Holiday Welcome

Capture the festive buzz of the holidays with a wreath, such as this pepperberries one from Cadeau, available at certain retail outlets for $110. On p.77 of our November 30, 2005 issue of Family Circle, we mistakenly priced this wreath at $47.50 and implied it was available from the wholesaler.

 
 
photo:   Susan Byrnes
  Holiday Welcome
Follow our instructions to set a warm tone with a wreath ablaze with autumn glory. Or be serene with a luminous celestial sphere. Either will assure your home has that special holiday feeling.

 
   Autumn Glory Wreath
You need: circular plastic foam wreath forms; scissors; rust 3" wide grosgrain ribbon; pins; Macintosh apple; fresh or dried seasonal leaves such as oak, magnolia and seeded eucalyptus; acorns; berries such as bittersweet, viburnum, pepperberries and St. John's wort; ornamental grasses such as wheat; dried flowers such as safflower (Carthamus), mimosa (Acacia) and billy buttons; seedheads of black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia); clippers; low temperature glue gun with glue sticks; floral pins; knife; large nail; floral wire.

Arranging wreath: Wrap ribbon length around wreath form, overlapping edges to cover completely. Hold in place with pins. This will give wreath a base coat of color through which the plastic form won't show. If desired, spray paint form with dark shade of paint instead. Decide on the anchor point of wreath and mark. This is where the apple will be placed and it will be the focus of the wreath. Working in a circular manner from the anchor point, arrange leaves around wreath and glue or pin in place. Work in layers, building up as desired. Continue to turn wreath in the same direction and in a circular manner so the whole arrangement flows. Vary colors and shapes and overlap leaves until top of wreath is covered. Stick just the tips of the stems in the wreath so arrangement keeps its three-dimensional quality. Once a layer of leaves is secured on wreath, fill in spaces with grasses, nuts, berries, and pods around wreath as desired. Continue to work as before, weaving ends of each element into those that have been arranged beforehand, so wreath holds together visually. Don't flatten elements but continue to add, keeping anchor point as main focus. When the arrangement has reached the desired fullness, place the apple at the anchor point. Slice a small amount from one part of the apple so apple will tilt slightly, adding more interest and texture. Press head end of nail into the sliced part of apple. Push pointed end of nail into the wreath at anchor point. Cut a 10" length of wire. Fold in half and twist ends together to form a hanger; push ends into back of wreath.
—Designed by Susan Byrnes

 
 
photo:   Michael Kraus
  Celestial Sphere
You need: Twig wreath; white spray paint; all-purpose glue; clear glitter; sheets of white vellum with wintery motifs (we used snowflakes and polka dots); clear glass or plastic beads and stars; small-gauge wire; hot-glue gun and hot glue; wide, sheer white, wire-edged ribbon.

To do: Spray paint wreath white. Let dry completely. Dab all-purpose glue in random spots around the wreath and while still wet, sprinkle on glitter; let dry. On the vellum, draw about two-dozen five-pointed stars in varying sizes and cut out. Tuck the stars in all over wreath and hot glue to secure. String beads and stars as desired on 2 to 3 inches of wire, to make dangling ornaments. Leave wire on one end of each free for hanging on wreath; twist these ends around a twig to place ornaments all around wreath as desired. Hot glue individual glue beads and stars here and there on wreath. Cut a length of ribbon; fold in half and thread through twigs at top of wreath to create a hanger. Tie or tack up to hang.
—Designed by Elizabeth Woodson