you could probably do that with any flower.

Lourie said...

Well I don't think I've seen hollyhocks around here, but man that is an amazing piece of art, Jenny!

VKT said...

That is so pretty teacher! Does one of your lucky students get to take it home? No? Oh well, it never hurts to ask.

I just got home from school and am getting a late start on checking out all of the neat entries for Alphabet Thursday!

Julie Kwiatkowski Schuler said...

That looks so lush and luxurious, with such few simple supplies. The dried blooms hold together? I would think they might get crumbly, but I don't even know if I've ever seen hollyhocks in real life.

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

Easy for you to say "ta da" Mrs. Matlock, but some of us are seriously craft challenged. I do love the wreath though, maybe I'll try and get one of my friends to make it for me!

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

Easy for you to say "ta da" Mrs. Matlock, but some of us are seriously craft challenged. I do love the wreath though, maybe I'll try and get one of my friends to make it for me!

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

Easy for you to say "ta da" Mrs. Matlock, but some of us are seriously craft challenged. I do love the wreath though, maybe I'll try and get one of my friends to make it for me!

Rustique Gal said...

Jenny, this is a lovely wreath. I love the little green bouquet on the side. Aren't you clever! Have a great holiday weekend!
Sherry

Connie said...

Would it work if I snuck into my neighbor's yard and got her hollyhocks? Beautiful!

A 2 Z said...

Hi Jenny,

I tried to grow hollyhocks a few years back and was not "Successful". Your wreath is breathtaking. Perhaps I can apply the same technique with some other flowers. Thanks for sharing.

Anne-Marie

Cheryl D. said...

Jenny:

Please check out my blog. I have something for you!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Very snazzy wreath. You are a woman of many talents, my sweet friend! :-)

Happy Memorial Day Weekend to you and yours, Jenny dear!

XO,

Sheila :-)

My name is Riet said...

That is a lovely wreath Jenny. I used to make one for Christmas every year but stopped one year and I buy them now.
Thank you for your visit. I am late in answering because we had a birthday party for our son.

H said...

I often make Christmas wreaths with the children at school. We base them on cut out paper plate rings and add ivy as our greenery. I've never thought of using a glue gun though! Good idea!

Mary said...

Stunning wreath~ no luck with hollyhocks for me though :-)

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

You left out lovely, ingenious...and oh, it doesn't hurt to have a grand front door on which to hang it!

Loved this post, Matlock!

Unknown said...

That is lovely!
No Hollyhocks here, yet; but I'll have to see what other dried flowers I can possibly use for one of these. Thanks for the great idea!
Blessings,
Catherine

Personalized Sketches and Sentiments said...

Simply stunning! Those hollyhocks have such a beautiful color.
Thank you for sharing!

Blessings & Aloha!
(I had some issues with my link to yours on my post...but finally got it to work!)

Jacque said...

Good Morning Ms. Matlock,

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together? That is a beautiful wreath and it looks great hanging on your fence.

Thanks for sharing it with us today! Hope you and your family have a great Memorial Day Weekend!! Blessings from East TN.

Vicki/Jake said...

SWEET!

Jo said...

oh that looks so gorgeous!!! and not too difficult at all! You are one clever Chic!

Unknown said...

i love it...so clever--how do you think of these things?

Christy said...

Simply lovely. It looks great on your front door!

Terra said...

I am working my way through the S posts tonight, have to be ready for centus tomorrow morning (before swimteam!!!)

This week has been fun, but I have to admit...Your wreath making? Well, I will need to leave all that up to you because if I tried I would have an odd shaped blob of color that in no way represented a wreath!