How to make a Christmas wreath with your own hands

New Year is an important holiday for most people. The event is interesting and joyful, they are waiting for it, they are preparing for it. On the holidays, the streets of cities and towns are transformed, garlands and rains sparkle everywhere. Glowing fir trees are visible in the windows of the houses, Christmas wreaths are hung on the doors.

Shops and fairs are full of New Year's decorations, but many prefer to make crafts themselves, involving all family members in the process. One of the attributes, which gradually enters our life, has become a New Year's wreath. The tradition, borrowed from Western countries, was liked by everyone, as evidenced by the decorated doors.

The history, symbolism and significance of the Christmas wreath

In Western countries, festive products are decorated with residential buildings, cars, offices. The subject is popular, thanks not only to its original appearance, but also to its meaning and history.

The wreath has a round shape, which since ancient times, long before the appearance of Christianity, was associated by many peoples with the Sun. A few thousand years ago, created such products, celebrating the festival of the revival of the Sun. It took place in the second half of December (the days of the winter solstice), symbolized the victory of good.

As a Christian symbol of Christmas, the wreath appeared in 1839, its founder was a Protestant theologian Johann Hinrich Vihern. According to one version, he had several children at the orphanage who, waiting for his favorite holiday, counted the days before Christmas. Trying to simplify the work for the kids, the Lutheran embellished the old wheel a little, and put nineteen small red candles inside, as well as four large white candles. On weekdays and on Saturdays a red candle was lit, and a white one - on Sundays. So the children clearly could count the days themselves.

Another legend has it that homeless children worked in a church parish located in Germany near the city of Hanover. To count the days worked from the beginning of the month, they took an unusable wheel from a wagon and installed one candle each day, and added an extra, larger one on Sunday. It turned out that at Christmas a children's room was decorated with a wheel in which twenty-eight sources of light were installed.

The installation in a candle wreath makes it similar to the role of an advent calendar. In addition, each Advent resurrection corresponds to the recollection of the Gospel reading. Candles mounted on a wreath symbolize light, good.

Christmas decoration has the symbolism, which is interpreted in different ways. The circle means infinity, the sun, life, at the same time symbolizing God. Evergreen spruce branches used in weaving correspond to eternal life. Candles are associated with a sense of joy from the upcoming holiday, with the light that will illuminate everything at Christmas. Also, four candles correspond to all sides of the world, and a circle corresponds to the globe.

The product can be decorated with bells. In the UK, there is a belief that the bells that are being made discourage unclean forces, and give praise to Jesus Christ. According to Scandinavian traditions, the sound of a bell indicates the beginning of fun. The material used in handicrafts is characterized by its attributes. For example, the fir tree among the Slavic peoples is a symbol of death, while the Celts associate it with eternal life.

Principles of creating a wreath

The cradle of the New Year's attribute, according to the tradition established in the history, is Germany. The standard product is the intertwined branches of evergreen conifers, decorated with candles, ribbons of red color.

Gradually, a festive wreath spread to the countries of Western Europe and North America. North American residents began to decorate the product with mistletoe branches, garden holly berries, and beautiful milkweed leaves. Western European powers for decorating crafts use different sweets, such as candy, nuts, candied fruit.

As the Christmas wreaths were popular in the world, many designers, specialists, and self-taught people made a huge contribution to the development of these products. There are models created from different materials, decorated with natural, artificial, edible elements. But as if the subject in question did not differ externally, the principle of its creation remains unchanged, is as follows:

• First a frame is created;
• Spruce branches and other materials are woven into it;
• The wreath is decorated with decorative elements;
• The finished product is hung on the door, wall, laid on the table.

What to make the basis

The main element of the crafts is its basis, it is she who holds the whole structure, does not allow it to disintegrate. You can make the base of almost any available tools. The standard material for the frame is natural raw materials, for example, straw, hay, willow, grapevine, live branches. In addition to natural components, you can use iron, aluminum wire, cardboard, old newspapers, foam plastic, pieces of hose, and other materials.

