2018 Easter Wreath Tutorial - Assorted Kits

On 2/24/18 Carrie and I did a Facebook Live showing how to make this Easter wreath. The supplies we used were in three different kits since we had three different colors of the sign. We created three separate kits. The mint and lavender kits are already sold out, but there are some of the pink ones still left. Update: All the kits are now sold out but we have many other styles of mesh and ribbons. We'll go ahead and describe the essentials that were in each kit, they were just different styles. Kits Contain: 24" White Iridescent Pencil Wreath An assorted Easter sign with different wording: Happy Easter; Easter Blessings: Hello Spring Four styles of ribbon: Sizes of ribbon ranged from 0.78" to 2.5" 21" White Snowball Mesh - 1 roll 10" Mesh - 1 roll (10" x 10 yards) Supplies for Happy Easter Shell Pink: XX751150 24" Iridescent White Pencil Wreath XB946-01 21" White Snowball Mesh RE1302E4 10" Moss/Apple Deco Poly Mesh RG0172518 2.5" Rose Floral Ribbon Q832009-09 1.5" Lime Green Sheer (out of stock, available in kit only) Q731309-28 1.5" Fuchsia Linen Ribbon RJ203008 7/8" Gold Metallic Ribbon (out of stock, available in kit only) But we do have other styles of metallic ribbon. Happy Easter Sign (available in kit only) Supplies for Hello Spring Mint Kit: XX751150 24" Iridescent White Pencil Wreath XB946-01 21" White Snowball Mesh XB99910-45 10" Mint Iridescent Ombre Mesh RG0172529 2.5" Yellow Floral Ribbon RJ203008 7/8" Gold Metallic Ribbon (out of stock, available in kit only) But we do have other styles of metallic ribbon. Q832009-28 1.5" Sheer Fuchsia Ribbon RG01652AN 2.5" Mint White Swiss Dots Ribbon Hello Spring Sign (available in kit only) Supplier for Easter Blessing Lavender Kit: XX751150 24" Iridescent White Pencil Wreath XB946-01 21" White Snowball Mesh XB99810-48 10" Purple Iridescent Ombre Mesh Q815209-26 1.5" Pink Spring Miriam Ribbon Q812009-11 1.5" Purple Linen Bright Easter Egg Ribbon RG0168314 1.5" Blue Lime Hot Pink Plaid Ribbon RJ203008 7/8" Gold Metallic Ribbon (out of stock, available in kit only) But we do have other styles of metallic ribbon. Easter Blessing Sign (available in kit only) Summary: We chose a 24" white iridescent pencil wreath. Our 24" wreaths measure 15" across the widest ring, but with the addition of mesh, ribbons etc, you wind up with a finished wreath that measures 24" or greater. We chose white 21" snowball mesh to use as a base for our wreath and did the pouf technique. The poufs measured 12". To do the pouf technique, just grasp the end of the mesh leaving a tail of 3-4". Attach the mesh to one of the twist. We started on the outer ring. Secure with mesh with a couple of turns. Tuck the raw end of the mesh toward the inside of the wreath. You can secure this raw edge with a zip tie now, or later, or you can use chenille stems. Measure 12" down the mesh, pinch it together and secure in the next twist. Continue to work around the outer ring measuring and securing the mesh. When you get to your last pouf, open up the twist from your first pouf (making sure it stays in place) and secure your last pouf in that same twist. Now you are ready to move to the inner ring. Pull the mesh up snug and secure in the closest twist you see on the inner ring. This is your starting point. Continue to measure 12" and continue making poufs around the inner ring. When you get to your last pouf, do the same as before, open up the twist and lay the last pouf down, securing in that same twist. Cut your mesh off from the roll leaving a tail of 3-5" Tuck the raw end of the mesh to the inside of the wreath. Flip it over from the back and secure that raw edge to the wreath form with a zip tie or chenille stem. Check your poufs, they should all be about the same size. Make any adjustments as needed. The wreath will look something thin and sparse at this point, but it will look better as you continue to add layers. You'll have a little mesh left over from the 21" roll. You can make your poufs anywhere from 10" to 14" but anything larger than 14" results in poufs being a little too floppy (to me). Ruffles: We chose a 10" x 10 yard ombre lavender mesh as a little contrast to go on top of the poufs. We cut the 10" mesh into 20" strips. We arrived at 20" because there were 18 twists on the wreath. A 1o yard roll of mesh should yield 360 inches - divided by 18 result in 20 pieces that we could use for ruffles. To make the ruffle, take the 20" piece and lay it down on the table where the edges curl under. Start scrunching up or gathering up through the middle of the mesh (selvage edges to the outside) and hold the mesh gathered. To secure the ruffle, open up a twist (we started on the outer ring, but it