How to Make Your Own Christmas Wreath from Scratch

Save money by making your own DIY wreath. A Christmas wreath is a great way to welcome guests to your home over the Christmas season. Read on to see our step-by-step guide in how to make a Christmas wreath, you won’t require many tools or accessories to make a unique Christmas wreath.

STEP 1: 

All of the below tools are available on inerra.co.uk in the Christmas and florist categories. You will need either an 8”, 10”, 12” or a 14” wreath ring depending on the size of the wreath you require. Regular scissors or florist scissors. Green or natural jute mossing twine and finland moss.

Dried Fruit wreath decorations such as whole oranges and cinnamon sticks look great and can be easily tied on to your wreath to give a unique look.

Add textured foliage or a spruce wreath garland in addition to moss. If you are using thick florist stub wire we recommend using floral secateurs instead of scissors.

STEP 2:

Secure generous handfuls of the Finland moss to the wreath ring and secure tightly with jute twine string. This creates a textured filling and a base to work on. You can choose Finland moss in a variety of colours. Jute mossing twine is also available in a natural colour depending on your preferences. Wrap the twine clockwise around your moss to secure in place.

STEP 3:

Using moss as a base, you can make a DIY wreath with real foliage and can be tied on to your wreath on top of the moss. Use the mossing twine to tie on foliage, and overlap to avoid creating gaps. Collect your foliage, this can be done by simply finding suitable foliage in your garden or from supermarket bouquets. Alternatively, a walk in the countryside will provide access to branches, holly and ivy to add an extra Christmas feel to your wreath. You can also use fir stems.

STEP 4:

Next, it’s time to make your wreath look unique. You will need austriaca cones, cinnamon sticks, a small amount of ribbon (we recommend using double sided satin ribbon) and some whole oranges. Tie 2 or 3 cinnamon sticks together with ribbon and then attach to the wreath with florist wire. Place the floristry wire directly through the moss, and then return the wire back through the moss to tie in place.

STEP 5:

Tie on your christmas dried fruit to the wreath with floristry wire or stub wire – both available on our Inerra.co.uk website. You can use stub wire or binding wire for this.

STEP 6:

Visually check your wreath for gaps in the foliage and to check the dried fruit and cones are equally seperated. Use any leftover foliage to fill in any gaps. You can then prune your foliage to create an equal circle shape. Tie some satin ribbon around the top of the wreath for easy hanging.

You may also want to use evergreen foliage leaves instead of ivy and holly. Austriaca cones can be spray painted gold or silver to create different effects and colour themes. You can also use plastic wired berries or picks. We have an extensive range of wreath making supplies available with no minimum order. If you’ve used fresh foliage, hanging your wreath outside will help it keep for about 3 weeks. If you hang a fresh wreath inside, it will last approximately 2 weeks. If you don’t want to go out and find your own foliage, you can try our artificial spruce garlands and re-use every Christmas.

What You’ll Need

Choose Any Ribbon and Colour, Satin, Organza, Grosgrain, Chiffon

Florist Scissors or Secateurs

Binding Wire Reel or Stub Wire

Finland Moss

Pine Cones

Dried Fruit – Oranges, Apple Slices, Cinnamon Sticks

Austriaca Pine Cones

Wreath Ring

Either Real or Artificial Foliage – Bay Leaves, Ivy, Holly and Ferns can be used alongside artificial berries and picks.

Foliage and pine - A selection of hardy foliage and pine. A mix of shades of greens and textures work really well. View the history of wreath making here

Dehydrating Dried Fruit DIY - How to Dry Orange Slices / How to Dry Lemon Slices

If you want to take the hard work out of it, we supply the full range of dried fruit, already dehydrated and ready for decorating your wreath in our dried fruit category. But if you want to make your wreath from scratch, and dehydrate your own fruit, read on for the guide on how to dehydrate fruit. You can also make your own garlands with this guide.

The following is a guide on how to dehydrate orange slices:

Oven or Dehydrate?

Drying orange slices in the oven can be quicker but needs to be monitored. If the heat is too high or left in the oven for too long, the edges can curl and turn into a dark brown colour. They can also become more brittle. Drying orange slices in a dehydrator is much simpler and there's no chance of the orange slices turning brown.

