Get the tutorial for this simple and easy, DIY Christmas wreath made with a handmade ribbon and dried oranges as adornments.
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Have you ever wondered how to make a Christmas wreath from scratch? It is really so simple, and once you make your first one you’ll be making wreaths for every room in your house!
This DIY Christmas wreath with ribbon, fresh evergreen clippings, and dried oranges has a very classic look, perfect for Christmas. You could also swap out the handmade bow for a more neutral fabric, or even a fall fabric for Thanksgiving.
Wreaths are one of my favorite ways to decorate for the holidays, especially handmade wreaths. Did you see the wreath I made last year at Christmas? All foraged, and using things I already had on hand, so it was free! Or there’s the wreath I made just a few months ago for our fall porch!
I even have a whole Pinterest board dedicated to wreaths that you can check out HERE. Aren’t they fun?!
Wreaths as Above Bed Decor
For the longest time I have been wondering what to hang over our bed in the master bedroom. It really needed something, but I just couldn’t quite put my finger on what. Eventually I decided I wanted something round in shape, and then it came to me… a wreath!
So I made up this quick grapevine wreath to try it out, and I am in LOVE! It totally finishes the look in our room and I can’t wait to change out the wreath with each season. Decorating for the seasons is one of my favorite things to do!
Our bedroom is very dark, only one window that’s shadowed by a tree and a garage! So I photographed the wreath outside to get a better shot of it. BUT, I am absolutely loving it in our room and I know any photos I take in there wouldn’t do it justice.
How to Make a Cheap Wreath (as in inexpensive;))
Use Fresh, Natural Elements
Head outside to see what you can scavenge from nature to create your wreath. I used fresh evergreen clippings from a bush in our yard. You could also use twigs, pinecones, dried flowers, etc. You could also make your grapevine wreath with any dried vine branches you can get your hands on.
Shop Your Home
Before you head to the store, take a look around your home! Do you have any leftover fabric that you can make the bow with? I got some fabric for free at a local craft store (they had so much extra from donations so they were giving it away!) and I used it to make the bow on my wreath! Search through your seasonal decor buckets to see if there’s anything that could work as adornments on your wreath. Maybe you have some oranges (or other fruit) in your fridge that you can dry and add to it. Get creative!
Search Your Local Thrift Stores
A lot of times you can find wreaths for cheap at thrifts stores, and you can use different elements from them, or take everything off and use the base. I got my grapevine wreath at the thrift store for a dollar or two and I just removed all of the embellishments it already had so I could have a blank canvas to work with. You could also find ribbon for low prices at thrifts stores as well, pinecones, trinkets, bells, and more.
How to Make a Christmas Wreath From Scratch
- Step ONE: Gather all of your materials. For this wreath you’ll need a grapevine wreath base, fresh or faux evergreen clippings, a bow (learn how to sew a bow below!), dried oranges, and floral wire.
- Step TWO: Place one evergreen branch on the side of the grapevine, and wrap your floral wire around it, securing the end on the back side. Place another branch just above the first one and wrap it again. Continue until you’re halfway around the grapevine. Be sure when you’re wrapping your wire that you tuck it under as many smaller branches as possible so its hidden.
- Step THREE: At this point the wreath will look a little wild. Tame it down by using small 1″-2″ pieces of wire to secure the ‘wild’ smaller branches to the big branches.
Adding Your Dried Oranges and Ribbon to Your Wreath
- Step FOUR: Make your dried orange clusters by threading some floral wire through three different oranges. Leave a little space between each orange and make a small bend in between to have the oranges be at different levels. Use enough wire so that you can use the ends to secure the cluster to the wreath.
- Step FIVE: Secure one cluster to the wreath at the bottom of the clippings, covering up the end of the first branch. Use the ends of the wire and wrap them around the branch of the first clipping.
- Step SIX: Use a small 1″-2″ piece of wire, and thread it inside and outside the back end of your ribbon. Secure it to your wreath just above the first cluster of oranges.
- Step SEVEN: Make another cluster of oranges and secure it with wire just above your ribbon.
- Step EIGHT: Trim off any wild branches to make it look more uniform.
Here is the short and sweet version with step-by-step photos.
How to Make a Christmas Bow for Your Wreath
To finish off your beautiful, Christmas grapevine wreath, you’ll need a handmade fabric bow. Of course you can use a store-bought bow, but handmade is always more fun, right?! Follow along to learn how to make yours. Use whatever Christmas inspired fabric you love.
- Cut your fabric into the appropriate measurements. For the size bow pictured you’ll need one piece of fabric 6″ x 10.5″ and one piece 4.5″ x 24″.
2. Fold each piece in half length wise with the right sides together and iron flat. Sew the long, raw edges together.
3. Now, on only the long piece, sew a diagonal line at each end, and cut about a 1/4″ from the line, getting closer in at the edges but not cutting your seam. See the pictures below.
4. Seam rip about 1.5″ – 2″ in the center of the long piece (the tie fabric) . Use this opening to turn the fabric inside out. Push the ends out well and iron flat again.
5. Turn your bow fabric inside out as well and iron flat. Bring the two raw edges together and sew 1/2″ from the raw edges.
6. Flip the seam to the inside center of the bow tube, and press the edges of the seam flat, as seen in the picture below.
7. Now you should have both the ribbon fabric and the bow fabric sewn and turned inside out. Its time to assemble!
8. Fold the bow like an accordion, until it looks like how you would like. Hold it together in the center and wrap around a piece of string around the center, tying it to secure it.
9. Now, tie your ribbon around the center of the bow. It may take a few tries to get it just right, but keep tying it and fiddling with it until it looks how you’d like.
I’m sorry, I didn’t get a shot of just the bow, but this is what it should look like when all finished! How cute is that?!
I hope you enjoyed this sweet little tutorial for making a Christmas wreath from scratch. Making things handmade is not as hard as you think and it can be so fulfilling! I’d love to know if you make this, tag Back Road Bloom on Instagram if you do.
Happy holidays friends!
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