Get in the Christmas spirit by making your very own Christmas wreath
Christmas is just around the corner and that means it is time for the decorations to be brought out and the festive fun to begin!
An old tradition is Christmas wreath-making, a craft that may be daunting for some – but it doesn’t need to be. Wreath-making is a fun activity for all ages and can be done using as much or as little as you like. We’ve pulled together some top tips for wreath-making this Christmas.
Gathering what you need
You don’t have to spend a fortune to get what you need to create an amazing wreath.
Bring the outdoors in
Pine cones are a lovely festive addition to wreaths, and can be picked up by foraging in your local area. So, why not head out on a crisp Saturday morning walk and see if you can get some pine cones and leaves from the forest floor to use?
If you’re getting a new Christmas tree this year and are planning to recycle an old artificial tree, then you can use some of the branches to create a nice leafy wreath. Artificial tree branches are perfect to bend into shape and can be attached to your wreath using chicken wire and wire clips. You can also add in some fairy lights for an added sparkle.
Dried fruits are popular at Christmas, particularly on wreaths. Create your own instead of shop-bought dried fruit by baking thinly cut slices of orange for a few hours and then secure to your wreath with some wire. You can also add things like cinnamon sticks and dried berries.
Go bauble-y
You don’t have to go for a green and leafy wreath, a wreath can be made from almost anything. If you have old Christmas baubles that won’t be going on the tree this year, why not use them to create a fun wreath? Get a Styrofoam or metal wreath from somewhere like Holburn Crafts or Hobbycraft, and then use a glue gun or wire to connect the baubles together and secure them to the wreath.
Sweet tooth wreath
Is there any such thing as too much chocolate at Christmas? We don’t think so.
So why not create a sweet wreath? Grab yourself a box of Celebrations and an old wire coat hanger, and bend the hanger into a circle. Attach some string, and tie a piece of string to the end of every twisted part of the sweet’s wrapper. Connect them all together, and tie the top of the wreath with some wide Christmas ribbon to complete the wreath!
Wreath making workshops
If you would rather learn from the experts, there are a number of wreath making workshops in and around Aberdeen.
The Spiritualist is running three more wreath making classes where you can have a go at wreath making while relaxing with some cocktails and festive canapes. Remaining sessions include 28th November at 2pm, and Sunday 5th and Sunday 12th December at 2pm. Book here.
Take a trip to Fyvie Castle for a truly festive afternoon: a wreath making workshop with tea, cake and coffee on arrival and then a warming and rewarding lunch. The wreaths are all made using natural materials from the Fyvie Castle grounds. Find out more and book here.
The Gym on Huntly Street in Aberdeen city centre is hosting a V&M pop-up Christmas wreath workshop on 1 December. Find out more and book here.
In aid of local charity Befriend a Child, a Christmas wreath making class will be taking place in the evening on Monday 6 December at the Village Hotel. Hosted by XOXO Florist, the session will teach you how to create your own wreath from scratch, and you will get to enjoy a mince pie and warming hot chocolate to keep you going. Find out more and book here.
Inspired? We’d love to see the pictures of your wreaths, so please share them with us on the Grandhome Community Facebook page.
Thinking of moving to a new family home this festive season? Grandhome is the new community in Aberdeen with a number of new built homes still available for you to visit. Find our homes for sale. If you’re interested, here are some more tips from the Grandhome team about selling your home and buying a new one.