I thought about making a doily wreath about a month ago. I got the idea after I saw this winter doily wreath over at Martha Stewart and then found this gorgeous full one over at the red thread. (the latter has some a-mazing paper wreaths!)
The doily wreaths reminded me of the constantly blogged about coffee filter or cupcake liner wreaths. The doilies just look a little more frilly.
(BTW- For a wonder tutorial of a coffee filter wreath, go on over and drool at the Nester’s. And Jen from TT&J made an awesome cupcake liner wreath last year.)
I had a pack of doilies and wanted to make a wreath, but I what could I use for a wreath base? Sitting next to the doilies in our “disposable entertaining stuff” (paper plates, napkins, etc) were these red plastic plates. I immediately knew the red was perfect for Valentine’s Day.
I wondered if could create a heart shape on the plate with the doilies.
So, I grabbed a good romantic movie and got to work.
Want to make one of these wreaths? Just follow these steps…
Supplies needed:
– Plastic disposable plate
– Doilies (I used almost 100)
– Heart template (I cut mine out of card stock)
– Marker or white-out
– Glue gun
– Ribbon
Optional, but recommended equipment:
– a good romantic chick flick
Cut out a heart shape from folded over card stock. (Remember, like in grade school?) Trace the heart onto the bottom of the plate. I used a white-out pen and just put a few dots around it for a general guide. I wanted to use white so the markings might not be as noticeable next to the white doilies.
Step 2:
Fold, pleat, and/or pinch each doily. (I mixed up my technique a little to add texture) Glue the center of each to the outer rim of the plate. Work your way around the edge of the plate. Go back and fill in as necessary. Be veeery careful, the glue is hot!
Step 3:
After the outer rim is covered, start to fill in the doilies from the edge towards the traced lines. Take your time here and think about the placement of the ones near the inside edges. It may take a little fluffing and moving of some of the doilies to get a heart shape.
Step 4:
My wreath did not quite look full enough, so I flipped the plate over and glued some folded over doilies around the bottom edge.
Step 5:
Using glue, attach the back of the wreath to a wide ribbon. (Sorry, no pic of this step)
“There’s something strange about these trees… They’re creepy. Creepy Italian trees.”
They are what they contain.
The house protects the dreamer.
Unthinkably good things can happen, even late in the game.
It’s such a surprise.”
(for Valentine’s Day AND for the wreath fun in April 2011!)