The strength and durability of the product will depend on how well the base will be made. The base should not have too little weight, at the same time you should not overload it, a light construction can be carried by a street wind, a draft in the room, an excessively heavy one will knock on the door each time it is opened. Let us dwell in more detail on the raw materials that are used to manufacture the base:

From paper

There are several options to make a simple paper frame. To do this, you can reuse old newspapers, magazines, written notebooks, wrapping paper, books. Consider in detail several ways:

Easy circle with stencil

• Cut out a thick cardboard ring. The outer and inner diameter of the holes each determines for itself, it is desirable that the difference between them is 10 cm.
• We take selected for the type of paper, for example, pages from a notebook. Twist each sheet into a roll, glue the edges so that the twist does not unfold. On both sides of the edges of the cardboard lay out in a circle convolution, grabbing them with duct tape.
• The resulting base is leveled; any unwanted piece of fabric, bandage, stockings will do. With the selected material we wrap the base, fixing the ends with tape.
• The base is almost ready, at the final stage it remains to tightly wrap the product with wrapping paper, setting the edges on glue.

Without stencil

• We take newspaper, album sheets and twist, or squeeze them with our hands, giving them an elongated shape.
• We join the blanks together in a circle, for this we twist them together, glue them with tape.
• The resulting base is carefully wrapped with toilet paper.

Tubular frame

• We cut the newspaper sheet into strips, their width should be about 10 cm.
• We take a knitting needle and wind it obliquely on the sheets. The edges of the convolution are glued so that the workpiece does not deform, does not turn.
• We start weaving. To do this, several tubes are put together, their ends are fastened with a thread, tape. We begin to weave the braid in a circle, gradually adding new stripes.

Tubes better to paint before weaving. It is recommended to use spray paints.

From cardboard

Thick paper is also well suited for creating a base for future crafts. You can use cardboard boxes of equipment, shoes, sleeves of paper towels, toilet paper, bindings of old magazines, books. You can make the base as follows:

A simple wreath of cardboard sleeves

• We take the sleeves from the toilet paper, not necessarily the same diameter, do on them the transverse marking.
• With the help of a construction knife, we cut rings that are even across the width. The resulting cylinders on the sides are glued together in the form of a circle.
• The resulting construction can only be decorated.

More difficult option from plugs

• Sheets of paper towels should be the same diameter. We spread them on a work surface, make pencil marks in steps of 3-4 cm.
• Cut out cylinders, form a circle of them. The elements can be connected in several ways: pressing the ends, insert the tubes into each other, wrap the joints with adhesive tape (the sleeves are not cut into pieces); strung rings on a thread, then smeared with glue, wrap paper strips in a circle.
• Further we hide the construction under a layer of fabric, wrapping paper.

Flat base

• Cut out a flat ring from a cardboard sheet. Around the obtained donut we wrap toilet paper, create volume.
• We give the craft a presentable look, decorating it with a layer of threads.

Bulk base

• Cut into soft cardboard stripes, the width of which is 4-5 cm.
• At the first strip, we fold the edge at an angle of 45 degrees, begin to twist it into a tube, then glue the next piece and gradually form a circle.
• When connecting a donut, we partially go from one lane to another. The joint can be additionally fixed with scotch tape.

From wire

Create a database in two ways. One is that a thick metal, aluminum wire is taken. From it we twist the frame in the form of a circle, we start the edges behind each other, fix them with thin copper conductors, with twine. If the thickness of the material is not enough, you can make a few turns. In the second embodiment, it is better to use aluminum wire. To do this, we connect several long wires, begin to intertwine them together, simultaneously turning into a ring.

Fir branches, leaves of plants, other materials can be fixed with the help of thin rod, copper, or inserted into the holes formed during twisting. If desired, the metal frame can be added to the volume with paper, cloth.

