Friday, March 5, 2010

Spring Wreath for cheap.

Here at La Casa we are on a strict budget. (okay, who am I kidding, I'm always cheap.) So, when I was trying to think of what to do for a spring wreath I wanted it to be really inexpensive. Typically, I would stuff some fake flowers (tres chic, I know) in my grapevine wreath and call it spring-tastic. But I wanted something...different, better, magical, earth-shattering and okay, well, that might not actually happen with wreath making but I was in the mood to try something new.

So, I started with my bare grapevine wreath (0 dollars since I already had it):

Yes, I work off my floor. It's more comfortable for me than a table. Anyhow.

I found this greenery that looked a lot like moss but appeared to be some sort of twig greenery type of, well, greenery (eloquent, I know). I found it at the new love in my life's house--his name is Will and boy is he a Good guy. It was only 1.00 for a package:

Yes, Good Will, I love heeem.

Here's what it looked like:

I also pulled out these flower buds I had tucked away that I bought from Ikea ages ago. At the time, I didn't know what I would use them for but I knew they'd be useful. They were on clearance for .10 cents a box. I couldn't pass them up when I saw .10. I knew I could find something craftsy to use them on. Until now, they'd just sat in my craft desk waiting to be used:

Armed with these 3 things and my trusty hot glue gun I got to work.

I wanted to make a wreath that was somewhere between spring and winter. Like, spring was trying to break free from the winter haze that has continually been cast for the past few months (even here in Florida we've received colder than normal weather-45-55 degrees is very cold to Floridians when you expect 75 degrees. Not that I'm complaining--I love this cool weather!).

I started by wrapping the twig/moss/greenery around the wreath in a very laissez-faire way:



After I mastered the haphazard and messy greenery arrangement (which, lucky for me, it's not too difficult to master messy--I'm just soooo talented that I can conjure up "messy" quite well--despite my fastidious and absolutely saavy organizational skills *snort*).

Anyhow...after the greenery I added the flowers in yet another brilliantly messy, and strategically random, placement:


The affect I was going for was that this was spring trying to overcome the harsh despair of winter. (Gosh, DIY decorating and philosophy--what depth this blog has *snicker*).

Then, because my talent astounds me at times, I remembered this cute ugly little bird house I had no use for, but had kept, knowing one day I could find something for it:


Niiice. Chipped bird house? Check. Moldy looking? Check. Ugly nails? Check.

So, I painted it a nice yellow color (with basic .50 cent acryllic paint I had on hand) to put in my wreath as well.

I added a yellow ribbon at the top to hang and here is the final outcome:


And an upclose look at the little bird house:



Forgive the craptastic pictures of the afters - I was taking them quickly at night.

So, what do you think? Too messy? I like it, in a natural kind of way. For now it will stay.


Cost breakdown:
Grapevine wreath-0.00 already had it
Greenery- 1.00
Flower buds- .10
birdhouse- 0.00 already had it.

Total: 1.10 awesome!




2 comments:

  1. It looks great! I love little projects like that, for which I already have everything :-)

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  2. I really like it. Simple and beautiful at the same time. Way to go girl! Knew you had it in you all the time!!!

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