Decorating for the holiday season can be a world of fun. However, sometimes the decor can really add up when it comes to your budget. Wreaths are one decor item that can really leave a tight budget hurting. They can range from an okay price to costing an arm and a leg, which is why so many people tend to stick with the same wreath for many years. There are a few ways you can avoid the high price of a new wreath though. These ten ideas will help you make holiday decor even more fun while saving you a pretty penny on one of the season’s classic decorations.
1. Candy Wreath
If there’s one thing the holiday season has plenty of, it’s definitely candy. From colorful chocolates to candy canes, there’s candy just about everywhere you look. This is one good reason to turn your abundance of candy into a festive holiday wreath. One of the more common ideas is to use candy canes to form a wreath. The wreath may be slightly fragile if you only use the candy canes to shape it though. So, you might want to create a wreath frame out of items such as cardboard or wire. If you have an old wreath you’d love to spice up, then gather all of your colorful candy and have fun decorating it. You’ll love letting the kids in on this activity too as it will allow them to feel the holiday spirit. Of course, you don’t have to part with your delicious candy if you don’t want to. You may want to consider making faux candy using colored plastic wrap or foil to create candy wrappers. Simply hot glue these wrappers to a wreath and you’ll be ready to celebrate in style.
2. Reuse Holiday Decor
Let’s face it, sometimes we outgrow our holiday ornaments and other decor. So, why not use it to carry on the holiday spirit in a whole new way? One of the more common crafts is to take your older Christmas tree bulbs and glue them together to form a wreath. This can be a fun task for the whole family and will show off your family’s personality through your old ornaments. You may also want to amp up an old wreath by simply using the bulbs as accent pieces. Another fun option is try the same thing out with an old strand of lights. Of course, you could simply wrap lights around a new wreath base to create a bright piece that helps your holiday guests find the front door with ease. Another option is to use garland to create a whole new wreath. There’s lots of great ideas for this, so browse around online or use your creative energy to suit your household’s likes.
3. Paper
Believe it or not, but paper can be one amazing material when it comes to wreaths. One key idea here is to choose some festive scrapbook paper or even gift wrap. When you’ve picked out the assortment you’d like to use then cut it into a specific shapes. Leaves are easy to work with, but if you want to go more in depth then feel free to let your imagination soar. Once everything is cut then glue the pieces into the shape of a wreath. If you want to place the wreath outside then laminate the pieces before you put them together. You can also take strips of paper and weave them into a wreath. This is a fun task for kids and it makes a great indoor accessory. Of course, if the family can’t agree on a wreath then you may want to simply print out a coloring sheet and let everyone decorate their own.
4. Nature
The holidays are a great time to celebrate the beauty of nature, which is why a natural wreath may earn you some major holiday compliments. One classic idea is to have the kids collect a bunch of pinecones. Once you have enough, simply glue them together in the shape of a wreath. You can then add accent items to top the look off. If you have a pine tree close by, you can use clippings to create a fun wreath. Of course, faux pine clippings can be used if you want to use the wreath year after year. Simply take the clippings and glue them in a circle. You may have to do two layers to avoid bare areas. If there’s softer twigs in the area you can also weave these into a wreath or simply glue them together to create a natural look. Real or plastic foods, such as cranberries, popcorn and seasonal produce, can be used as well and will add a burst of color to your wreath. Last but not least, seasonal poinsettias can be glued onto a wreath for a vibrant look everyone will love.
5. Fabrics
When it comes to making a wreath, fabrics open up a lot of options. Ribbon, for starters, is one of the most common decor items when it comes to the holiday season. You can easily use some of your left over ribbon to weave a wreath that will make your guests stunned by its beauty. If you don’t like weaving then you can easily wrap the ribbon around the wreath foundation to create another amazing look. Of course, other fabrics can be used here too. Tulle is one of the more common items because you can shape it into many different styles. If you want to keep the wreath inside then you may consider finding seasonal material to help out. Simply cut it into the shape of a wreath and sew it into a pillow using frugally priced stuffing. You can even make these wreaths into special gifts that will amaze your friends and family. If you don’t want to splurge on festive fabrics then simply get a solid color or go with white. You can use fabric paints to let each child decorate their own, which is sure to bring smiles to their faces.
