Do you ever get so crazzzzzy obsesssssed with something that you lose an entire week of your life? Call me binge-crafter, because this week I could barely focus on anything but ornie-hoarding so that I could make more of these vintage ornament wreaths using Georgia Peachez’ instructions. C.R.A.Z.Y. As in: I could barely concentrate on the blog (ask Kate, she’ll tell you) while I scoured all of Berkshire County for vintage Christmas ornaments. I’ve been buying from ebay and etsy, too. Argh. Mid-November is not the right time to hunt for vintage ornaments, too much competition from similarly obsessed, late-planning crafters. Have a great weekend. Me? I hot glue, therefore, I am. Tune back in on Monday for more info, photos and tips to come from my DIY session making this wreath, which turned out F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S.
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43 comments
June Cahill says
Well! When I first saw Georgia Peachez Wreaths – a few years back on your blog, I was enamored! Since I’m a thriftier ‘from way-back’ – I had some plain ornies and decided to give it a shot! The next year, all the ornaments were coming loose and falling off the wreath base.:(
I FB’d Suzy for instructions…followed those. And now I’ve made OVER 60!!!! Each wreath seems to be a little better than the last – and I sell them on Etsy! I’ve just done my first craft fair (in Tucson, AZ) and sold `10 over the weekend (and in Tucson – this is BIG!) Mine are a bit larger – I believe GP’s are 15″ dia – and the majority of mine are 17″ dia. I have made a few 19″ and 21″ – I defer to Georgia Peachez – she’s where I first saw them, but they are VERY ADDICTING!
I’m a realtor (by day) and a gluer of da ol’ ornies by night!!! Thank you Pam – and THANK YOU SUZY (she’s even liked my Etsy shop!!)
pam kueber says
WOAH! High temp hot glue is the trick, right?
pam kueber says
And, what is your etsy page?
June Cahill says
Thanks for asking!!:)
https://www.etsy.com/shop/RetroWreaths
June Cahill says
Yep – also the SIZE of the Styrofoam base is important – in relation to the size of the ornies. The first one I made, I couldn’t understand why it took 2 days to make!;)
Robin, NV says
Ooh, the pink one with the angel – LOVE!!
June Cahill says
Thanks!:) Those pink mercury glass snowflakes I found in San Fran while visiting my daughter last Mother’s Day…for me, even a ‘vacation’ means a new place to hunt! – – – I’ve got more on the way:)
Robin, NV says
“Ornie-hoarding.” That’s funny stuff Pam. I think there’s a 12 step program for that. The 12 Steps of Christmas?
pam kueber says
I may have picked up the term from Georgia Peachez.
Yes: The 12 Steps of Christmas for me!
Kate says
Yes, this week Pam has been on a mission…now she has gotten me slightly obsessed…stay tuned folks, I may be making a vintage ornament wreath too! 😉
gail says
I made one for Christmas 2011 (after Pam’s initial post) out of new ornis, some of them repro 50s style. Came out so well I used it for my Crafty Christmas in July party 2012 – 10 ladies armed with bloody marys and glue guns – look out! Some of us used vintage and some used new ornis – all spectacular.
My tips – 1. get a hard plastic wreath storage box to keep it in – they’ll be heavily discounted as we get closer to Christmas, 2. Make your hanging loop out of contrasting color pipe cleaner – I used silver pipe cleaner and silver garland for my first one, very hard to find the hanger. 3. You’ll need lots of small ornis to fill in spaces between the big ones.
It really wasn’t difficult and came out great if I do say so myself!
Kelly Wittenauer says
“10 ladies armed with bloody marys and glue guns – look out!”
Sounds like a great party idea! 🙂
Erin in Ohio says
Also, your wreath is dreamy! Our house is “blue Christmas” themed, so that’s right up my alley.
Erin in Ohio says
Oh no…I need your tips now! My sister and I have a vintage-ornament-wreath-making date tomorrow, after orni-hoarding last year in preparation. Alas, I’ll just have to trust Georgia Peachez’s suspiciously simple instructions without any Pam-troubleshooting tips. Maybe you could give us just the #1 tip now? Pretty please…
pam kueber says
Erin, just for you I will email you the entire story before the end of the day.
Erin in Ohio says
Wow, you would really do that? You truly are my hero!
Geronimom says
Wow – that’s stunning, Pam!! Great job! Ever since I saw Georgia Peachez’ sample here, I have been planning to attempt one myself – but haven’t had enough ornaments to do so. Then, just yesterday, I came across 6 gallon size ziplock bags full of nothing but vintage Shiny Brite (and to think I didn’t even know what those were until I started visiting here :-)) ornaments in different variations and colors at the Salvation Army – for $2.30/bag! Yeah, I got ’em! Now I just have to steel my nerves to actually attach them to the wreath. It does goes against the grain a bit, especially now that I’m tempted to save many of them for use on my “new” vintage pompom Christmas tree (thank you, Gods of Craigslist!). Thinking that perhaps I’ll just wait until Monday when you post more details of your endeavor – so much better to glean tips and learn from other’s mistakes, ya know!
Mary Elizabeth says
I agree with Jay–try putting it on the mirror over the couch. It will look gorgeous.
Geronimom, great find at Salvation Army!
I have some old German glass ornaments from my mother’s tree when she was a child. I am not putting any vintage ornaments on my tree, though, because of the cats wanting to play with them. While I was making my wreaths, boy kitty swept an old ornament off the dining room table onto the floor and smashed it. So all the ornaments I actually use each year are unbreakable and are fastened to the tree with twist ties, so the kitties can bat at them until they’re bored or even climb the tree (which former cats have done) and knock it over, and no harm done.
Jay says
Pam, looks great. I can envision it hanging on the mirror over the couch. Since you didn’t see fit to award me the contest prize, let me give you my address so you will know where to ship this one.
“Orni hoarding” sounds XXX rated. I’m getting worked up and its only 8:30 am. I think orni hoarder probably describes a fair number of RR followers when it comes to vintage. Looking forward to Mondays post.
Enjoy the weekend!
Mary Elizabeth says
Ha, ha! Inspired by this site and Georgia Peachez, I’ve been working for two weeks on wreaths I’ve made in the past using recycled ornaments (not all vintage) from Goodwill. Mine are made with plain artificial evergreen wreaths (which are on sale in almost every major craft chain store this month), and feature a bow and 6 or 7 ornaments in coordinating colors (red and gold, blue and silver, etc.). Because of the style, I don’t hot-glue them–Pam, please be sure you don’t destroy your fingerprints forever getting burned on the glue! Instead, I wire all the ornaments in place, so they can withstand blizzard conditions.
OK, so my fingers were not burned, but bleeding yesterday–wire scratches. 🙂
pam kueber says
Takes lots of photos — I’ll install the uploader after Thanksgiving!
lynda says
Your obsessive personality paid off–beautiful! Love the color palette.