As we draw closer to Thanksgiving, many people this time of year begin to think of all they are grateful for. Perhaps it’s your family, friends, jobs, health, or all of the above. This year we would like to show you a creative way to give thanks. Express your “gratitude attitude” with this burlap wreath full of sentiment. Jane Chandler, a freelance designer, made this wreath. Hang this on your front door to remind yourself, and your guest to give thanks this season for all they hold dear. Instructions and materials needed are below.
Plaid Supplies
FolkArt Acrylic Paint – 938 Licorice, 679 Turner’s Yellow, 2249 Pueblo, 951 Apple Spice, Matte Mod Podge, Plaid 1 ½” Letter Stencil – #30579, 20mm spouncer brush
Other Supplies
Lo-temp glue gun, 16” straw wreath, Scissors, ¾” flat brush, Unfinished wood circles (six 2” and four 3”), Jute twine, Scrapbook papers in Fall colors (ours were purchased at Hobby Lobby-Paper Factory brand), 1/4 yard sage green burlap, 1 ½ yard tan burlap, foam plate for paints, water, craft knife (or small scissors), cutting mat
Instructions
- Choose paper pattern for circles and cut paper squares, allowing ½” excess around edges of circle. Apply Mod Podge to front of wood circle and lay wet side down to back side of scrapbook paper, pressing firmly on flat surface to prevent wrinkling or air bubbles. Set circles aside to dry.
- If edge of tan burlap has not been cut straight, pull a thread from weave at side edge and gather/pull across width of burlap to remove the thread. This will create a straight line to follow and use for your cutting guideline; cut along line. From cut edge, measure and mark six 4” strips at side edge and pull threads again at these points to create guidelines for cutting straight strips. Repeat process to cut 3” strips from remaining tan burlap; cut 1” wide strips from green burlap.
- On one end of each 4” wide burlap strip, fold edge under and glue to secure threads in weave at edge. From opposite end, pull thread at center of strip and gather length of burlap. Once gathered, glue remaining end to secure threads and clip pulled thread.
- Wrap and glue gathered burlap strips as desired to cover top and sides of wreath.
- Form a loop with an 8” length of jute and tie ends together to form a hanger. Glue ends to top center at back of wreath, securing well.
- Cut three one yard lengths of jute and tie together in bow at center. Glue back of bow knot to front center near top of wreath.
- Use a 3” wide x 44/45” long strip for each of the three large flowers, and one strip cut in half lengthwise for the two smaller flowers. To form flowers, tie a knot approximately 2” from one end of burlap strip. Twist and coil remaining length of strip around the knot center in a spiral fashion and glue between twisted coils as you wrap. Tuck end of fabric strip to back side and glue ends flat to back to secure coils in place. Refer to photo to glue flowers in place on wreath.
- Squirt a fall-toned paint onto plate (about a teaspoonful) and thin with water to a thick watercolor consistency. Use brush to apply thinned paint to flower to tint it and then use thicker paint in spiral creases to “shade it”; repeat with other colors to tint flowers as desired. Let dry.
- Cut green burlap strips into 10” lengths. Tie knot at center and pull knot with one hand, ends with the other hand to secure and form “V shape. Glue knots of burlap between flower bases for the leaves.
- Use craft knife on cutting mat (or small scissors) to cut around edges of wood circles to remove excess paper; arrange order of shapes as desired for words. Use Licorice and spouncer to stencil letters on circles, allowing spacing for overlaps. Let dry.
- Apply a topcoat of Mod Podge to circles. Let dry.
- Arrange as desired and glue backs of letter circles to lower area of wreath.
Project Tip: Use hair dryer on low heat setting to speed the drying process of acrylic paints.