April 14, 2011

Recycled Water Hose Wreath

Hello Friends~ ~ ~ Last week I posted a picture of a water hose wreath I made for my garage door. My neighbor saw it and went crazy and asked me to make one for her. This is the wreath I made for her and pictures of the steps as I was in construction mode. I know many of you are really great at arranging flowers and making wreaths but for those of you who could use a little help here you go.

First of all I would like to introduce my assistant Mr. Handsome. He is always around when there is a craft project in the works. It would go faster without his help but I just love his sweet face so much. . .what can I say?

I didn't have the color flowers I wanted on hand so I needed to make a trip to the Dollar Tree. They have the best buys around for silk flowers. Above is what I bought and I didn't use all of them. I got $6.00 worth! The ribbon was from last weeks wreath.

First step: Wrap your hose into a big circle the size you desire. I like the end to show so I work it to the top right of the wreath and wire it together at the top. Leave enough wire to form a loop for hanging. Cut the remaining hose off with a sharp knife.

This is two bunches of flowers that I bent so that they would curve around the hose. Don't cut them apart just tuck each end into the flowers of the other.

I wanted these purple stems on the bottom peaking out at the ends. I used one bunch and bent 3 stems to the left and 3 to the right.

Place the hydrangea on top and use a few purple stems cut from the second bunch on top and wire the whole thing together.

I like to wire all the flowers together and then attach them to the hose or wreath. Later in the season if the flowers get shabby and I want to change them I can just cut the wire, remove them and add another bunch. Simple and I often do this.

The ribbon. Of course you can use any ribbon you like and wired is probably the nicest looking but I just wanted a floppy casual looking bow. The green ribbon is for the bottom of the bow and the lavender will be the top. Cut a piece about 12" long from the top ribbon.

Form it into a loop for the center of the bow. Run a piece of wire about 10" long through to the center of the wire and twist a couple of times. Leave long ends of the wire to attach this center piece to the rest of the bow.

Take the rest of the top ribbon and just loop it back and forth till you have a little bow of sorts.

Place your center on top and pinch the center of the bow together while twisting the wires tight. Leave the ends to attach the bottom part of the bow.

I just looped the bottom ribbon back and forth till I had the size to fit my bunch of flowers. Then layered the top bow on and wired the whole thing together. It's best to pull your wires as tight as you can so that the ribbon stays and the more it's pinched in the center the better it looks.

OK friends, here is where your design style comes into play. Check out the wreath above and below. Compare them and you will notice that the top wreath needed a little adjustment. See how the flowers all just stick out left and right. Style it up a bit by bending the stems and bending just the flower ends so that they face the front.

See how I bent some of the hydrangea closer to the bow and faced them forward. Much nicer. Don't be afraid to bend them around. If it is too full for your taste you can even cut a few flowers out. If you check out my last post this wreath is much fuller than the last one. Make it to suit your taste. Hope my neighbor likes it. I'm off to deliver it to her.


This week I'm linking to:

Share The Love Wednesday at Very Merry Vintage Style.

Sweet Mary featured last weeks wreath on her blog and I was thrilled.

The Shabby Chic Cottage; Transformation Thursday

 
Romantic Home; Show and Tell


Spring Party at Decor To Adore~ Laura

I appreciate each of you.
Thanks for stopping by,
~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

April 6, 2011

Spring Brings New Life

And Me back to the blog.

Sorry to have deserted you.

I am back and looking forward to new passions in my life.

How about you?

Do you like my new wreath?

Does it look familiar?

Look closely~ ~Then grab an old garden hose

and make one yourself.

This one is hanging on the garage door.

Isn't this a great old basket?

It's very old and belonged to a friend of mine.


I hope you will leave a comment and

stop back soon to share in the new Springtime events.


It's good to be back. Even though I was not

posting I was visiting all of you to

keep up with your blogs.


I'm linking with Transformation Thursday at



Show and Tell Friday at



Favorite Things at



Show Off Your Cottage


Share The Love Wednesday


Met. Monday @ Between Naps On The Porch


Happy Spring!


~ ~Ahrisha~ ~