From foam

The easiest option to buy is the finished product. Specialized stores, various sites selling foam bases. However, not in every city, the village can be found, and there is no time to wait for a parcel, in this case it is better to make a frame with your own hands. Consider a master class in which the steps of work are indicated step by step:

• We prepare the workplace. To do this, we cover the table or floor with an oilcloth, since the material is light, it crumbles strongly, and when it is processed, the particles can spread throughout the house.
• Then we take a sheet of foam, it can be found in the box from under the previously purchased equipment, use the remnants of insulation, in extreme cases, to purchase.
• With a circular note, we mark the outer and inner diameter; if there is no such tool, plates of different sizes can be used.
• Carefully, with the help of a construction knife, cut out the workpiece, smooth the corners.
• The resulting base can be wrapped with corrugated paper, sisal.

From branches

Bars and branches are the easiest material to work with. The cost of creating crafts will be minimal. Raw materials can be found in the park, on the street, near your own house, where trees such as willow, birch, oak, even a Christmas tree grow. The base can be executed using different methods:

Fresh branches

• The material bends easily, does not hold the shape, it is difficult to get the perfect circle, so a template is needed. As a form that will restrain the workpiece from spreading, we use a plastic kitchen bowl, a shallow pan.
• At the bottom of the container evenly lay the rods. Then in several places we tie up the workpiece with threads. You can completely wrap the product in a spiral.

Dry branches

• To work with such material will require a template, so we cut a circle out of cardboard.
• We take dry twigs, lay them on the surface of the piece, trying to place them so that they do not go beyond the stencil. We continue laying until we get the volume.
• We take the thread and carefully tie the branches, trying not to move them. Better in advance, before laying the twigs, lay out the thread segments on the template. Tying the base, lift it, make an additional spiral winding.

Willow, birch twigs

• Before starting work, natural raw materials must be soaked. To do this, lower each rod in a bucket of water, while for birch branches you will need boiling water.
• Several wet twigs are twisted in a circle, fixed with threads, copper wire. Then we begin to weave the rest of the vine around them.
• When the product is ready, it must be dried, spray paint if necessary.

From foamed pipe insulation

Non-standard building material - thermoflex, will be a good basis for Christmas crafts. Depending on the weight of additional decorations, thin-walled or thick insulation is chosen. Work with this raw material is as follows:

• The thermoflex pipe is turned into a circle; if it is long, the excess part must be cut off.
• Thin-walled material can be glued together by connecting two joints between each other, additionally fix with adhesive tape. For thick - it is necessary to cut a piece of plastic pipe, while its outer diameter must correspond to the inner thermoflex. On both sides, cut plastic fasteners with grease with glue, insert into the hole of the foamed insulation. When connecting it is necessary to glue the edges of the pipe from polystyrene foam.

Christmas wreath decoration options

The classic wreath is decorated with fir branches, red ribbons, bells, candles. However, this type of decor is not fundamental, there are many design options, while using different materials, both natural and artificial. For example:

• dried berries;
• sweets, biscuits, candied fruits, citrus fruits;
• cones, branches, traffic jams;
• Christmas-tree toys, balls, rain, garlands;
• satin ribbons, threads, bows, jewelry, tinsel;
• cotton wool, wool, fabric, other materials.

Natural materials

A festive project can be made entirely from natural raw materials. To find it, just go to the forest, garden, planting. In addition to the pleasure of walking, here we are more than stocking up with the necessary raw materials, such as spruce, pine twigs, moss, cones, dry twigs. Even in your own house, something will be found, for example, a shell of nuts, orange, lemon peel, dried flowers, seeds, seeds. Having collected all the components you can get to work. Consider a few popular decor options:

Pine and spruce cones

There are a lot of ideas on creating crafts from cones. They can be fixed to any base, stick together only to each other. Make it closed or loose. Crumble, combine with other materials. The easiest way is as follows:

• cut a flat cardboard base;
• pre-prepared bumps (washed, boiled, stained) are glued to the base;
• additionally decorate with spruce, pine branches, rain, ribbons.

Dried fruits with cinnamon sticks

Natural festive design can not only decorate the door, the walls, the table at home, it is also able to smell sweet. To get such a wreath, you will need: a foam base; dried fruits, if there are none, you can take an orange, lemon, apple, cut them into thin slices and dry in the oven. All elements are glued to the foam circle, cinnamon sticks are added, as well as thyme, lavender. Good looks combined crafts, which use different natural ingredients.

