Finally got around to making this wreath I've been obsessed with...

So, I loved this wreath from the moment I saw it on Pinterest. Now, I had to chase many pins to find this tutorial, and decided that one of my bestest friends would LOVE this so I should make it for her birthday.

So a while back, I ordered the umbrellas online and despite the company not sending exactly what I ordered (I ordered a couple of different sizes) I decided I could make it work with what I had. I picked up a grapevine wreath and also some super fun ribbon to hang it from. Note worthy here, I have shopped at Michael's and Joanne Fabrics for all my crafting needs for years but alas, there aren't any anywhere near here. I made my first trip to Hobby Lobby and while I didn't have time to properly peruse the store, I find it on the pricey side. ALL the yard was $3.99 a skeen and that just doesn't work for me! lol

Anyway, I decided to pull the umbrellas out the other night to open them up, I figured that would make things easier when I went to put it together and I was right. I LOVE when that happens! :) I grabbed the wreath and started just getting a feel for what it would be like to put them on and decided that as faint as the paper colors are open, I should paint the wreath white to try to make the colors POP a bit more.

Now, I am enough of a geek to actually have a spot in my basement for painting crafts so here it is just coated well with white spray paint.

I had also tied my bow the other night, nothing fancy, just a regular ol bow since I wasn't sure if it would be too much or not. I went ahead and got the "loop" of the ribbon placed where it should go so that when I started sticking the umbrellas in the part holding the wreath would be hidden.

This darn camera phone really does not do the colors justice but I still haven't tracked down where my good camera is so, this will have to do :)








I started at the bottom, sticking the umbrellas in randomly to see how it was going to work, then I added a dab of hot glue and inserted them where I like them placed. I did this for most of the bottom but found as I went higher that I preferred the look of the umbrellas less fully opened so I stopped using the glue in case I decided to re-do some.

As usual, I am too impatient to see the end result so I didn't re-do any of them but decided my friend is enough of a control freak that if she decides to tweak them some, not gluing them down is better. A few more in there and VIOLA! Fun Summer wreath mission accomplished. I did not perfect the bow because I feel certain that is something else she may want to change to suit her style....

Again, my camera phone really isn't what I should be using because this wreath is much more adorable and vibrant than it looks. I am just considering putting a LIGHT coat of clear spray paint over it to seal it a little for protecting the fragile tissue paper....and it may brighten it a bit as well with the glossy finish. I am not sure yet, would be a shame to ruin it. (which I am VERY likely to do)

Anyway, that's it kids for this crafting session. Wait until you see what we are doing around here for Mother's Day gifts....stay tuned!