Let’s get wreath the program, shall we? Forgive the bad pun, I’m just a little (ok, a lot) hyper about our latest holiday project. You may remember Cardboard Safari from our recent Sponsor Shout-Out post. Well, they generously sent over two of their amazing white cardboard snowflake wreaths and we couldn’t wait to put them together. One of the most fun things about everything from Cardboard Safari is that it arrives flat in a box, and all the laser cut pieces of recycled cardboard can then be punched out by the lucky recipient and put together, like a highly entertaining 3-D puzzle for adults.
It really is our idea of a good time. Especially since we love anything DIY, anything recycled, and anything white. Seriously, can you say jackpot? Here’s how our fun little cardboard wreath started out, just a series of laser cut cardboard sheets just waiting to be punched out and assembled:
Here’s the wreath as it started to take shape (the directions were actually really simple, just the same two steps over and over again). And yes I did make it in bed since I was quarantined in the bedroom while John worked away on this little project.
Here it is as almost completed about ten minutes later:
And here’s the totally finished product…
… which we happily got to make twice since Cardboard Safari generously sent two over. As you can see even animals like their stuff. Probably because many of their products feature animal likenesses but no four-legged (or two-legged) creatures are hurt in the making of these fun cardboard creations. Heck, no trees are even hurt since they’re made from 100% recycled and non-toxic cardboard (that’s local to boot, so no energy is spent shipping things overseas).
And here we have our lovely little snowflake wreaths hanging in the two windows of the den. All it took was some ribbon looped over the curtain rod and we were in business.
And just because we love seasonal decor that can multitask, we also wanted to show you how else you can use these fun little cardboard creations. Check out this little holiday breakfast set-up we whipped up with one of the wreaths as the centerpiece. We imagined a little pancake breakfast around it with the candle in the hurricane softly flickering. Mmm, pancakes.
So what would you guys do with one of these babies? Don’t you love that they’re paintable (and otherwise pimpable) so you can spray them with glitter spray, coat them with a bright glossy candy apple red color, or even hang edible treats around them (wouldn’t candy canes hanging off of a few of the snowflakes look cute n’ tasty?). Let’s chat about how you would customize your own (which you can grab right here by the way). And while we’re at it, let’s talk about wreaths in general. Do you love fresh pine ones? Modern ornament-riddled ones? Architectural square ones? Do tell.
I love those wreaths! Super cute! I also love how you turn a lot of your decor items into table centrepieces. Talk about getting the most bang for your buck! :)
My favourite wreath is this one from Domestifluff: http://www.domestifluff.com/2009/11/how-to-make-a-ruffly-felt-rosette-wreath/
Kristen wasn’t kidding when she said it took her about 12-15 hours! I’ve spent about 4 on mine and I’m about 1/3 of the way done.
I plan to keep ours up all year round and for holidays (and our birthdays) tuck a little decorative item – like a stuffed felt heart for Valentine’s day – into the ruffles.
My other favourite wreath is this one: http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/10/diy-project-kates-monogram-wreath.html
We plan to hang the ruffled one on the outside of the door and the monogrammed one on the inside. :)
I made a fresh one a couple of years ago http://bit.ly/53ERJ7. It was fun, but my favorite is my jingle bell wreath I made that same year and now can use each year http://bit.ly/8kvsoC
I roughly followed this martha stewart tutorial http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/holiday-wreaths#slide_2
and it originally had a big red bow on it, but I pulled that off and now hang it by a aqua striped ribbon for a more minimal look.
Those are adorable! I love how you hung them up by the window, it’s so festive and creative!
Just wanted to let you know that your last link is not working (right here link).
these turned out great! and i love them hanging infront of the windows – beautiful. I am still looking for wreaths for our front door or for even inside our home. I have yet to find the perfect ones. I love the idea of these cardboard snowflake ones – i think i would spray them with something sparkly. I’ve also come upon some on etsy made out of wool for interior use – they were beautiful, but the one i wanted was sold out already. Perhaps something will spark my fancy on boxing day!!
This is so funny. I actually just ordered one of the snowflake wreaths this morning! And the company already shipped it! I can’t wait for it to arrive and stick it in all it’s pretty white glory above my fireplace. I think that will be the perfect home, especially considering that spot currently only sports a solitary screw.
That snowflake wreath is so great, but boo hoo–the links you posted to buy it aren’t working!
Sorry about that link guys! It seems as if specific links to their products aren’t working for some reason, so just check out http://www.cardboardsafari.com and scroll down for their snowflake wreath. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I made a candy wreath this week, made of starlight candies (wrapped peppermints) hot glued to a foam wreath, both from the Dollar Tree. Hung from a red velvet ribbon in my kitchen, it gives the room a festive but still foodie feel. I can’t remember where I saw this idea first, but I love its simplicity!
Those are extremely cute!
I love how structural yet light they are! They look perfect hanging from your curtain rods. Simple.
I have a plain twig wreath that I like to ‘customize’ for each holiday just by changing the color of ribbon I hang it with. For Christmas, we hung a metal star in front of it above our mantle. The industrial metal plays off the natural wood element and it makes me happy.
We always buy a wreath from my brother as a fundraiser for his snowboard team. I’m really, really allergic to evergreens and most other trees that could be used as Christmas trees, so ours hangs on our front door.
It’s sadly our only outside decor this year!
