I don’t know if it was the crisp autumn air or the pumpkin overload on Pinterest, but a few days ago I woke up with an urge to make a fall wreath. Some people crave chocolate; I crave crafts. (Okay, I also crave chocolate—maybe someone should study that correlation.)
Several readers have been asking for more small craft projects like the ones we’ve shared before. Lately we’ve been so busy painting, stripping wallpaper, and renovating the sunroom that quick homemade updates have fallen to the bottom of the list. We missed them too, so I decided a cheap, easy fall wreath would be the perfect reintroduction. Even if the house behind the door is still half wallpapered, the door itself can announce seasonal cheer instead of revealing renovation chaos.
The whole project took about half an hour, and I spent under $15 on supplies to build a generous 25″ wreath. Everything is faux, so I can reuse it year after year. This is a perfect naptime project—or a do-it-at-11pm-while-you-watch-your favorite show project.
What I bought: a 25″ base wreath for $6.99, a plastic pot of faux orange flowers for $4.99, and a stem of orange berries for $2.99, all from Garden Ridge. Their faux flower selection was extensive and priced lower than some alternatives I’ve seen at craft stores.
First, I removed the flowers from the plastic pot and clipped each berry branch from the stem so everything could be tucked into the wreath. I also pulled off the green leaves as I went; with them attached the arrangement looked too tropical and not fall-like enough.
I tucked the larger flowers into the wreath by using their stems to secure them. You might notice there were fewer bunches on the table than ended up on the wreath—I separated each bunch into smaller groupings so I could space them more evenly. At first it read a little Hawaiian, but adding the berries and removing their greenery helped steer the look back toward autumn.
There’s a bit of fiddling involved when you decide on final placement—moving elements an inch here or there until the arrangement feels balanced.
I spent another ten minutes tweaking the placement of berries and flowers until everything looked evenly spaced. I liked allowing some berries to spill over the wreath’s outer edge to create an abundant, Thanksgiving-style vibe.
Against our cheerful blue door the bright orange wreath looks happy and welcoming—and while it could work for other seasons, the berries give it a distinct autumn feel. To hang it I used a 3M wire Command hook that sticks to the door and removes without damaging paint.
Our porch annuals didn’t survive some recent cold nights, so I replaced them with two potted mums from Home Depot to brighten the entrance. We’re still searching for a new light fixture and a wider doormat, but the wreath and mums add a welcoming touch for now.
And if you noticed a couple of tall weeds hiding behind the bushes in one of the photos—let’s keep that between us. They can be our little secret.
What small crafty projects are you working on these days? Any fall decorating or wreath-making happening at your house? It feels great to return to quick, cheerful projects. Sometimes a thirty-minute craft can be far more satisfying than hours spent on trim and wallpaper.