Joe Jumper's wreath welcomes visitors at The Clay Pot in Riverview.What you need• Fraser fir wreath base• Magnolia leaves• Nandina berries and foliage• Granny Smith apples• Clementines• Seeded eucalyptus• Key limes• Pine cones• Burlap ribbon• Wire and cutters• Scissors• Glue gun
Lay out your materials. Use any combination of elements from your yard, the grocery store or florist. Start building the wreath with the largest element, such as magnolia leaves.
Glue clusters of greenery around the wreath. Arrange magnolia leaves with some green sides and brown sides showing.
Glue 10 to 15 pine cones around wreath, spacing them randomly. Add nandina foliage, especially cuttings with red in the leaves.
Pierce through centers of sturdy fruit such as Granny Smith apples or clementines with thin wire. Add clusters of red nandina berries to wreath.
Make a hanger by tying burlap ribbon in two places at the top of the wreath, creating an upside-down "U." Secure the ribbon to the top edge of your door with thumbtacks, small nails or duct tape if it's a metal door.If Lori Walker Boyd didn't tell you she loves wreaths, the 14 now hanging in her home would be a pretty good giveaway. Each wreath coordinates with the decor of the room where it's displayed, she says, and three of them stay up year-round.
"I make them myself using simple evergreens with ribbon," she said. "They are all beautiful."
Joe Jumper, floral designer and owner of The Clay Pot, says wreaths are easy-to-make decorative accents for the home or office. He suggests using a premade base rather than starting from scratch.
"It's easier," he says. "I use a premade live Fraser fir wreath as the base. They cost $12 to $20, more if you go larger than a door size."
Premade wreaths are typically available wherever live Christmas trees are sold, he says, and he sells them at his Riverview shop.
"I love having the smell of fresh green wreaths inside. As long as they are not shaken, they will not shed," he says.
Step-by-step instructions
1 Lay out your materials. Use any combination of elements from your yard, the grocery store or florist. Start building the wreath with the largest element, such as magnolia leaves.
2 Glue clusters of greenery around the wreath. Arrange magnolia leaves with some green sides and brown sides showing.
3 Glue 10 to 15 pine cones around wreath, spacing them randomly. Add nandina foliage, especially cuttings with red in the leaves.
4 Pierce through centers of sturdy fruit such as Granny Smith apples or clementines with thin wire. Add clusters of red nandina berries to wreath.
5 Make a hanger by tying burlap ribbon in two places at the top of the wreath, creating an upside-down "U." Secure the ribbon to the top edge of your door with thumbtacks, small nails or duct tape if it's a metal door.