Crafting it Myself: College Student Edition (cost and time-efficient crafts that college students can pick up at their local Walmart)
Burlap Wreath – Valentine’s Theme (overall cost: $20 - $25)
Materials (all prices given were taken from my local
Walmart):
Burlap:
brown ($4)
red ($4)
Wire wreath
($2.50)
Flowers (I
used red and white roses, red flowers, and little white flowers ($5-$15, depending on how many/what type of
flowers you get)
*note:
a craft store will likely have a much larger selection for your flowers
A hot glue
gun and glue (Walmart: $6-$7 for a gun and a pack of glue)
Scissors
Optional materials:
Wooden
hearts: $2
Paint: red,
white, pink ($.5 – $1)
Steps:
1. Attach
your burlap to the wreath. I usually
wrap one end of my burlap around a section of the wire, and glue the burlap
together.
*note* Alternate between burlap colors as you work. I like to use more of the tan burlap than the
red since the tan is cheaper, and I think it looks just as nice that way.
 |
| I just add some hot glue to the end and fold the burlap over the wire to get started. |
2. Take
the other end of your burlap and weave the burlap through the wires in the
wreath. I always work from outside to
inside, and then turn the wreath and work from inside to outside and so on with
the burlap. You will notice that your
wreath is sectioned. I do one section at
a time, and pause to adjust the burlap so that it looks how I want it in each
section before moving to the next section.
 |
| Weave your burlap through your wire like this. Work from outside to inside to outside to inside. |
 |
| Here is the burlap filling one section of the wreath. Make any adjustments you need before moving onto the next section. |
3. Continue
working the burlap around the wreath.
When you reach the end of the wreath, make any last burlap adjustments
before attaching the end of the burlap to the wreath. Again, I use the hot glue.
*note* You may need to cut the burlap before gluing it if you didn’t use
your whole role.
4. Separate
your flowers from their stems. I like to
get rid of as much stem as possible before putting my flowers on my
wreath. Grasp the flower with one hand,
and the stem with the other hand and pull.
If this doesn’t work, use your scissors to cut the rubber around the
wire and then pull the flower off.
*note* Unless you have wire cutters, you may not be able to cut through
the wire. Don’t try too hard to get
through the wire, or you will break your scissors. Gently cut around the rubber stem, not
necessarily through the wire, just make sure the rubber is cut all the way
around.
5. Place
your flowers on your wreath and arrange them in a way that you like. *hint* try tucking the flowers among the
burlap rather than just laying them on top.
6. Use
the hot glue gun to glue your flowers to your wreath. Glue in as many places around the flower as
possible.
7. Optional:
Paint, arrange, and glue your hearts.
Paint your hearts with colors that you think complement your
wreath. Let your paint dry. Then, arrange and then glue them on your
wreath similarly to how you arranged and glued the flowers.
