DIY: Deco Mesh Wreath Take 2

When I began decorating for Fall, I knew something was missing – my front door wreath. I searched and searched but never could locate the wreath.

I finally gave up the search and decided to create my own – that’s more fun anyway! :)

My last blog post on DIY Deco Mesh wreaths was such a hit with Pinterest, I decided to do a “take 2”…this time with better pictures!

My initial “pin-spir-ation” for a Fall wreath came when I ran across the following picture and fell in love!


Source

I referenced the above picture several times when purchasing items for my fall wreath, but decided to go with lighter deco mesh in the end. (It’s funny how much different my wreath turned out, but I still love it!)

So, you want to make your own Deco Mesh Wreath? It’s super easy, you’ll just need a few supplies.

• 16 inch wreath with tinsel ties (not a “Christmas wreath” full of garland that you see around the holidays). Craft stores carry these year round – I purchased mine at Michael’s with a 50% off coupon. Hobby Lobby also has 40% off coupons on their app.
• 2 rolls of 21 inch deco mesh (or how every many colors you want to incorporate). I’ve also used one 21 inch roll and one 5 1/2 inch roll in a wreath in the past. If this is your first time, start with two 21 inch rolls first and go from there. Check stores like Hobby lobby prior to purchasing mesh – sometimes they are 50% off!
• Ribbon – choose the kind with wired edges, this will help a lot in the decorating process!
• Décor – make sure your decorations are light weight

(In my last DIY tutorial, I talked about the use of pipe cleaners – you can purchase these if you’d like, but I didn’t need any for this specific wreath.)

Wreath from Michaels – Hobby Lobby and other craft stores carry these year-round as well!

Deco Mesh and wire-edged ribbon

Decorations

Ok, we’re ready to begin!

Step 1: Point all of the tinsel on your wreath up to the sky – this will help when creating the wreath

Step 2: Pick a starter color of deco mesh (doesn’t matter which color you choose) and roll it out – give yourself plenty of room to work with.

Step 3: Bunch the starting point of your deco mesh together - like a pony tail.

Step 4:  Now fold the jagged end down and bunch it all together with your fingers, making a loop. This will be the starting point of the mesh on your wreath.

Step 5: Pick a spot on the wreath – doesn’t matter where. Secure the loop down with the tinsel wire.

Step 6: Begin an in-and-out patter with the deco mesh, securing it each time with the tinsel wire. The size of the loops will depend on the size of your wreath. If you want a large wreath and would like to use the entire roll of deco mesh, make your loops bigger. If you want a smaller wreath, make these loops smaller. For reference, my loops are usually between 8 and 12 inches a piece – this specific wreath’s loops were around 8 inches  a piece.

Please note: As the process goes along, you will tie additional deco mesh or ribbon over the tinsel wires used in this step – don’t freak out if you think too much tinsel is showing, it will get covered in the end!

After making it all the way around the wreath one time with the in-and-out pattern, this is what the wreath should look like. See how I made my deco mesh loops smaller? If you wanted a bigger wreath and made your deco mesh loops bigger, obviously your wreath would look a bit more full than this one.

Now time to add the second roll (if you want your wreath all one color, that’s ok too – start with your second roll of the same color here).

Step 7: Begin your second roll the same way you began the first roll in step 2, 3, 4, and 5 above. Tie the new roll on top of the place you secured your first roll (and use the same tinsel tie).

Now begin an in-and-out pattern with the second roll going the opposite way from the first roll (see photo above – the brown roll began to the left and the cream roll began to the right).

After completing an the in-and-out pattern with your second roll, this is what your wreath should look like. I also went back in and added a bit more brown where I felt the cream was overpowering.

Please note: I used most of the tinsel ties on this wreath a few times - that’s ok and usually necessary. Don’t freak out if that happens. If you come to a location where you want a loop but have no tinsel tie, add a pipe cleaner there.

Step 8: Add in your ribbon. Instead of hot glue, I tied my ribbon into the existing tinsel ties. I did not loop this ribbon around the back of the wreath (I feel like that is wasting ribbon). Instead, I tied it down in one spot, then looped over to the next.

See how some green tinsel is still showing in the photo above? I covered it with the décor and voila – no more green tinsel!

Step 9 and 10: Secure the decorations to your wreath with hot glue or whatever method works best for you (I’ve used hot glue and I’ve used the existing tinsel to secure the décor onto my wreaths – whatever works for you). Display for all to see (or give as a gift…etc)!

