Handmade Burlap and Scarecrow Autumn Wreath
make this pretty wreath on a budget using a pool noodle and stuff from your craft stash
We recently held a fun-filled afternoon craft fellowship at my church. Several ladies gathered together to learn how to make a wreath base from a pool noodle and then cover it in burlap. The wreath above was one that I started that day, but got so busy talking and helping others that I didn't finish it until a week or so later at home.
For the base, you can use my craft tutorial on how to make 2 wreath bases from 1 pool noodle or you can make just 1 base from the smaller size pool noodles. That's the method I used for the wreath above since I got an incredible deal on a case of the small pool noodles. Essentially you just cut the pool noodle ends at opposite angles and duct tape them together for a smooth, round circle. It is a 3 minute job for a wreath base that costs a buck or less if you shop savvy for your pool noodle.
Then I covered the newly made base in burlap ribbon and used my trusty hot glue gun to apply embellishments that I already had in my craft stash. I love the local dollar store or surplus store for collecting inexpensive ribbon and holiday themed items. You can also scavenge outdoors for pine cones and acorns.
Do you Decorate Outdoors for Fall & Halloween?
Spice up your porch or door with a simple handmade wreath!
It has just been this past year that I've gone all out for Fall & Halloween decorating outdoors. When I was working previously as the Craft Editor for a large publishing company, I honestly didn't have much time to decorate anything at home. When I did have the time, I was a little burnt out on making things for myself. Having to make and write about a large volume of crafts for multiple books and magazines at work shifted my personal hobbies to things like reading and exercise - anything but crafts. Not that this was a bad thing. However, it always surprised people when my house was, well, a little bland considering I was a Craft Editor.
Now that I'm thankfully not on the payroll for a corporation to crank out hundreds of crafts a year, my personal passion for crafting is slowly coming back. I've had a fun time decorating my little house for Fall. From a handmade wreath for my back porch, to a weathered wood sign, to some simple 20 minute painted polka dot pots, each project has been much more joyful. No art directors demanding me to follow a particular style or managing editors tweaking my craft techniques or creative methods. I understand the necessity for all that in business, but as a very creative person, it can burn you out quickly having someone always critiquing and hovering over your shoulder with deadlines looming. I am extremely thankful to be crafting again just for the sake of making a cute little something for myself - or occasionally a family member, friend, my daughter's school or my local church.
The handmade burlap and chevron wreath above was actually made last year. It was the one loner holiday decoration that I created for my own home around Halloween. It wasn't for any corporate publication and hung on my front door for several weeks. At the time, it made me so happy to see something I had made just for me, in my own style and on my own time. It still makes me happy to look at and now hangs just outside my front door.
Although I used a regular Styrofoam wreath base for this one, you can find my tutorial on how to make 2 wreath bases from 1 pool noodle here. I'm all about saving a few bucks here and there where possible when crafting!
Do you decorate for Fall and/or Halloween? Inside? Outside? Both? I certainly have had a blast doing all of that this year. I hope your Fall is going well so far!
Fall is in the air! Can you smell it?
I'm a busy bee decorating for Fall with Felt & Burlap!
I think we are finally thrown into full-blown Autumn weather here in southern Missouri, and I love it! 60 degree days and chilly nights - just fitting for sweat pants and hot tea. My husband and daughter have been thankfully patient with my frenzy to make Fall crafts these past couple of weeks while the weather has abruptly turned. It must have sparked something inside of me to create. As someone who enjoys fiber crafts so much, it seems like this time of year is perfect for working with felt, wool and other dense fabrics.
Today, I just wanted to share my first big Fall craft creation - a felt flower and burlap wreath. This one hangs by my door on the back porch. I have plans to make a few more for indoors and for gifts. The wreath base was made very inexpensively from a pool noodle. You can find that craft tutorial here. And, the felt flowers are another cheap project that are easy to make by the dozen. You can find that craft tutorial here. Put it all together, wrapped in some burlap and hot glued in place of course, and you have a pretty Fall wreath!
You'll be seeing at least a few more Fall crafts coming up in the next few weeks so please be sure to check back in or subscribe to receive my posts in your inbox.
Felt & Ribbon Covered Tin Cans Upcycled DIY Craft
rinse them, dry them and hot glue them to make these quick & easy home decorations
This is more of a DIY decorating idea than a full-blown craft tutorial. As I've stated in previous posts, I'm a bit of a recyclables hoarder. My husband actually takes them to the local recycle center. I, on the other hand, have a tendency to save things from tin cans to cereal boxes to peanut butter jar lids (yes, I could probably use a good self-help group at this point). I do somehow manage to keep the stacks pretty organized which helps, but the recyclables call to me to make them into things and that brings me to today's funky little upcycled tin cans. They just asked to be covered in felt, but doesn't everything really ;-)
For this project, you'll obviously need some clean, dry tin cans. Make sure any sharp edges around the top are filed down or covered before you begin - please no 911 calls during this little craft project!
Next collect some coordinating colors of felt and ribbon. I personally love all things bright - pinks, blues, greens - the sky's the limit on my color obsessions. However, as you can see, it is always good to mix in a neutral or two like the rusty brown to break up wild color combos.
Measure the distance around the perimeter of your can and add about an inch to that for overlap. Then cut some 3 to 5 inch wide colored strips the measured length of felt for the base covering. The width really depends on your can height. I tried to leave anywhere from 1/2 to 3/4 inch of space of raw tin can at the top and bottom of my can as I like it showing, but you can cover it completely or show even more can - totally up to your great taste.
For the top layer felt strip (the neutral rustic brown), I cut a piece anywhere from 1 to 2 inches less wide than the base covering felt. Just eyeball it to your design taste being sure to let the colorful base show through a little on the top and bottom edges.
Now use some dots of very hot glue to attach the layers of color and neutral felt to your can along the seam. Check here for some great tips on how to best glue felt.
To top it off, tie a pretty ribbon around the center of it all. Mine was a 1-1/2 inch wide patterned gross-grain ribbon from the local Hobby Lobby store. I knotted one, tied one and just left one plain. I like a variety for visual interest.
And, if you are admiring those tissue paper flowers, you can find the DIY craft tutorial for those here. They are a quick and easy way to dress up your house or a party. They're also fun to make.
You can also make a similar upcycled can for craft storage shown here covered in fabric scraps instead of felt. I use these (which are even quicker to make) in my craft room to hold all sorts of things.
Happy crafting!
