If you’re like me, I decorate for Christmas the minute Thanksgiving is finished. It’s one of my family’s favorite holidays! The smell of fresh evergreens wreaths always reminds me of Christmas. I make evergreen wreaths every year to decorate my home for the holidays.  A simple DIY project you can do as well, with just a few supplies needed from the hardware and craft store and greens from your yard. Gather some friends to make wreaths with you and share your evergreen cuttings with each other. Chances are you have different trees and bushes growing in your yards.

Start by gathering the supplies you will need to make fresh evergreen Christmas wreaths:

• wire clippers
• pruners/garden shears
• garden gloves (optional, helps keep the sap off your hands)
• paddle wire, 22 gauge
• wire wreath frame
• evergreen clippings

The first three items can be found at a hardware or garden store. You might already have them in your garage, though, as they are common garden tools. The next two items from a craft store. The last would be from your gardens.

Also Read: How to Grow A Vegetable Garden

For the evergreens, I like to clip an assortment, so I have choices. Living in the PNW, we have many evergreen trees to choose from. Many of the “foundation” plants used in landscaping are evergreen bushes and trees, so you probably have some in your yard as well.  Some of my favorites are:

• cedar
• juniper
• spruce
• pine
• holly

When clipping your evergreens, make sure you move around the tree and take from various places. You don’t want to leave a hole in your tree by taking all the stems from one spot!  Each stem should be 6-8″ long. You will need about 100 stems to complete an 18″ wreath frame. You could get away with less, I just like my evergreen Christmas wreaths wreaths really full!

Set up your worktable so you have lots of space and easy access to all the stems. I like to work with piles of each evergreen variety within reach. Typically, I’ll place a 6’ folding table in my yard and cover the top with piles of each evergreen clipping. If you are using a nicer table, make sure you cover it with craft paper, as the clippings could be sappy. You don’t want to damage your dining room table!

Also Read: How to Prepare for Your Summer Garden

Now that you are set-up, it’s time to get to work.  Start by anchoring your paddle wire to the wreath frame.  Do this by looping the wire around one portion of the frame, bending the wire back upon itself. Then twist the wire onto itself, so it is secure. You will be pulling the wire tightly when attaching the stems to the frame, so make sure the wire is secure.

Lay 3 stems of evergreens side-by-side across the frame, so the wire you just anchored is by the stem bottoms.  I like to choose a mixture of evergreens, for texture. But you can make the wreath all one variety if you like. The greens should hang over the edge of the frame, covering it. Holding the stems in place with one hand, start wrapping the wire paddle tightly around the frame across the base of the stems.  This will anchor your stems to the frame. It should only take 3-4 turns to make the stems become secure.

Add 3 more stems across the frame, so the tops of these stems cover the bottoms of the first row of stems.  How much space you put between each row is up to you. The main goal is to cover the bottom of the stems and the wire that is holding them in place.  Hold the stems in place with one hand and wrap the wire around the frame again with the other hand. Now your wreath is starting to take shape!

Keep up with the pattern of laying 3 stems across the frame and anchoring them with wire as you go. When you get back to the beginning of the wreath, tuck your last row of stems underneath the first row so their stems will be covered.  It will be a bit awkward to hold the first row of stems up while you secure the last row, I know. But it is only one row you have to do this with. Once all the stems are on the wreath form and you are happy with the look, you can finish off the wire.  Using your wire clippers, cut the wire about 1 inch from the frame.  Wrap the wire around the frame until you reach the end.

Your fresh evergreen Christmas wreath​ is complete! Hang it on your front door or other outdoor location. I like to place one on each of my front porch lights. The wreaths will stay fresh longer if they are kept outside in cool weather. If brought inside, they will start to dry out. Enjoy making your own natural and artificial evergreen wreath this year!

about

Kelli Walker

Flowers have been my passion since I was young. Raised in a family of gardeners, I remember choosing seed packets from the farm store each spring. The anticipation of the flowers blooming, all that color and fragrance in the garden, was so thrilling to me! Nature still provides me with constant inspiration, the way a branch is shaped or a flower is bobbing in the breeze. I strive to translate that feeling into my designs, creating florals that look as though they were just picked from the garden.

I don’t know about you, but I am craving something different for my dining experience these
days. Maybe it’s because I miss working on weddings and setting dining tables. Or that I miss
going out to dinner at a nice restaurant. It’s time for a change. Whether you’re planning a
dinner for a few friends or just your own family, your table sets the mood for the dining
experience. Take advantage of our beautiful summer weather and bring the dining experience
outside, al fresco style.

