BIG Fluffy Wreath from Coffee Filters and a Hula Hoop

Okay, let me put this out there... I LOVE wreaths. 

I love their simple round form and the multiple ways to make them and embellish them and display them. All through the year a wreath can be a decorating accent for any occasion.

I made my first coffee filter wreath with plain white filters and a twig wreath form. It is 18" across and I have it hanging on the mirror of  the re purposed head board in my craft room. I love it's ruffled fluffiness and during the year I add snowflakes, four leaf clovers, sunflowers, American flags and butterflies to change it up for the seasons and holidays. Right now I'm switching over from Halloween to Thanksgiving, so it is just plain and beautiful.

I'm always looking for round forms to use for wreath backings and when I found a hula hoop at the Dollar Store I knew it would be perfect for another wreath, this one HUGE! I'm not kidding, this finished wreath finishes out at 28" inches across and it could not be simpler to make.

Oooh aaah!

Our Dollar Store has this 20" hoop. It is plenty generous for the wreath I had in mind. First, I wrapped the plastic hoop in strips of burlap since it closely matches the color of the natural coffee filters. But you can use any fabric for this step. It doesn't have to match since it really will not show. Use hot glue to anchor it in place. This will give you  a textured surface for the hot glue to grab when you start adding your coffee filters.

Here's how to avoid burning your fingers with hot glue on this project. Use a fat marker or a dowel and scrunch your coffee filter evenly down around it. Put a dab of hot glue on the center of the outside of the paper  then put it in place on your wreath form. After a second or two remove the marker and looky there, you have glued your scrunched up coffee filter in place.

I used about 3 packages of the natural coffee filters for this wreath. It took me less than 2 hours from start to finish.

Looking good! I LOVE it's ruffly fluffiness!

Since it is made from a hollow plastic tube and paper, this wreath is very light, weighing in at 11 ounces before adding any extra doodads.

And now I get to do the fun part...decorating it for the holidays!

This project is right up my alley. Inexpensive and impressive and easy. Don't you love it when creativity and frugality collide to such beautiful effect?

I'll be sharing at the parties on my sidebar. Come visit and check out all the fun projects!

Lighted Autumn Hurricane

I scored this gigantic glass hurricane at a yard sale for $2. It is 20" tall and 8" across at the belly with a wooden base. I love it's size and how I can dress it up all year long. Plus, $2!! That still makes me grin.

Last spring I filled it with vine balls, book page decor balls, driftwood, monkey's knots, pine cones and my favorite green glitter dragonfly. I LOVE how it looked with a few of my cobalt glass pieces.

So this fall I restyled it for Autumn. Now it is a lighted accent to my Thanksgiving decorating. I like it. I like it alot!

I grabbed a garland and a short string of 50 lights from my stash....both Dollar Store buys from years past. I twined them together and stuffed them into the glass. The problem was, they all fell to the bottom and left the top of the glass empty.

The Welding Man suggested that I put a piece of dowel inside to support the garland, so here's what I came up with. To disguise the dowel I covered it with an Autumn leaf print napkin cut into strips. A bit of hot glue at the top and bottom kept the paper in place. We threaded it through the garland and used florist wire to hold it at the top. Then we plugged it in and I am pleased as punch at the way it looks!

Here it is at the corner of my "bookcase in lieu of a mantel" with my Thankful wreath, my faux stained glass mirror, my oak family tree painting and another, smaller, unlit hurricane. It really brightens up that corner and is a beautiful night light. I checked it often for too much heat from the lights and it is safe, just warm.

Now I'm thinking that smaller hurricane needs lights, too. I can put it in the corner of the living room with my Autumn tree branches. And for Christmas I'm thinking silver balls and ornaments and pine cones and a bit of greenery, all lit up!

I'll be joining the blog parties on my sidebar, come along and link up! There is a wealth of creative projects out there!

http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/2014/09/up-in-smoke-again.html?utm_source=Friends+of+Ivy+%26+Elephants&utm_campaign=c40032f638-Up+in+Smoke+Again&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a51593f650-c40032f638-42477

http://www.playpartypin.com/2014/09/weekend-re-treat-link-party-86.html

Recyled Halloween Wreath

Even as Halloween ended and the decorations came down, I knew I wanted a bit of color for the Thanksgiving season. I dove into my stash of autumn colored silks and took another look at the wreath I spray painted black for Halloween. I came up with this.....

I love how it looks on my blue door! The colors against the black really pop.

Here's how it looked for Halloween, properly dark and spooky and fun. Perfect for the season.

I took some real miniature pumpkins and put them on skewers, then hot glued them in place amongst the black roses. A few silk flowers and fall leaves later and voila, the finished wreath! I love the off center design with the "breathing room" on the rest of the unadorned wreath.

Not only do I love how it looks, it cost me nothing but a $1 for the 3 pumpkins and a few minutes' time. After Thanksgiving I'll switch it over to Christmas, still using the black wreath as a base. I've got some colorful ideas for THAT design and I'll post the finished wreath here.

And now I'm thinking....what could I do for Valentine's Day with that black wreath as a starting point? Easter? Mother's Day? Just what I love, a creative challenge. Check back to see this black wreath in all of it's disguises.

I'll be linking up to the parties on my sidebar. Come visit and be amazed at the creativity out there in blogland.