Dried flowers

To create crafts you need to stock up on material in advance. Natural elements of decor collected in the season, dried. If this is not possible, they can be purchased at specialized outlets.

Excellent basis will turn out from cereal stalks, hay. As decoration, you can use a stiph, feather grass, reed, phalaris, flax, herbarium, and other components. For fastening used wire, thread, glue gun.

Kalina and mountain ash

As the main element, you can choose berries. North American residents traditionally use holly branches with red fruits. For our region fit rowan. In winter, it is difficult to find the necessary components, so you can make an imitation of bunches of red beads. If the plants were collected in advance, then create a wreath is not a problem.

After collecting viburnum, hips, intended for handicrafts, they must be mothballed, dipped in melted paraffin. Then dry. In this case, the berries do not lose their natural shape, color. A wreath on the wall, created only from viburnum, mountain ash, or in combination with other components, will attract particular attention, and hanging on the street will be the subject of curiosity not only of people, but also of birds.

Decor a variety of coniferous branches

Spruce branches are classics, but it is not necessary to use them in the New Year wreath. Due to the fact that the needles of this vegetation quickly crumble, with them the product loses its presentable appearance. Alternatively, you can use pine, thuja, fir, cedar, juniper. Also, pine branches can be diluted with rowan, briar, pine cones, slices of mandarin.

A wreath of newspaper tubes

Creating a structure will require certain weaving skills from such a specific material, but you first need to prepare it. To do this, you need: newspapers, they must not be crumpled, whole; long thin needle; glue stick; stationery knife. Having prepared the materials, proceed to cutting the strips. Их длина должна составлять 30 см, ширина - 7 см.We spread the obtained strips on the table, put a needle on them, start to wind as tightly as possible, glue the edge. Having prepared the working tool, we proceed to the main work. Consider a master class volumetric wreath:

• Take three sticks and put them on the table in shape so that they intersect in the center.
• At the intersection we install a cylindrical shape, for example, air freshener, hairspray.
• Bend the lowest of the sticks and lay it on top of the next.
• Neighboring also bent, put on the next.
• Continuing these simple actions, we gradually rise.
• Reaching the middle of the form, it is necessary to slightly raise, without removing from the crafts.
• After the blank has reached the desired length, remove the bottle from the inside.
• We turn the resulting "sausage" in a circle, connect the ends with wire, thread.
• We paint the craft, decorate with coniferous branches, bows.

Wine Cork Decor

Corks from alcoholic beverages can be a good material for decorating Christmas crafts. To perform the composition of this raw material, it will take time-consuming work, which is to collect the required number of components. Even lovers of entertainment drinks can’t drink so much wine. The search process will require the involvement of relatives and friends. When the required number of elements of the decoration is found, you can realize your plans. The instruction is as follows:

• Prepare a three-dimensional frame of hay, newspapers, thermoflex.
• Corks begin to glue sideways to the inside of a donut, placing them at a slight angle.
• Having finished one row, we proceed to the next, while changing the inclination of the wooden sleeves in the opposite direction.
• Perform actions until fully cover the base.
• We start decorating, for example, take a plastic garland, wind it in random order around the structure. Add some red beads, ribbons.

New Year's wreath of felt

The structure of the material is different from the usual fabric. A special grade of felt will be a good help when creating a Christmas item. Thanks to the large selection of shades and colors, you can make a unique composition. There are many application options: they sheathe the base; ribbons and bows are made of it; cut out a variety of figures; combined with other decorations. For clarity, consider a master class simple wreath:

• We lay out the felt on the table, using a stencil, we outline the contours of two identical circles. Cut the workpiece.
• We connect the received pieces, between them we put a ribbon, which will serve as a loop, sew them together.
• First we connect the outer edges, then proceed to the inner. We do a seam not up to the end, leave a small unstitched gap in which we add a filler (cotton wool, synthetic winterizer, pieces of old fabrics), distribute it evenly.
• After the base is ready, go to the decor. To do this, under the loop we sew a red bow, a ribbon.
• Next, decorate the circle with beads, rhinestones, bells.

