If you've been a subscriber for very long, then you know that I have a fully stocked craft room full of all sorts of vintage trinkets and craft supplies.
I always pick up almost any sort of vintage craft supply (unique buttons, ribbons, and fabric), as well as little ceramic pieces like vintage salt and pepper shakers and tiny figurines, old containers in all shapes and sizes, etc.
It makes for a very relaxing crafting experience when you don't have to run to the store for supplies every time the crafting urge hits. But if I'm being honest... sometimes I have a hard time actually using all these vintage goodies. I have a slight hoarding tendency when it comes to my craft supplies 😕
But sometimes, things get so packed in there that there's no more room, and that finally convinces me to use some of it. That was the case with this project. I have a collection of vintage Christmas ornaments that was overflowing its storage container, so I decided to use some of them and make a cute vintage toy ornament wreath.
DIY Vintage Toy Ornaments Wreath
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I made this one, listed it in my Etsy shop, and it sold right away, so I made another one. I still have enough that I could squeeze out another too... THAT's how much vintage Christmas I had! 😲
These are quick and easy to make; it took about two hours from start to finish, and you don't even need a wreath to make one.
Supplies Needed:
A scrap of cardboard large enough to cut a wreath shape (you can also use a premade wreath shape)
The video below shows the second wreath being made.
Instructions
1. Make the wreath base (Skip this step if you are using a premade wreath form)
If you are using cardboard to make your own wreath base, trace a circle in the size you like, cut that out, and then trace a smaller circle for the center cutout, and use a utility knife to cut that out.
For reference, standard wreaths are between 24 and 30 inches in diameter.
I got lucky and had a piece of cardboard that I had saved just because I liked the pretty green color. If you only have plain cardboard, you can use paper to cover it.
**NOTE that this will be the BACK of your finished wreath, so do this step FIRST! Wrapping paper would work great; you can also paint it.
Add a way to hang the finished wreath.
I used rick-rack trim and a scrap of ribbon and glued it down on the opposite side of the wreath (what will become the front), then wrapped it around to the back.
2. Add tinsel garland (skip this step if you are using a premade wreath form)
Use a hot glue gun to cover the cardboard with tinsel garland.
I glued in an up and down, stripe fashion, but you can go around in a circle following the circle shape, too.
The goal is just to get all the cardboard covered!
3. Add ornaments!
Start with the largest ornaments, and hot glue them to the wreath.
Work evenly around the wreath with the largest items so they are somewhat evenly spaced around the wreath. This will prevent ending up with a wreath that has all the large ornaments on one side.
Then fill in with smaller ornaments, ball ornaments, greenery sprigs, ribbons, etc.
From this point, it is totally up to you how much you add. I wanted a fully covered, packed look, but you can stop with a more sparse look if you prefer.
These are some close-ups from the wreath I made in the video.
You can see that not much of the tinsel garland shows. Its purpose is mostly just to cover the cardboard.
Most importantly... have fun!
You may also enjoy these Christmas wreaths from the blog archives:
I absolutely love this wreath Tania! It's such a great way to reuse all those small odds and ends vintage ornaments that we thrifters tend to collect. I made one similar years ago (pre-blogging days) and I wish I still had it. I gave it away as a gift. I just might have to make another one just for me. What's fun about wreaths like this is that every one is completely unique. Both of yours turned our amazing! So much fun!
Oh goodness, this vintage toy ornament wreath is adorable! My own childhood memories are rushing back just peeking at this unique beauty! What a special collection!
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I absolutely love this wreath Tania! It's such a great way to reuse all those small odds and ends vintage ornaments that we thrifters tend to collect. I made one similar years ago (pre-blogging days) and I wish I still had it. I gave it away as a gift. I just might have to make another one just for me. What's fun about wreaths like this is that every one is completely unique. Both of yours turned our amazing! So much fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tuula! These have been fun to make and you're so right, they are all unique.
DeleteOh goodness, this vintage toy ornament wreath is adorable! My own childhood memories are rushing back just peeking at this unique beauty! What a special collection!
ReplyDeleteThanks Donna! That's probably why I pick all those vintage ornaments up in the first place, they remind me of childhood and simpler times!
DeleteI love this wreath, Tania...all those memories in one place!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ann, it was a fun one to make!
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