Happy Halloween Wreath • Make Your Own!

As part of Blogtober, I'll be re-running some past posts that fit this month's theme. This post was originally published in October 2014.

I don't think I've ever made a DIY wreath before in my life, but I do have an almost fetish-level interest in holiday decorations. I admire them mostly from afar, at stores and in other people's homes, and stick to minimal seasonal cheer around my own place. The main reason for this is that I tend to focus primarily on how I'll need to store the rarely used decor and visualize myself one day packing it and moving it to a new place. It just seems like so much extra work!

I did this for SIX YEARS at our last apartment, more regretful with every passing holiday, and when we moved into a new place I promised myself I'd dive into holiday decorating, regardless of how many ornaments I may or may not have to store in a kitchen cabinet. I needed a Halloween wreath - maybe you do too? Here's how:

What You Need

• Round Wreath Form

• Black Yarn & White Yarn

• Halloween Trinkets {I got these from Michaels}

• Scissors

• Hot Glue Gun

• Glue Stick 

• Scrapbook Paper 

• Pencil

• String 

• White Paper

• Ribbon

How To Make It

I wanted a black and white striped background, so I opted to wrap yarn around my wreath form. Alternately, you could use felt, fabric or maybe even the leg of some striped tights.

To use both colors, I simply tied the two yarn strings together on the back of the wreath when I was done wrapping each section and continued on with the new color. I just eyeballed the sections. You could also glue them periodically, but I didn't. When you're done wrapping, just tie the end of your yarn to another piece of wrapped yarn in the back {bottom picture}. Make sure to knot it well.

To make the bunting, cut diamond shaped pieces from burlap-print scrapbook paper {A}. Then use a glue stick to glue the shapes to brown scrapbook paper {B} and cut out the shape, leaving a brown paper border all around {C}. Next, just fold the diamond into a triangle and crease the edge {D}.

Next comes the letters! You can obviously write whatever (a simple "BOO" makes for a much easier project, I can say with hindsight). Draw your letters to fit on your bunting {A} and cut them out {B}. Glue to the bunting and finish your other letters {C}.

To make the bunting, open your triangle and place the string against the crease {A} before gluing the triangle and pressing it closed {B}. Continue to string all the letters {C}. I made mine in two rows.

Next, start hot gluing your Halloween trinkets and bobbles (glitter heavily recommended) around your wreath. Keeping your glue gun on a paper plate makes things slightly less messy, but I still managed to hot glue my pajama pants to myself, so maybe don't listen to me.

Glue the bunting around the wreath on each side so it hangs across the middle. I also added some glitter ribbon that I had on hand between the stripes.

Then just tie a ribbon loop around the top of the wreath so you can hang it.

Done! Wreath accomplished.

Have you made any DIY Halloween decorations this year? 
Found any awesome Halloween trinkets at the dollar store? 
Why is 'bunting' such a funny word?

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DIY: Christmas Wreath Tutorial

I'm back on the decorating train (just took my Halloween wreath down, oops!) and I've learned that I simply cannot resist a little glitter and sparkle in my home decor. This wreath is perhaps a little too glittery for most - I mean, there are glitter balls, glitter leaves, glitter birds, glitter pinecones and a dangerously shiny garland involved. The only parts that aren't glittery are the tree garland and ribbon, and I would've opted for those too if I'd been able. I cannot be stopped! Here's how you can make a blindingly shiny door decoration for yourself:

WHAT YOU NEED

Tree Garland or Wreath Base

Metallic Garland

Baubles and Decorations

Hot Glue Gun

Ribbon

Scissors

Optional: Green Thread & Wire Cutters

HOW TO DO IT

If you have a ready-made wreath base, you can skin this step. Since I'm working with tree garland, I first made a circle from it by wrapping the garland around several times. To keep the layers together, I tied a few green threads around the edges. If you have too much, trim the garland with wire cutters.

I decorated the base with some silver metallic garland. Any kind will do, but I used this narrow rope garland just to spice things up (I guess this is how I get my kicks now?).

Then I proceeded to hot glue to my heart's content, slapping glittery balls, leaves and birds in a pleasing-to-my-eye-but-probably-too-gaudy-for-the-masses style.

Then I went all crazy and glued some glitter-edged pinecones in the center. Can I just emphasize how happy I was to finally have a reason to purchase these ridiculously long tailed glitter birds?