Here are a few tips on how you can do this in your own yard:

Use tablecloths or runners – I don’t have a nice outdoor dining table, just a plastic folding table.
So, I cover the table with a 90×132” linen tablecloth, which drapes to the ground and covers the
legs. If I had a wooden table, I would just use a table runner and let it drape over the ends.

Cloth napkins, not paper – Please don’t use paper napkins, those are for children’s birthday
parties. Use cloth napkins. They can match your other linens or can be a brighter color. I prefer
linen fabric, as it is soft and drapes nicely when I place it on each place setting. Polyester fabrics
are too stiff, in my opinion, though you might find they work good for you.

Napkin folding – If you have ever looked at inspiration images for how to set your dining table, I
am sure you have seen tons of ways to style the napkins. They can be folded in intricate
patterns, bound with rings, etc. My personal preference is to either press them in a long
rectangle, so they drape them over the edge of the table, a finer dining look. Or to tie them in a
loose knot and place on the edge of the plate, a more casual look. I also like to place a sprig of
rosemary on each napkin. When the napkins are moved off for dinner, the rosemary emits a
lovely fragrance.

Plates and silverware, nothing fancy – You don’t need to bring out the fine china and silver.
Your everyday plates will do. Or, you can have other sets you use for this purpose. It’s totally up
to you! I use my everyday plates, which are white stoneware. They go with everything and
make the food the star.

My everyday silverware works just fine as well. I do like to place them more formally, though.
Sometimes they are set on the plate, with a napkin underneath them. Or, I set them on either
side of the plate, with the fork on the left and knife and spoon on the right. Line the bottom of the
silverware up with the bottom of the plate, for a uniform look.

Colored glassware – Here is where you can have some fun. Bring out the wine glasses and
colored water goblets! Personally, I love anything with a stem. I like that the glass is elevated
off the table a bit, giving it a visual breathing room. There are so many fun glassware options out
there: colored water goblets and cut glass. Buy just a few for your outdoor dining this summer.

Flowers and herbs – As a florist and gardener, I love bringing flowers to the dining table. They
add color and soft fragrance, bringing the garden to the table. You don’t need to create
something elaborate, though. Greenery and herbs work just as well. Look around your garden
for items you can clip.

Make sure the arrangement is no taller than 12”, so your guests can see each other over the
diner table. And don’t make it too wide, or the flowers will be in your dinner plate! The best
way to avoid these problems is to use a collection of small vases. Some might only hold a few
stems of flowers, some a handful of herbs. Place them down the center of the table, leaving
space between each for other items like candles.

Candlelight dinner – No need to rush your dinner, extend it into the evening with candlelight.
Plus, everyone looks better by candlelight! Use candles of various heights, from tea lights to
pillars. Just make sure they are in glass cups, so they don’t blow out in the wind or spill wax on
your linens.

I adore candle cups, just ask my husband. There are boxes and boxes of them out in our barn!
Some of my favorites are mercury glass, in both silver and gold. And anything in cut glass, as I
like how the light is reflected through the patterns. Some colored glass I use for the holidays,
like red and orange. Glass cups are usually inexpensive and can be stored easily in boxes when
not in use.

Neutral tones – I’ve mentioned several areas you can add color to your dining table. Consider
when you do this to keep the colors neutral – cream, tan, grey, greens. They tend to blend
better with your garden and are more versatile. Plus, they let the food be the star. But you can
definitely go brighter if that makes you happy!

Chairs – Now I am getting a bit of picking. You can use any chairs that you have. Personally, I like
the chairs for all match. Probably goes back to my wedding industry background. Many people
buy a table and chair set when purchasing outdoor furniture. I use folding wooden chairs I
found at Ikea. Just like my table, they fold up and store nicely in my barn until I need them
again.

I hope this inspires you to bring your next dinner outside. With a little bit of effort, your dining
experience will be transformed. As will your mood!

about

Kelli Walker

Flowers have been my passion since I was young. Raised in a family of gardeners, I remember choosing seed packets from the farm store each spring. The anticipation of the flowers blooming, all that color and fragrance in the garden, was so thrilling to me! Nature still provides me with constant inspiration, the way a branch is shaped or a flower is bobbing in the breeze. I strive to translate that feeling into my designs, creating florals that look as though they were just picked from the garden.