really doesn't matter where you start), and lay the ruffle down right on top where the pouf was secured and re-secure the twist with a couple of turns. Continue working around the outer and inner rings applying a 20" ruffle to each twist. We did use up all the 10" mesh for the ruffles. To cut the mesh for the ruffles, we used our Omnigrid self-healing cutting mat and a 60 mm Fiskars Rotary Stick Cutter. These are must have tools if you do much work with mesh. We no longer sell these items on Trendy Tree, but we have included our Amazon links. The self-healing cutting mat will protect your table surface, it's reversible and also has measurements on it. Also extra blades can be purchased for the Fiskars cutter. Think we have changed our blade one time since we purchased it, but we're not making wreaths everyday either, we just do the occasional tutorial. Ribbon: The wreath kits all contained different ribbons, some were 1.5", 2.5" and .75. There were four styles in each each. To attach ribbon you can choose from several different styles. Ribbon strips of the same size is one of the easiest and most uniform ways to do. We cut the four different styles of ribbon into 12" lengths. It's always good to check the length that you will need before you start cutting up your ribbon, lest you cut up ribbon and it's too short and too long and you wind up wasting ribbon by having to trim. So just test your ribbon to your preference. There are 18 twists on the wreath, so we cut 18 pieces of each ribbon. There was ribbon left over. You can finish the ends of your ribbon with a dove tail cut or angled cut, just which ever you prefer. We made a ribbon cluster by using one piece of each style of ribbon and pinching each ribbon in the center. Holding the cluster of four ribbons, just spread them out so you can see them all well and make sure you have the right side of your ribbon facing up. All the ribbons were wired edge ribbon. To secure the ribbon cluster, just open up a twist, make sure your pouf and ruffle stay in place and lay the ribbon cluster down on top of that and re-secure the twist. This time you can give the twist 3-4 turns since it's the last thing you will be adding. Add a ribbon cluster to each twist. On the ribbon, if there is a ribbon that you want to show up more, you can always add extra pieces of that ribbon to the cluster. Or you can make bows, or a combination of loops and strips. You can also make a couple of large bows to attach one one side, or opposite sides of the sign. Lots of different options when it comes to adding ribbons. Sign: The round sign is made of MDF and measures close to 12" in width. It has one hanger at the top, but we also added chenille stems to the back of the sign for more security. We used a staple gun and 1.4" staples to attach a folded chenille stem. This was an Arrow TacMate Stapler that we picked up at the hardware store. We don't sell these on Trendy Tree, but we have included our Amazon affiliate link if you are interested. We also used 1.4" staples. You want to be sure that your staple doesn't go through too far, so check the thickness of your sign before applying a staple. The stapler will handle larger staples so just be careful to get 1/4". Here's a link to 1.4" staples at Amazon also. Just fold your chenille stem in half and secure it to the sign with the stapler. We added one at the bottom and sides of the sign. When securing the sign to the wreath, don't push it all the way down into the center or your sign will be covered up too much. Sort of lay it on top of your wreath and thread the chenille stems down through to where you can reach the chenille stems from the back an lightly secure it at the top and bottom. Check your position, and then secure from the sides also. Secure the chenille stems to the wreath frame. You will have to pull out ribbons or ruffles out from the side to keep them from being mashed down. Or you might even have to tuck some of the mesh toward the inside out of the way if it's covering up your sign too much. Just hang your wreath and get your sign placement like you want it before you secure it all four sides. Also it will help secure the sign if you attach it to an area on the wreath form where there is a straight post. This will keep it from sliding around. Finishing Touches: Always check the back of your wreath for anything sharp that might scratch your door and cover as necessary with a piece of tape, or turn a sharp edge to the inside. You can make a wreath hanger by using zip ties, chenille stems or floral wire. Fluff your ribbons and make sure they are all facing right up side. Clips strips from the mesh with scissors. It helps to clip rather than pull. All mesh ravels. SaveSave