I made a pink satin bow to glue on the top of the wreath for a little balance. Next, I made a ribbon loop from which to hang the wreath.

All hung up and nowhere to go! Although, I guess I'm only assuming the wreath isn't going out when I'm sleeping...perhaps I should set up some secret surveillance.

Glitter for daaaaaaaays.

Do you also enjoy being nearly blinded by the shine of your home decor? Do you mind woodsy decorations that in no way accurately represent nature? What else could I use these glitter birds for?

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ETC: Halloween Instagram Recap

This was my first Halloween in forever without an official costume. Boooooo! Not the good kind of scary Halloween 'boo!' either - the bad 'this sucks!' kind. Because we didn't have party plans and I've been busy with all kinds of Maid of Honor projects lately, this just wasn't a year for painstakingly handmade costumes. Instead, I focused my creative Halloween energy into themed food because we all gotta eat, right? We had a small gathering which included the treats seen below, as well as everyone accidentally eating fake cobwebs all night (don't put them near food!).

Mummy Calzones  //  Eyeball Pizzas

Graveyard Taco Dip  //  Witch Finger Cookies

My Witchy Pumpkin  //  My Boyfriend's "Pumpkin" (his rotted before he got to paint it)

My Grandfather's Poodle in a Pumpkin Costume  //  My Halloween Wreath

{You can follow me on Instagram: @neonrattail}

What were your Halloween plans? Any costume contest winners out there? Did you make or eat anything that looked like an eyeball?

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DIY: Halloween Wreath Tutorial

I don't think I've ever made a DIY wreath before in my life, but I do have an almost fetish-level interest in holiday decorations. I admire them mostly from afar, at stores and in other people's homes, and stick to minimal seasonal cheer around my own place. The main reason for this is that I tend to focus primarily on how I'll need to store the rarely used decor and visualize myself one day packing it and moving it to a new place. It just seems like so much extra work! 

I did this for SIX YEARS at our last apartment, more regretful with every passing holiday, and when we moved into a new place last winter I promised myself I'd dive into holiday decorating, regardless of how many Christmas ornaments I may or may not have to store in a kitchen cabinet. This is my first holiday decorating at the new place so I jumped right in with a cheerful Halloween wreath. 

Want to make one too? Read on!

WHAT YOU NEED

Round Wreath Form

Black Yarn & White Yarn

Halloween Trinkets {I got these from Michael's}

Scissors

Not Pictured:

Hot Glue Gun, Glue Stick, Scrapbook Paper, Pencil, String, White Paper, Ribbon

HOW TO DO IT

I wanted a black and white striped background, so I opted to wrap yarn around my wreath form. Alternately, you could use felt, fabric or maybe even the leg of some striped tights.

To use both colors, I simply tied the two yarn strings together on the back of the wreath when I was done wrapping each section and continued on with the new color. I just eyeballed the sections. You could also glue them periodically, but I didn't. When you're done wrapping, just tie the end of your yarn to another piece of wrapped yarn in the back {bottom picture}. Make sure to knot it well.

To make the bunting, cut diamond shaped pieces from burlap-print scrapbook paper {A}. Then use a glue stick to glue the shapes to brown scrapbook paper {B} and cut out the shape, leaving a brown paper border all around {C}. Next, just fold the diamond into a triangle and crease the edge {D}.

Next comes the letters! You can obviously write whatever (a simple "BOO" makes for a much easier project, I can say with hindsight). Draw your letters to fit on your bunting {A} and cut them out {B}. Glue to the bunting and finish your other letters {C}.

To make the bunting, open your triangle and place the string against the crease {A} before gluing the triangle and pressing it closed {B}. Continue to string all the letters {C}. I made mine in two rows.

Next, start hot gluing your Halloween trinkets and bobbles (glitter heavily recommended) around your wreath. Keeping your glue gun on a paper plate makes things slightly less messy, but I still managed to hot glue my pajama pants to myself, so maybe don't listen to me.

Glue the bunting around the wreath on each side so it hangs across the middle. I also added some glitter ribbon that I had on hand between the stripes.

Then just tie a ribbon loop around the top of the wreath so you can hang it.

Done! Wreath accomplished.

Have you made any DIY Halloween decorations this year? Found any awesome Halloween trinkets at the dollar store? Why is 'bunting' such a funny word?

BLOGLOVIN  | TWITTER  |  TUMBLR  |  PINTEREST  |  INSTAGRAM  |  ETSY