6. Recyclables
This season, don’t just give to your friends and family, give to planet Earth too. Try to keep your recycling back so you can find items that you can use to create a wreath. One classic item to use is bottle caps, especially if you have a lot lying around the house. These can be glued into the shape of a wreath using a hot glue gun. You can even glue the caps around an existing wreath to give it a bit more dimension. Crushed cans can also be transformed into something beautiful when you glue them into the shape of a wreath. With all of the lovely holiday cans making an appearance on the shelf, it’ll be simple to gather supplies for this exciting project. If you love to have a glass of wine with dinner then chances are you may have some wine corks lying around the house. These can be glued or wired together and transformed into a fun wreath. Of course, it may take a bit of time to collect enough to make a wreath large enough to display!
7. Toys
One way to make a wreath that will make your kids jump for joy is to allow them to add some toys to the mix. You can easily pick up a bare-boned wreath for this task, refurbish an old one, or DIY your own. Once you have the wreath then allow the kids to choose the toys they’d like to use. This is where the real fun begins. Kids can use their own toys or you can find cheap items at the dollar store. Dollar store toys are great for themes though because you can usually find large packs of play toys for next to nothing. When you’ve picked out the toys you’d like then pull out the hot glue gun and get to work. Of course, if the kids are using their own toys then you might want to use twist ties as they may change their mind later on or they might want the toys back when the season is over. Toy wreaths are great to donate to children’s hospitals too. If you really want to get creative you can most likely find bulk mini-wreaths at a great price, which will allow you and the family to decorate to provide for each child in the hospital.
8. Gift Wrap
You may find it to be a no-brainer to use your gift wrap to help you make an exciting new wreath. If you have an old wreath or a wreath frame, then you can easily wrap it up in wrapping paper. You don’t even have to use matching paper. In fact, you can simply use your wrapping paper scraps in order to save even more money on the craft. Once your wreath is all wrapped up, then add a few accessories to create an inspiring and beautiful gift-inspired wreath. Ribbons always add a nice touch and can be used in many different ways. You may also want to add curled strings, paper bows and a name tag to the fun wreath. Although it may not be best to put this wreath directly outside, it will still make a fun decoration that people will love to get a closer look at.
9. Thrift Stores
If you’re not feeling all that creative this year and you still want to save some money then you may want to look around your local thrift stores. Often, thrift stores get lots of holiday donations around this time of the year because many people choose to buy new decor. Of course, you may be able to find the decor items all year long though, so if you’re looking for a good deal then make sure to keep your eye out. Often, thrift store wreaths may not be in the best of shape, so you might want to do a little freshening up before you hang them up. Of course, you may get lucky and find an extraordinary wreath at a price that any store couldn’t compete with.
10. Clearance
When it comes to actually shopping for a wreath you may as well hold out until the shopping season is over. The best time to buy a wreath is the week after Christmas as everything goes on clearance. So, you might want to begin your journey on Boxing Day in order to get the best options as things begin to fly off the shelf incredibly fast after the holidays are over. Of course, if you want to wait then you should be able to find a greater deal on a wreath as time passes because stores will want the items off of the shelf as quickly as possible, thus they may reduce the price considerably. You should be able to find a great deal on clearance wreaths throughout the year though, so don’t fret if you don’t find something you want during the holiday sales. One of the best things you can do is look online to see if anything truly strikes your fancy. Summer can be one of the best times for online stores, so don’t feel bad about doing a little Christmas in July shopping.
Wreaths are one of the more common ways to share your holiday spirit with your guests and neighbors. However, you shouldn’t have to spend an arm and a leg to have a wreath of your own. These tips will allow you to enjoy many DIY wreaths, or simply buy one for a price that doesn’t leave your holiday budget strapped.
