Classic Christmas Wreath Tutorial

There are three holiday decorations essential to the embodiment of the Christmas spirit - the tree, the garland, and the doorway wreath. This DIY is my take on a classic Christmas wreath - nothing over the top, too colorful, or too glittery. Just simple, clean, fluid, & soft - with a tiny extra something. I wanted it to say: A cozy, loving home is here :) You will need the following materials:

Wreath: $5.00 (Hobby Lobby); Artificial Snow: $2.50 (Hobby Lobby); Ornament Balls: $1.00 (Dollar Tree), Ribbon: $4.00 (Michael's); Silver Bell Ornaments: $3.00 (Wal*Mart); Pine Cones: various sizes; Glue Gun; Ornament Wire

First, coat your wreath with the snow. Follow the instructions listed on the bottle & take the appropriate precautions. I did mine one layer at a time, letting each layer dry for 1-2 hours. I did a total of 3 layers and let it completely dry for 24 hours. Layer to your desire. Mine turned out as shown:

Next, glue your pine cones to your wreath with your glue gun.  Helpful tip: Arrange the pine cones FIRST and then glue them down :) Also, gluing the pine cones right-side up & upside-down help to give the piece texture & dimension.

Don't forget to leave a gap at the bottom of your wreath. This is where the ribbon & bow will be placed.

Using the ornament wire, secure your ornament balls and silver bell pieces to the wreath. I alternated between the satin & glitter finishes.

 Close-up:

Take your ribbon & simply place it in-between the pine cone clusters.

Tie a ribbon and you are finished! 

 The neutral, creamy tones make this such a versatile piece. Hang it anywhere in your home...

 ...or outside :)

I honestly can't believe that there is only a week left till Christmas. If you're trying to hold on to the last leg of the holiday season for as long as possible, this DIY will do the trick - and it cost me no more than $15 bucks! Follow me on Instagram @jrosehomedecor and hashtag your recreations as #jrosehomedecor. See you in the New Year!

xx,
Jessica

2 Simple Ways to Add a Touch of Holiday Spirit to Any Room!

The big Christmas statement pieces are easy to tackle - the tree, the garland along the staircase, the stockings hung with care along the fireplace, the front door wreath....but what about those empty nooks & crannies that if left bare are just an eyesore? I give you two easy ways to add a touch of the holiday spirit in any room. The best part - it's ridiculously simple & inexpensive to achieve, and you don't have to take them down after New Years! It's the perfect Saturday project :)

#1 - Decorative Glass Vase Filler

 You will need the following materials:

Small to medium-sized pine cones ($2.50), artificial Christmas stem ($3.99), Winter berries ($0.74), Glass Vase ($5.00), Wire Cutters --> all items found at Michael's on sale and/or with coupon.

Simply trim off pieces of the Winter stem & berries using your wire cutters and fill up the vase to your liking!

 

Voila!

 As you can tell, I did not select your typical holiday-themed material or colors on purpose. I chose more neutral, true-to-Winter colors and textures because it allows me to use it all season long as opposed to changing it out after Christmas or New Years.

#2 - Pillar Candles & Wine Glass Filler

You will need the following materials (minus the cute cat):

Pillar candles $3.00 altogether from Michael's; long stem candle & glass candle holder each $1.00 from Dollar Store; cuddly cat - priceless.

Take your long stem candle and place atop the wine bottle or beer bomber opening. Then light the candle and simply let it melt to your desired height. Tip: select a bottle in which the label has old-looking calligraphy or little hints of the same color as the candle.

Next, take the medium & large pillar candles and secure the burlap around it with either tape or a pin. Also place a second long stem candle into the glass candle holder.

Add some little Christmas accents for extra cuteness & you're finished! :)

 

 

 Altogether these two DIY's cost me no more than $20.00 and took no more than an hour to complete. Re-create them and hashtag it as #jrosehomedecor on Instagram!

xx,
Jessica