Ooh, gorgeous! I would love to see some pale glitter on the edges…or not. They’re beautiful as they are, aren’t they???
How can cardboard look so amazing? I want these hanging from all my windows now.
The wreaths look really pretty! I almost bought one, but instead I got the large buck for my fiancé who is a game worden, its for his office, he’s going to love it. Can’t wait for him to open it on Christmas Day!!!
I LOVE the idea of hanging decorations from the center curtain rod hook!! Thank you for the indpiration, I am going to find something to hang up there tonight! What an awesome idea. Seriously. Hopefully I’ll finish the last row of my crochet wreath so I can hang that. Perfect!
I’m wary but even that looks like a project that won’t lead to divorce court or the emergency room.
I’m a big fan of the white, though sparkly red or even decoupaged with recycled holiday cards could be fabulous!
Burger’s too cute!
WOW – way prettier then expected! I was thining its going to look funky, and not in a good way. Then wow they look great hung up…I’d hang to from our dining room window.
Sherry, loooks awesome and very chic!!! I love them above the windows, nice spot! I am currently looking for those bamboo blinds, i know you got them at walmart, i just checked online and couldn’t find them. Any idea where? Thanks!
Hey Christine,
We have never had luck finding them online, but they’re usually sold in stores (like Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Lowe’s etc). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I love anything snowflake. I have a snowflake tattooed on my back even. I got it while living in at the foothills to the Austrian Alps…and I LOVE Snow and the Winter.
Over half my Christmas ornaments are Snowflakes too!
I will have to check this out…since who couldn’t use a good wreath around the house. Especially a snowflake one that can be used ALL winter!
I hope you don’t mind me answering this, too.
Christine, I bought my bamboo blinds online from here: http://www.setadirect.com/mats-windows-bamboo-blinds-c-20_21_30.html
It was the only place I could find that carried blinds large enough to fit my 5’x6′ windows! Shipping was 20$ (CAN, for five blinds to boot!) and they arrived within 4 business days. :)
Hey Erin,
We love when people chime in with helpful info and links! Thanks so much.
xo,
s
I have a fake square wreath that I love b/c it is square and my husband hates b/c it is fake. Otherwise, I love real pine wreaths. We have 2 this year…one was a gift and the other we won at my work holiday party!
I just saw a square wreath for the first time today and I’m in LOVE. How could I have never seen on of these before?? It was covered in tree trimmings so the edges were more rounded than super straight. I will definitely be making one for next Christmas. In the mean time I have a Martha Stewart inspired wreath that has little gift boxes stacked and scattered all over it.
A few pearl ornaments (like the ones you have in the big clam shell) would look really cute mixed in the snowflake wreath as well.
I love these wreaths! Right now, I’m obsessed with peacock feather wreaths!!
It’s absolutely darling! I can’t decide if I like it better hanging in the window or on the table as the centerpiece! Creative ideas as always! xo.
Where did you get your adorable wooden blinds at? Were they super pricey?
Thanks,
Erin
P.S. I love your blog!!!!
Hey Erin,
We actually snagged our blinds super cheap at Walmart (in store, not online) so you might want to check there. We’ve also seen similar bamboo blinds at Target, Lowe’s and Home Depot. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I love these snowflake wreaths and I would leave them as is–white–just like you did.
I am planning on making a wreath like I saw on Eddie Ross’s website last year, ornaments just strung on a wire coathanger that has been bent into a circle. I had a heck of a time finding a wire coathanger because I have replaced every single one with plastic. Finally snagged one from my friend this morning, stopped at Target to get some cool ornaments. Let the fun begin.
Love those!!!! How fantastic!
Those are awesome and so versitile. Spray them with and little glue and sprinkle sparkle on them and voila ~ bling!
I love the snowflake wreath in the breakfast set up.
I made a different sort of wreath this year:
(the lighting is terrible in the pictures)
http://thealexandersut.blogspot.com/2009/12/my-christmas-wreath.html
I would love a fresh one, for the smell alone. Next year!
Hey folks!
I was reading CNN today, and saw that a lot of roll-up blinds have been recalled. I don’t know if this applies to your blinds, but I thought you’d like to see!
http://money.cnn.com/2009/12/15/news/window_blinds_recall/index.htm
Have a fantastic holiday!
Hey Cait,
Yup, we heard this a while back and it seems like it has gone through and is definitely a full-fledged recall. The issue is with children strangling and we take safety pretty darn seriously around here (especially with one on the way) so we have always purchased blinds with cord tie-off pieces. You know those little metal v-shaped things that you screw into the side of the window and carefully wind any excess cord around? That way nothing is dangling anywhere near a child’s reach and our blinds are 100 safe! Hope it helps! Thanks again for sharing the link- hopefully others will take note too!
xo,
s
Love how the wreaths look on the window with the sunlight streaming through – too pretty!
I have a green front door so evergreen wreaths are out for me. This year I was determined to find something in a color that worked and I found it – a red feather wreath! It needed a little something so I hot glued a glitter pick to it like a 1940’s broach. It looks like someone nailed Joan Crawford to my front door – love.
I’ve been thinking about getting one of these for Christmas this year and I was just curious about how you’ve been storing it. It seems really fragile and I’m afraid it might get crushed or broken.
Hey Val,
We just popped them up in our attic (fully assembled, not in any container or bag or anything). Just saw them a few days ago when we were up there and they look great!
xo,
s