Use of wool for decoration

You can make a wreath from scrap material, without financial costs. To do this, you can take the woolen threads that are in many homes, or visit the grandmother. When the main raw materials are found, proceed to the creation of crafts.

There are several ways to decorate the product. You can take a round base of foam or cut a flat of cardboard. Next, take the frame in hand and begin to wrap it tightly with thread. For work, it is desirable to use several balls of different colors. Having finished with drawing fiber, we pass to jewelry.

Simple winding thread does not take much time, the power of each. More time-consuming work will be for lovers of needlework, who decided to link crafts or individual elements of decor. This will require skills to work with crochet or knitting. The principle of manual labor is as follows: take a three-dimensional base, measure the perimeter of its circumference, which corresponds to the width of the canvas; using knitting needles or a hook, we knit the workpiece, it must match the size of the frame; we wrap the base together with the connected web;

New Year's wreath from foamirana

Decorative foamy material is ideal for needlework. It's easy to work with him, it feels like a chamfer. When heated stretches, it is easy to give any kind to it. The material is ideal for crafts, which over time will not dry, will not lose an attractive look. Let us analyze the step by step principle of working with foamiran on the example of a wreath of fir branches and clusters of mountain ash:

• Cut revelure into strips, their width should be 2 cm, length - up to 40 cm.
• Stepping back from the edge of 5 mm, on the cut tapes with the help of scissors we create a fringe.
• We take a flat wire, glue the created blank to it, form a semblance of a fir-tree branch.
• Part of the wire, located under the "needles", we mask the floral tape.
• Next, form the clusters of mountain ash. To do this, we take beads of red color, or polymer clay, from which we make balls, paint them red.
• Glue green wire with elements imitating berries, form a bunch.
• Putting the frame. To do this, lay out the "fir" branches in a circle, then we tie them together, add clusters of rowan, winding them between needles.
• We get a ready-made New Year's wreath, which will be a great decoration of any room.

Christmas candy wreath

Such an article will be a joy to children. Any child will necessarily join the process, and then there may be a fact of lack of components. You can create a sweet design in different ways. The wrapped sweets are glued in a circle directly to each other, we string candy wrappers on a wire, fasten it to the finished base, sew it with threads.

Marmalade, marshmallow can be combined with a foam base with the help of toothpicks, they should not penetrate the candy through. It is simpler to deal with lollipops, which are well tied with thread.

Wreath from wooden saws

To build a product from the cut branches saws is not difficult. Near any house you can find a tree, collect the necessary material, which will later turn into the decoration of the front door, or complement any style of interior space. The following workshop will help create a simple, at the same time, original design:

• Dry the branch, remove the bark, cut it into equal parts.
• With the help of the template we spread the saws in a circle, it is desirable that they have the same shape.
• On top of them lay the second so that each top element overlaps the previous two, and the joint was in the center.
• Using a drill at the edges of the upper saw cuts, drill holes that penetrate both rows.
• With the twine we connect elements, we lubricate additionally the sides of contact with glue.
• We decorate the wreath with a spruce sprig of felt, bells.

Decor from different materials

You can create holiday crafts from almost any available material. This statement concerns both its basics and its decoration. A wreath made from the same raw material does not always have a presentable appearance. Therefore, it should be made out using different components. For example, the base, decorated with tinsel, pine cones, artificial leaves. Or a foam covered with a knitted cloth, in the center of which you can hang a spruce ball, and decorate one side with stars and twigs.

In fact, almost any wreath is a combination of different decorative elements. Even the classic design combines spruce branches with red ribbons and candles.

Conclusion

New Year is a holiday of the whole family. On this day, everyone is happy, people are having fun everywhere, children's laughter is heard. They prepare for the celebration in advance, local authorities decorate the streets of the city, make sure that the Christmas tree, as the main attribute, was installed on the central square in time. Residents are not far behind them either, who, worrying about their home, dress up their favorite tree and make crafts, among which the New Year's wreath began to play an important role.