Party DIY {Be Merry Wreath}

Without a doubt, it is finally Christmas at our house! The tree is up and decorated, gifts are wrapped and in there proper spot, poinsettias are adorning the plater box on the front porch and lastly the wreath is hung! I've had the supplies since before Thanksgiving, but with a hectic work schedule, I finally got around to completing it this weekend. I'm really happy with how it turned out too. All I had to do was spray paint a twig wreath found in any craft store and paint a "Be Merry" sign in this year's decor colors to complete it. Now that it is hung, I really feel in the spirit each day I come home after work. Plus it adds some personality to our holiday decor that couldn't be accomplished with a store bought version. Here's the step by step…

:: Supplies ::
Twig Wreath
Silver Spray Paint
Chip Board Sign
Craft Paint
Small Craft Paint Brush
Pencil
Tulle
1" Finishing Nails
Hammer

:: Directions ::
1. Spray twig wreath silver and allow to dry.
2. Paint chip board sign in your choice of base color. Let dry completely.
3. Using a pencil, lightly trace the phrase "Be Merry" onto the chip board. In the corner, lightly trace holly leaves and berries.
4. Paint over the phrase in the color of your choice. It may take a few coats to cover the pencil marks if you traced on the darker side. Paint holly leaves green and use the end of your paint brush to create the berries.
5. Let sign dry completely before turning face down. Hammer a finishing nails 2.5 inches from the top and 1 inch from each side leaving approximately 3/4 of the nail exposed. Cut a 2' piece of tulle, fold in half and tie each end of the tulle in a knot around the exposed part of the nail. Take a second piece of 2' tulle, fold it in half and string it through the sign, loop around the wreath and tie the end in a bow. Hang from a wreath hook on door.

Weekend Reads {12.6.13}

The holidays are officially upon us. Most of my shopping is done, my tree is up and decorated, and I've started to plan out all the cookies I'm going to make. But the one thing I haven't managed to do yet is hang my Christmas wreath. Like my card, I make my own every year. I'm especially excited about this years and feel that it could be so cute it takes me through the next few years. For that reason, I'm holding off the big reveal until next week. But, until then, I've gathered up my favorite DIY wreaths to take us into the weekend. Hope you all have a relaxing few days and I will see you back here on Monday!

1. Wood Slice & Burlap Christmas Wreath from Finding Home

2. Metallic Star & Greenery Wreath from Raveena Girls

3. Pom Pom and Posies Wreath from Nest of Posies

4. Christmas Ornament Wreath from Live Love DIY

5. Peppermint Monogram Wreath from Two Twenty One

*Image from: A Bubbly Life

A Crafted Holiday {Modern Boxwood Wreath}

Last year I shared with you my DIY wreath featuring trimmings from the underneath of my tree. While I loved how it turned out, the fullness and it's fresh fraiser smell, this year I wanted to opt for something a little cleaner and more modern. This boxwood wreath was just the ticket to fill that requirement. Using a simple wire hanger stretched into a circle, I wrapped it in fresh boxwood and adorned it with a flameless candle. As it hangs on my front door, I love seeing it's clean fresh lines when I drive up. Even though it's only been up for a few days, it already has me in the spirit and I can't wait to decorate the rest of the house. Here's how I made it.

:: Supplies ::
Wire Hanger
Boxwood Plant
Twine
Flameless candle
Hot Glue

:: Directions ::
1. Begin by stretching out your wire hanger forming a circle.
2. Next, take branches of boxwood and tie them to the hanger using your twine. The branches should go about 3/4 of the way around the hanger.
3. Using your hot glue, put two dabs on each side of the flameless candle and attach to the bottom center of the wreath. Make sure the switch is facing out as to be easily accessible.