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DIY Faux Boxwood Letter Wreaths

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When the holiday catalogs began hitting my mailbox back in October (!), I eagerly poured through them looking for inspiration for my own holiday decor. One of my favorite selections was the Spruce Alphabet Wreath from Ballard Designs.

It wasn’t the wreath itself that I loved. In my opinion, it looks too tall and skinny, and I just couldn’t see paying $45 for it. I don’t think there’s enough heft in it to command enough attention for that price. ‘Cause I’m cheap. However, I was drawn to the idea of a letter wreath hung with a thick ribbon (the wreath in the catalog is hung with a yummy chocolate velvet ribbon).

I decided to make my own mini version of the letter wreaths to adorn my breakfast room chairs. In true Lindsay spirit, I found all of the supplies I needed at the Dollar Tree. Have I told you one just opened about a mile from my house? It’s dangerous, people.

Mini Faux Boxwood Letter Wreaths

What You’ll Need:

  • Foam board – 1 sheet
  • Wired garlands – I used six total, but the number you need will depend on your letter and the number of wreaths you make. This is the type I purchased:
  • Wired ribbon – I used 3 rolls total, but again, it will depend on what you do with this project.
  • X-Acto or utility knife
  • Wire cutters
  • Scissors
  • Glue gun and glue sticks (depending on your letter)

I began by printing out a letter ‘B’ from my computer. I chose a basic sans serif font and made it roughly the size I wanted my finished mini wreaths to be. I traced that letter onto the foam board and cut out the letters with my utility knife. I cut out six letters for my six chairs.

Then, I cut a roughly 12 inch section from one of my garlands with the wire cutters. Starting from the back of the letter, I wrapped that section around part of my letter.

My letter looked like it had crazy professor eyebrows (you know the ones), so I just gave it a haircut, cutting as closely to the letter as possible. If you are smart (unlike me), you’ll hold it over a waste basket to collect the trimmings. I, on the other hand, now have a green shag rug on my craft room floor.

Keep cutting 12 inch sections, wrapping, and hair cutting. I recommend the 12 inch sections, because it’s much easier to work with than trying to wrap the entire 15 feet of garland.

If you break your letter, don’t worry. Just tape it or glue gun it back together. The wired garland will hide the break.

When you finish wrapping your letter, you’ll have a stunning wreath!

Just kidding. You’ll need to trim some more. And trim, and trim, and trim. Cut it as close as possible so that you can see the shape of the letter really well. If you are like me and are using a letter with “holes” in it, be sure you stick your scissors in there and really trim out that hole as best you can.

If you find that you have some of the foam peeking through, no worries. Cut a small section of garland (3 or 4 inches) and re-wrap that part of the letter. Don’t forget to trim the new section!

The last step is a simple one. Just thread a length of ribbon through a “hole” on your letter. If your letter has no “holes” and is not one you can hang well, like ‘S’ or ‘C,’ you can attach your ribbon with a glue gun on the back of the letter.

I hung one of my mini wreaths on the back of each of my breakfast room chairs by tying a bow on the top of the chair. I absolutely love the way it looks.

You could hang them just about anywhere – stair railings, lamps, or even on a nail in the wall. It would be pretty easy to make them in a larger version, too.

What do you think? Do you like the Ballard Designs wreath or the Lindsay Ballard Designs wreath better? You’ve been wondering what my ‘B’ monogram stands for, haven’t you?

********************

For even more easy holiday DIYs, hop on over to Centsational Girl. I have a fun tutorial over there today featuring sequins. Sparkle, sparkle, sparkle! Thanks for having me, Kate!

Comments

  11. Very Cute! I collect the letter "E" (they are everywhere in my house) so this would be a great holiday addition to my collection.
    Thanks,
    Jane

    Reply

  12. I might have to make an 'H' wreath. Also, it's so cool that your surname is Ballard, like Lucille from 'Meet Me in St Louis'!

    Reply

  14. This is such a cute idea! I'm lucky because the first letter of my name, S, would be very easy to do and it is also my boyfriend's (aka pretty much fiance just not official yet) first and last initials, so needless to say I'm going to be seeing a lot of S's in my future. Thanks for the tutorial!

    Reply

  15. I'm a "B" too & I want your mini wreaths! I think I see a Thanksgiving weekend project in the making – dollar tree here I come! I think I'd like to make a couple to hang on our door knobs in the front & back of the house?

    Reply

  16. I just found your blog and am in love! I too, like Jane, collect I's and I think, like Brittany, that an over-sized I on my front door would be perfect for the holiday/winter season.

    I am just now making your book page wreaths (I am doing two) and should be finished tonight. This will be my next Living with Lindsay project!

    Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply

  17. Very cute! I'm assicted to Ballard Designs, so I love the idea of creating their designs on the cheap!

    Can I tell you that my husband now thinks I'm crazy?! I read somewhere that you live in P'ville- I live in P'ville too! I started shrieking when I read that. I tried to explain to him that one of my favorite bloggers lives in the same town, and he didn't get it. He definitely thinks I've gone over the edge…

    Reply

  21. I'm hosting Christmas this year and just LOVE this idea! Of course I'll have to recruit my Mom to help me make it a reality. Ah ha

    Reply

  22. Thanks so much for sharing! This is the perfect alternative to overpaying for cuteness. I will scour garage sales next summer for garland…I want to make these for everyone I know!!

    Reply

  25. Great. First you made me make a million book wreaths and now I'm going to be making these!!!

    You're the best. Thanks!

    Reply

  28. Simply amazing, your creativity is endless and I am so thankful you share these wonderful ideas with us. I would have never thought to tackle this project in this way, pure genious!

    Reply

  29. I was inspired by the same wreath and just made my own this weekend. I used wire hangers and the same garland at the Dollar Tree. I think yours are cuter than mine!

    Reply

  30. So cute! I think I even have some extra garland in my Christmas stash. Think it's too early to ask my hubbie to pull it all out? 🙂

    Reply

  31. Too bad I can't loop ribbon around an "L" for my last name. I guess I could attach it to the back somehow. Cute idea though!

    Reply

  33. Girl, slow down! I'm still working on an ornament wreath and book wreath. Now I have a boxwood letter wreath too? My husband has informed me I have nowhere else to hang a wreath, but I'm sure there's a flat space somewhere!

    Reply

  38. It looks awesome. I wonder how one would look strung with white lights on the front door. Maybe I'll try it :). Thanks for the tutorial!

    Reply

  39. i left you something over at my blog…a little gift if you will :)…I still want your B wreath….double commenting on a post makes me feel creepy!

    <3
    Jen

    Reply

  42. I'll have to come up with something else. I have a green front door. It makes wreath buying or making a challenge. Grrr!

    A funny for you: My husband saw your post as a walked past my computer and cracked,"B careful when you decorate." LOL

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. […] For another adorable chair decor idea, check out Lindsay’s itty bitty monograms. […]

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  2. […] For another adorable chair decor idea, check out Lindsay’s itty bitty monograms. […]

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