OVEN: 

1. Set your oven to around 160 F (Not Celcius)

2. Cut your orange slices to your required thickness, 5-10 mm would be a good guide, but you can cut them to whatever thickness you want to. You can then get around 8 to 10 slices out of a standard-sized orange. You will need some parchment paper if drying in the oven.

3. Try to keep a consistent thickness, thinner slices will dehydrate and turn brown before the thicker slices are ready. You'll need a large baking or cake tray and lay your parchment paper on the tray. Even place the orange slices on the tray making sure that they don't overlap.

4. It will take around 3-4 hours to dry your orange slices, and you will need to check them regularly. Flip the orange slices every 30 minutes so that both sides of the slices dry evenly. Once the orange slices are still a little bit soft in the middle pull them out of the oven and allow them to air dry. The soft centre will make it easy to wire onto your wreath or garland with florist wire. 

DEHYDRATOR:

1. A simpler method where you can set the time and temperature. You won't need any parchment or cake paper to line the tray. 

2. Set at 160F and set the timer for 3 hours.  Sometimes the bottom rack will dry them a bit faster, so it's recommended to swap the trays once or twice during the 3 hours. After the 3 hours, allow to air dry (preferably overnight). 

There is also different methods for drying fruit - See more at wikipedia

Information about Finland Moss which can be used as a wreath base:

Finland Moss or Reindeer Moss/Lichen is primarily found in the Arctic Alpine Tundra regions. However, it also grows in abundance in low lying Arctic pine forests. Floral Finland Moss is not to be confused with Sphagnum Moss which is mainly used to line hanging baskets. Finland Moss is Glycerine treated to help keep it pliable and soft and is for decoration only. It is collected in the vast low lying pine forest regions of Finland, hence the name. This is evident as small pine cones and pine needles are often present with the moss which can even sometimes add a natural decorative look. 

The moss comes in three colours which are Dark Green, Olive and a lighter Natural colour. It can really enhance a floral display whether using fresh of artificial flowers. Artificial flowers can be made to look natural by just adding a little Finland moss to the top of a vase, pot or bowl. 

Finland moss is also used for wreath making. Impress your friends using natural moss, pine cones and dried fruit for Christmas wreaths. There are many types of wreath rings, floral binding/stub wires and tapes to assist in making Christmas wreaths with moss. There are many other uses for Finland moss. Modelling, arts and craft work, shop window displays but to name a few. Model railway enthusiasts often use moss to make trees, bushes and scenery as it is very easy to tear/split as required. We recommend wearing light protective hand gloves when handling moss. The natural dyes and Glycerine may irritate the skin.

What Materials You Need to Create Your Own Wreath

Creating your own wreath is a great way to express your creativity and add a special touch to your home decor. With the right materials, you can create a beautiful wreath that will last for years. From ribbons and floral wire to dried flowers and leaves, there are many different items that you can use to make the perfect wreath for any occasion.

Step 1: Choosing the Base of Your Wreath

Creating a beautiful wreath for your home is a great way to add a unique touch of decoration to any space. The first step in creating a wreath is choosing the base. This can be made from various materials such as wood, metal, plastic, or fabric. Depending on the look you’re going for and the type of material you’d like to use, there are many options available for your base. Consider what type of material will work best for your design and how it will fit with the other elements of your wreath.

Step 2: Decorating the Base with Greenery and Flowers

Decorating your home with greenery and flowers is an easy way to add a touch of beauty and life to your space. Greenery and flowers can help create a more inviting atmosphere, while also providing a natural source of energy-boosting oxygen. With the right materials, you can transform any space into a place of beauty and relaxation. In this section, we will discuss how to use greenery and flowers to decorate the base of your home in order to create an inviting atmosphere that will make you feel relaxed and inspired.

Step 3: Adding Ribbon and Other Accents to Your DIY Wreath

Creating a beautiful DIY wreath is an easy way to add color and texture to your home decor. With just a few simple steps, you can create a stunning wreath that is sure to be the centerpiece of any room. The final step in creating your wreath is adding ribbon and other accents. By following these simple instructions, you can easily add the perfect finishing touches to your DIY wreath.

Step 4: Finishing Touches - How to Hang Your Wreath on the Door or Wall

Hanging your wreath on the door or wall is the final step in creating a beautiful and unique holiday decoration. With a few simple steps, you can easily hang your wreath to make it look perfect. Whether you choose to hang it on the door or wall, following these steps will ensure that your wreath is hung properly and securely so that it can be enjoyed for years to come.