Mini Christmas Wreaths (from Shower Rings!)

I bought a package of 12 shower rings at the thrift store for super cheap, knowing they'd make great napkin rings. See my earlier post for fall napkin rings here. But, they also make sweet little Christmas wreaths that can be made into a garland, ornaments, or another festive decoration.

My supplies for this project included textured green yarn (use whatever color/texture you like!), scrap booking poinsettia flowers (on sale at Michael's after Christmas last year, but a ribbon or any other pretty findings will work, too), a glue gun, scissors, and plastic shower rings.

I began with a dab of glue to hold the yarn in place. Then, I wound it around the ring, using the opening in the plastic to feed yarn through.

When I ended, I snapped the shower ring shut and finished winding the small amount of remaining yarn, which I had cut from the skein, using another dab of hot glue to hold the end in place.

A pretty little poinsettia is glued on at the joining space to finish it off.

And then, I made a few more.

So easy. So pretty. So inexpensive. They will make such a pretty garland for Christmas!

Home Made Christmas Cards

I love to make homemade Christmas cards each year. I think there's something special about receiving mail anyway. But when the card is homemade, it's even more special. And if there's ever a time of year that warrants spending the time to make such things for friends and family, it's the holiday season.

These are very elegant. The texture is to die for. And the simplicity of the green wreath on silver is beautiful.

You'll need a glue gun, scissors, thin ribbon, textured yarn, a small jar (or other container whose opening is the size of your desired wreath), and blank cards of your choice (I got these on sale at Michael's and I LOVE the varying textures of each one).

First, trace your jar's opening onto the center of each of your cards. This will guide you for placing your wreath later.

Next, wind your yarn around the jar twice (or as many times as you'd like in order to get the desired thickness for your wreath; this might vary depending on the gauge of your yarn). Hold the meeting point in place before slipping it off the jar.

With one hand holding the wreath and the other operating the glue gun, place a thin line of glue around the circle you stenciled earlier in the center of your card. You will then quickly place the wreath down onto this area, first making sure to place the two loose ends so that your wreath maintains its size. I placed the two ends on the lower center of my circle so that the bow I would add later could cover any unsightly joinings. Then, quickly spread out the circle so that your yarn is secured in a circle. 

If you need to secure it with extra glue after the fact, go ahead and do so. And remember, nothing needs to be permanent! If you misplaced a section, heat up the glue a bit with the tip of your glue gun until it becomes loose enough to re-situate. 

Next, tie lots of little bows with your thin ribbon. These can be whatever size you'd like them. A dab of hot glue secures them firmly to the lower center of your wreath.

I also printed out my card messages and used a large paper cutter to size them to my cards. I then glued them in after we had signed each one. It was so much easier than writing for each card.

And, voila! You have made pretty cards your friends and family will (hopefully) be very happy to receive.