If you are reading this then it is most likely that you've just spent an afternoon with me, creating your own beautiful wreath, and you've followed my QR code to see how to hang and care for your wreath. If you have just stumbled upon this blog post, you are also most welcome. There are three areas I want to share some tips about: firstly how to hang your wreath, next how to keep it looking fresh and lovely, and finally how to dispose of it at the end of the season.
How to hang your wreath
How you decide to hang your wreath will depend on your front door and its features. In previous years my front door had a nail in it perfect for hanging a wreath, but having replaced our door this year, I have had to seek an alternative solution. Some front doors have knockers on them, which make a perfect place to attach a wreath.
If you are without a knocker and, like me, driving a nail or screwing a hook into your front door is not an option for you, then I have found these fantastic wreath hangers, made of a strip of metal that slips perfectly over the door and provides a sturdy place to hang a wreath without the risk of leaving a permanent mark. It even allows the door to close unimpeded and can be removed in seconds. I purchased my door hanger in Home Bargains and it came in a range of colours and cost less than £1. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find them on the Home Bargains website, so have included a link to a similar item on Amazon.
Link to an Amazon Door Hanger (not affiliated)
Once you have decided your method of door attachment, the next thing is to get the wreath on there! There are also a few ways to go about this:
If you are using a door hanger then this is the simplest method, just put your hanger over the door when opened, place your wreath upon the hook, and Ta Da!
If you are using a nail for attaching your wreath then you will need to make a loop on the back of your wreath to do this. Start by finding the copper support wring at the back of your wreath, you want to find a bit that is as close as possible to the middle of the top of your wreath. Using a length of string or wire, loop around the copper support and secure the string with a knot. Wire can be twisted together into a secure loop. This can now be used to hook the wreath onto the nail on your door.
If you have a knocker, you need to attach a length of string to the copper support as described above, then instead of tying a knot, use the string to securely tie the wreath to your door knocker.
If you have a hook on your door, I would suggest hooking the wreath directly to this hook using the copper wreath support. It will make a very firm and sturdy attachment but might just take a bit of fiddling to join in the first place.
Keeping your wreath fresh and lovely
In my workshops we use moss to create a base upon which the rest of the foliage is secured. This moss had a few benefits, one of which is acting as a water reservoir to keep the rest of the foliage lush for a long time. This means that caring for your wreath is a minimal job, it should last for weeks as it is, no interference needed. If however, you feel it is looking a bit dry then you can mist it with water, or run a shallow basin of water and place your wreath into it, face up, and leave for a few moments to allow the moss to soak up some water and replenish the foliage.
Disposing of your wreath
Most of the materials used in my wreath workshops are natural so can be composted or put out with your garden waste. With exception of the copper frame, the wire, the ribbon and the red berries. To disassemble your wreath, pull out the red berries and remove the ribbon. Place your wreath face down on a surface, cut the wire using sharp scissors or wire snips. Pull the wire out and the foliage and moss will be released. The wire should be disposed of with household waste. You can save your copper frame and use it again to make another wreath for spring or for next Christmas.
Thank you for reading, I hope these tips have been helpful. If you have any suggestions to add then I'd love to hear them. If you have any questions then please get in touch, I'm always happy to chat!
Merry Christmas and Stay Crafty!
Claire :)
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