HALLOWEEN “SPOOKY” WREATH TUTORIAL

MATERIALS:

• 1 14″ Metal Wire Wreath Form
• 2-10” Deco Mesh Rolls (We used orange and black)
• 1 5 yd roll of 1.5″ striped Halloween Ribbon
• 1 5 yd roll of 2.5” orange spiderweb Ribbon
• 24 Chenille Stems/Pipe Cleaners
• “Spooky” Halloween Accent Sign with Zip Tie Adhesive Mounts
• 1 pkg Deco Mesh Tubing (purple)
• Rotary Cutter (Optional)
• Scissors
• Self-Healing Mat (Optional)
• Bowdabra or any other Bow Maker
• Hot Glue Gun
• Wire Cutters
• 1 Small Zip Tie
• Chip Clip or Clothes Pin

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I may earn a commission. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive through your purchases. They are meant only as suggestions and the decision to purchase is completely up to you.

STEP 1: MAKE YOUR WORK WREATH FORM

We will be using the Woodland Ruffle Method for this wreath base. For detailed instructions on how to make the wreath form follow the tutorial DIY Work Wreath Form: Woodland Ruffle Method.

STEP 2: MAKING THE WREATH BASE

We will be using 2 rolls of 10″ poly deco mesh for this wreath. You will begin by cutting your deco mesh with a rotary cutter on top of a self healing mat. If you do not have a rotary cutter you may use scissors but it will be a little more difficult.

This wreath uses the Woodland Ruffle method for the base. Follow the tutorial Woodland Ruffle Style Wreath Base to make this wreath base.

STEP 3: ADD THE RIBBON AND TUBING

First, take both your 1.5″ ribbon and your 2.5” ribbon and cut it into 13″ pieces. You will be cutting 12 pieces of each ribbon Then cut the ends of the ribbon into a dovetail by folding the ends in half and cutting at a diagonal. I typically start cutting from about an inch from the end. Starting from the fold, cut the diagonal down to the edges of the ribbon.

Cut all your ribbon into 13″ pieces. You will be using 12 pieces of each style of ribbon.

Fold the end of your ribbon in half to begin cutting your dovetail.

Cut your ribbon at a diagonal beginning at about 1″ down. Cut up to the edge.

This is what your dovetail should look like.

Place your ribbon in an X formation.

Pinch them together in the center.

Place your ribbon onto the ruffle.

Twist your tie to secure ribbon down.

Place your ribbon on every ruffle.

Continue until you have gone all around your wreath.

Next, you will add your tubing. Take your tubing and create about a 6″ tail. Next, you will create a loop of about 5″. Create a figure 8 shape and make your loop on the other side. Leave a 6″ tail on the other side.

You will be using 1 pkg of deco mesh tubing.

Measure your tail at about 6″.

Make your loops about 5″ long.

Create a figure 8 shape to make your loop on the other side and cut your other tail.

Attach your tubing to your ruffles on top of the ribbon and use your chenille stem to secure it down. Twist your tie until you leave about a 1″ stem. Cut your stem and tuck it down so it is no longer visible.

Attach the tubing to each ruffle with the chenille stem.

Twist your tie and cut leaving about a 1″ stem.

Tuck your stem.

Place your tubing on all of your ruffles.

 

STEP 5: ATTACH YOUR ACCENT SIGN

Before I attach the accent sign, I determine where I want the top of the wreath to be. Then, I use a zip tie to create a loop for hanging your wreath.

Choose where you want the top of your wreath to be and pull a zip tie around the vertical wire.

Close your zip tie leaving enough room for hanging.

Trim the end of the zip tie with scissors or wire cutters.

For purposes of making this tutorial shorter, I will refer you to our tutorial on Attaching Accent Signs to Your Wreath to learn step by step on how to place your accent sign.

Where or how you place your accent sign is a matter of preference. If I am adding a big bow I like to place my sign a little more towards the bottom half than straight center. This way the bow tails do not block my sign. If it’s a smaller bow I will typically go straight center or place the sign at an angle. The possibilities are endless. For this wreath example I did go more center since I did not use a big bow.

Make sure you attach your sign directly to the wreath base.

STEP 6: ATTACH YOUR BOW

First, you will decide what type of bow you want to make. For this wreath I used a single 1.5″ ribbon. For tutorials on how to make this bow, visit my tutorial on Single Ribbon Bow Using Bowdabra Bowmaker I do recommend using a bow-maker if you are new to making bows. The two I recommend are the Bowdabra Bowmaker and the EZ Bowmaker.

Your bow will have a chenille stem wrapped around it that you will use to attach it to your wreath. Just like the accent sign, you will attach the ties directly to your wreath form.

 

STEP 7: FINISHING TOUCHES

After you have attached your sign and bow you will have chenille stems sticking out from the back. You will twist your tie to create a 1″ stem. You then tuck your stem down to create a clean look and secure your sign/bow.

Twist your tie and cut about a 1″ stem.

Tuck your stem down.

The final step is fixing the deco mesh and ribbons that have been tucked under the sign or bow. I untuck the deco mesh making sure not to affect the placement of the sign. You may find that you need to trim some of the ribbon to create a symmetrical look.

Your wreath is now ready to be displayed.