How to Make a Modern Hoop Wreath with Found and Foraged Goods
With our newly painted orange toned front door, it was time rethink my Christmas decor this year. I knew I wanted to keep it rather simple with fresh and natural touches, and the clay color inspired me to bring in last year’s huge trend, orange slices everywhere! While I may be a year late to this citrus craze, I am still just as excited as if it were 2019. Actually, can we just go back to 2019, please and thank you! Anyhow, inspired by my door and love of natural elements, I created a modern hoop wreath and today I am going to show you how. This wreath also had a bit of a snowball effect (pun intended) as I am hoping to carry the pink, orange, earthy and green palette throughout other areas of our home. Today I am joining several friends in sharing all sorts of crafty DIY Christmas projects, so be sure to heat up that glue gun, shake out the glitter, and check them all out at the bottom of this post. (I am an Amazon associate and earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. I appreciate your support!)
Before I get into the making of the wreath, I want to just touch on dehydrating orange slices. There are several methods floating around the internet, but I have a food dehydrator that I’ve used in the past for herbs and other things, so I decided to just use that. This dehydrator is the exact one that I have and it’s been tried and true. I did read somewhere that it could take up to 48 hours for slices 1/4″ to dry… However, mine took 4 days, with me turning off the machine at night after 2 days because I was afraid of burning them. I think I cut my slices a little too thick. I just wanted to share this information with you in case you opt to use a dehydrator as well.
Now let’s assume you already have dried your oranges, and get on with the making of this wreath.
Materials Needed
- embroidery hoop (I thrifted mine, but these work)
- magnolia leaves
- dried eucalyptus (similar here)
- dried flowers (mine were from my August farmers market and I hung them to dry but these are similar)
- dried orange slices (you can also buy them already dried)
- hot glue
Instructions
I am going to post a quick 1.5 minute video here which shows every step, and then lay out the steps below, with a couple of helpful notes.
- Place your embroidery hoop on a flat surface with something under it to protect your surface from glue. You can use the insert or the part with the hardware attached as I did. I simply made sure I covered that part with leaves. As you work through this wreath, you want to think about layers, and remember to keep your layers in order from bottom to top as you glue.
- Begin by gluing your magnolia leaves to the hoop. Place hot glue along the hoop, and glue down your first leave. Layer as many as you want over it, but I strongly recommend gluing along the middle veign of the leaf as the glue will burn and show. You can see it below here… learn from my rookie mistake.
- Next, glue your eucalyptus stems in place. Glue at the base, and then also add a little glue to the back of a tiny eucalyptus leaf to hold it in place if needed.
- Attach your dried flowers using the glue. I began by adding just two on each side, but added the third after I had already glued my orange slices in place which made it more challenging.
- Finally, Glue your orange slices in place.
As you can see, my wreath is imperfect, and there are burn marks on the magnolia leaves (and my fingertips- ha!), but I love it! It turned out better than I expected, I made it, and it was practically free since I had everything on hand except oranges. For the price of a bag of oranges, I have a new holiday wreath as well as a whole new holiday color scheme.
Speaking of holiday color scheme, I am not an early bird when it comes to Christmas decorating and generally wait until Thanksgiving. Since we’re at home this year, I may get a jump on it earlier, but for now, I still have fall vibes going strong at our home.
However, the nice thing about this found and foraged hoop wreath is that it works with fall colors, too! I see you orange slices, winking at my pumpkins and the mum that never bloomed.
This wreath was so simple and it could easily be reinvented with so many different found and foraged goods. We have a holly tree in our yard as well, and I think magnolia and holly would be lovely and maybe scream Christmas a little more. You can look throughout your own yard, or framers market to see what you may be able to use to create your own version of this modern and natural hoop wreath.
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Now be sure to check out the craftiness these other talented creators have come up with for the holidays!
Today I’m joining some of my talented blogging friends for our first Christmas Seasonal Simplicity post of the year. We’re all sharing our holiday DIY or craft projects with you today! Be sure to check out these fabulous ideas by clicking on the links below each image.
How to Flock Natural Greenery at The Happy Housie
DIY Winter Village Wreath at Modern Glam
DIY Christmas Jingle Bells Hanging Decoration at Zevy Joy
Modern Organic Christmas Wreath at Cherished Bliss
Air Dry Clay Christmas Star Lights at Clean & Scentsible
Anthropologie Inspired Holiday Felt Wreath at Tatertots and Jello
Polymer Clay Christmas Village at Life is a Party
Free Advent Calendar at The Handmade Home
Embroidery Hoop Love Sign at Craftberry Bush
Jingle Bell Wood Bead Garland at Lolly Jane
Homemade Pom Pom Garland at Sincerely, Marie Designs
DIY Dollar Tree Succulent Christmas Tree at The DIY Mommy
DIY Christmas Advent Calendar at She Gave it a Go
DIY Faux Leather Trees at My Sweet Savannah
DIY Orange Hoop Wreath at Cassie Bustamante
Easy DIY Christmas Pillow Case at The Tattered Pew
3D Hot Cocoa Sign and Printable at Rambling Renovators
DIY Elf House at Dans le Lakehouse
Farmhouse Style Holiday Wood Banner at Home Made Lovely
Joanna Gaines Inspired Christmas Village at Fynes Designs
Christmas Canvas at Two Twenty One
Modern Whimsical Snowflake Christmas Tree at This is Simplicite
DIY Holiday Cutting Board at Joanna Anastasia