There you have it! It seriously looks more complicated than it really is. Deco mesh is a lot of fun to work with – try it out, you might surprise yourself!

Have you ever worked with Deco Mesh? Any tips or tricks to add?

DIY: Creating A Deco Mesh Wreath

On Sunday afternoon, a group of ladies and I got together for a DIY Deco Mesh Wreath Party. We had SO much fun and this wreath was much easier to make than I expected. My mind came alive with so many wreath possibilities -

• Holidays/Seasonal
• Disney Themed
• Front door address (with numbers)
• How about a wreath showcasing your marathon accomplishments? Hey, it could be done!

I’m going to show you a few images from our party followed by a step by step photo tutorial.

I decided I wanted to make a Valentines Day wreath. My current wreath was sadly faded and I was in need of something new! I pinterested a few ideas, then hunted through Hobby Lobby for my supplies.

Several ladies gathered for the party with lots of different ideas.

Our wreaths ranged from Mardi Gras, Spring, 4th of July, and even one that included house numbers for a front door (and it was burlap, too)! I wish I had a picture of it, but I don’t – it was a super cute idea!

After finishing with the deco mesh, I applied ribbon. Tip: Don’t wrap the ribbon all the way around. Measure your loops and cut your ribbon. It wastes ribbon if you continuously loop it around your wreath.

Co-workers with their finished Mardi Gras and 4th of July wreaths.

Valentines Day wreath complete!

Here’s the supplies you’ll need:

• 16” wreath form with tinsel ties
  (not plain green wire form; this will be wire form with tinsel tree like branches on it)
• 2 rolls of deco mesh (the big rolls, not the small ones); these could be the same color or different colors, doesn’t matter
• Pipe Cleaners
• Wired Ribbon (if you choose to add this)
• Light weighing décor that can be hot glued to the mesh

All of my supplies were purchased at Hobby Lobby with the exception of the heart ribbon which came from Michaels.

Source

Your wreath form will have two layers – point the wire pieces up towards you.

Roll out your mesh

Grab the starting end of your garland and bunch it together. Then, fold the end down to form a “pony tail”. The area where my fist is located is the area that will begin the wreath on the frame.

Find a starting location on the outer ring – doesn’t matter where. Double twist the garland/twist tie/wire around the “pony tail” and twist it tight!

Now the fun begins!

Measure out about 12 inches, then secure again on the OUTER ring. You can make it a little smaller than 12 inches for a less “poofier” wreath.  Double twist each twist tie – also make these tight.

I  used about 8 inches here. My completed wreath from the party was about 12 inches.

Continue looping your mesh around the outside edge of the wreath form.

When you reach your starting location, secure your current end to the same twist tie/wire where your beginning loop is located.

If you have a second color, secure a pony tail loop to the same twist tie you used previously for your starting location. It might look like you are running out of room with your wire, don’t panic, that’s why you have extra twist ties!

If using the same color, carry on with the next step as described. If you run out of one roll, begin the new roll where you left off.

Now you are going to begin an in-out pattern with your mesh.

Instead of following around on the outside loop, use the closest wire/garland tie on the inside loop. Secure, then bring your mesh up to the next outside garland/wire tie and secure over the mesh already there. Bring your mesh back to the next inside garland/wire, then again to the next outside wire. Continue this pattern until you reach your starting location. By the end, all of your inside loops will include mesh and your outside loops will have been used twice.

Your second roll WILL overlap with your first roll and that’s ok, that’s what you want!

After completing an entire round of pink and an entire round of white, I decided my wreath didn’t include enough pink, so I went back in and added another layer of pink to the inside loops. The options are limitless!

When ready to add your ribbon, don’t loop ribbon all the way around your wreath. Measure out your loops, then secure ends with the garland/wire ties. You’ll waste ribbon otherwise.

You can see on the back of mine, I didn’t loop anything around.

Hot glue embellishments throughout your wreath.

Hang and enjoy! Again, the options are endless.

I created a board on Pinterest especially for Deco Mesh wreaths. Check it out, you might find something that inspires you!

I’m thinking a Disney wreath might be next…or possibly a race inspired wreath – I’m going to have to think about it a bit more.  I’m afraid I’ve created a monster…uhoh.

Have you ever made a Deco Mesh wreath? How about any DIY projects off Pinterest?