UPDATE: Read our expanded tutorial how to make vintage ornament wreaths here.
Last year I proclaimed my love and admiration for Georgia Peachez’ crafty Christmas wreaths made out of vintage tinsel-garland and ornaments. What a fantastic way to use ornaments hunted and scrounged at estate sales all year long — something to hunt for an actually use! Suzy, the genius Peach, is at it again this year — that’s her “That 70s Wreath,” above. Morevoer — we asked for her how-to instructions — and she graciously responded right away! Read on to learn how to make a Christmas wreath out of vintage ornaments of your very own. –>.
Suzy writes:
- Start with extruded foam wreath base and wrap in tinsel-tone garland securing with hot glue.
- Important to add a wire loop here before preceding.
- Glue larger ornaments around the outer rim of wreath form.
- Lay flat and then fill in with smaller ornies.
- I like to mix up ornies with kitschy little things.
- Important to use HIGH TEMP hot glue.
That’s it in a nutshell!
Suzy
Ooooh! “Kitschy little things.” I have plenty of those. I ask: Are the ornies attached to anything? or do you just glue them straight on … that is, no hooks? She responds:
- Just glue them right on. The tinsel gives a good surface to bond to.
One of the things that I think is particularly clever about Suzy’s method, is that by starting with the wrapped tinsel — the back side of the wreath is actually very pretty, too. Here is a photo from a wreath available in her etsy shop that shows what I mean:
If you don’t have time to get crafty, I think that Suzy’s wreaths are very well-priced at $50-$75. And, she says that she has never had an issue with shipping. Here are all the vital links:
- See Suzy’s Georgia Peachez etsy shop for wreaths and other holiday goodness.
- Do-it-yourselfers, be sure to see her Wreath Blog. And you know me, Precautionary Pam warns: Be careful with those glue guns and sharp edges, peoples.
- And, there’s even more creativity over on Suzy’s main Georgia Peachez blog.
Did I read something about “a little obsession” over in your headers, Suzy? I sure do emphathize. In a good way because, girl, you are good! xoxo
maria says
How do you make the one with the lights, I love it!!!!!!!!
Scott says
Suzy, you wreaths are beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. I own a couple old ornament wreaths, but your wreath with the Xmas lights around the outside, sent me over the edge!
Barbara says
I love your ornament wreaths. I have so many of these ornaments
Barbara
midmodms says
Beautiful! I love old ornaments used in creative ways.
magnarama says
I was going to post about a DIY wreath that I think is the best ever for an ultra-mod house, but reading the comments, I think it also solves the problem of not wanting to destroy your vintage ornaments
I saw this made on the B.Original craft show that used to be on the DIY TV network and loved its mod look:
http://www.thenester.com/2010/12/bird-watching-wreaths.html/diy
And now I realize it could also be a showcase for vintage ornaments!
Here’s a link to a video about how to make the wreath from PVC pipe lengths:
http://www.diynetwork.com/videos/funky-holiday-wreath/3900.html
tammyCA says
I’ve been a follower of suzy’s blog for a few years – always fun and colorful. The only thing I don’t like is the hot glue-ing of vintage bulbs! If you bump this and one bulb breaks then the whole wreath is completely ruined (I’ve seen such one at the goodwill)…if I ever make one of these with my vintage bulbs I would take the time to wire them…I also like preserving as much as I can.
Nina462 says
Pat – I too, cannot glue the truly vintage ornaments from my family/childhood. However, I did somehow accumulate some along the way – that I had bought at a garage sale years ago. I actually tried to sell them at a garage sale this year but no one bought them. So I may just have to make a wreath out of them.
However, I have a comment – what she is using to wrap is GARLAND. Tinsel is the little silver icecly stuff. It very important to get that straight …Some of us are Tinsel people….others are Garland 🙂
pam kueber says
haha, i’ll make the correction to “garland” — you are right!
VacationBarbie says
This is also a good way to use up some of the vintage ornaments that have the top part broken (the part the wire holder thingy goes into) I have several of them…but can’t bear to toss them.
Pat says
Am I the only one that doesn’t have the heart to glue vintage ornaments, etc. to the wreath, and thus ruin them? I just can’t do it. I’d have to find some that were not really nice (I had some of them, but sold them at a garage sale a few years ago!). Here’s hoping I can find some less than perfect ornaments to make this!
As far as tieing them to the wire form, how about lightly glueing the hanger to the ornament, then you wouldn’t have to worry about them coming loose.
gsciencechick says
Thanks! Since we have way more ornaments than we can ever use on our trees, this might work if I can find the time to do it.