Pin 24 Re-Visited The Coffee Filter Wreath

I was never totally happy with the first coffee filter wreath that I did.  It wasn't just my trimming...Lol!  That was just BAD!  There was just something off about the whole thing.  Don't get me wrong, I liked it enough.  I mean, it's still hanging in my Dining Room above the hutch.  Granted we don't use that room much......ha!  I decided to try it again.  Why not,  I still had everything I needed.

Inspiration Pins

Source: lowescreativeideas.com via Nicole on Pinterest

 

Source: thenester.com via Nicole on Pinterest

This time I went with White filters instead of Natural.  Not really because I liked the look any better more because when I bought supplies the first time around  I bought two packs of each, and white was what was left.  I also knew this time I needed to be more careful as I placed the filters so I wouldn't have trim.  I just knew if I had trim this one, I would probably ruin it too! 

Supplies Needed:

Coffee Filters  (2 packs)
Wreath Form (cardboard cut in any shape you want would work)
Hot Glue Gun/Glue Sticks
Any Embellishments you might want to add
*Hanger

*I didn't use anything to hang it with.  The form itself sat just fine on the nail in the wall.

I used a MDF flat wreath form that I picked up at Micheal's.  A piece of cardboard cut in a circle would work well also.  The Coffee Filters barely weigh anything at all.



I decided instead of folding them in half, then half again like I did last time that I was just going to fold them in half once.  This way I could just use one across the whole wreath instead of trying to lay two next to each other just right.


The hardest part for me was keeping the same space between each filter.  If you have the ability to trim things evenly then this wouldn't be that big of deal.  I was just determined to not trim this wreath. I had my doubts that this one was going to be better......


 Just keep going around the whole circle.  It will feel like it is taking forever.   I caught up on a few episodes of Dexter and did a couple loads of laundry while making mine.   Once they are all glued on you can decide if you want to keep it plain or add any embellishments.   I decided to add some glitter (which I still need to even out) and a few embellishments.  





This is a bigger wreath then  the first one I did and I used less coffee filters for this one.  It went pretty quick and once I even out the glitter I will be happy with this one.  Best thing was that I didn't have to trim this one at all!  Woot!  Woot!

Pin 24 Coffee Filter Wreath

I'm apparently on a wreath kick........Every wreath I see on Pinterest just seems to be calling my name.  I swear they are forcing me to try them!  I have no choice!  Lol!  I have been intrigued by the coffee filter wreaths.  I mean, come on, can they really look as in cool in person, as all the pics look online?  Well...........yes!  Yes, they do look pretty darn good in person too!  Simple, a bit time consuming, but worth it! 

Source: lowescreativeideas.com via Nicole on Pinterest

Source: thenester.com via Nicole on Pinterest

I gathered my supplies

Coffee filters ( I used about 250)
Wreath Shape (a piece of cardboard cut in a circle would work)
Glue Gun/Glue Sticks
Scissors
Any Embellishments you want

I used an MDF form that I picked up at Michaels a while back.

I went with the natural coffee filters for my wreath.  I just liked the look.  I was planning on putting it in my dining room if it turned out ok, so I felt the natural look would blend better with the Americana theme.  My next one will be white. 



Fold your coffee filter in half, then in half again.  Then lay them opposite each other on your form, with the middles overlapping a bit. Pretty much just eyeball it.  Lay them how you like 'em.



Then Just keeping gluing them all around the wreath.  I took a break half way through, not because it's hard, just because it got a bit boring.....If things look a bit wonky don't frett.  You'll be giving it a "haircut" once everything is all glued on.



Now is when it really shows that my photography skills are very minimal.  I just plain suck!  When I get good pics, it is purely out of luck........

I will definitely try and get a better pic, because this does this wreath no justice at all.  It does show that my trimming skills are not great either.  I still want to add another embellishment but I have yet to decide so I hung it up above the hutch in my dining room and I'm hoping that as I keep walking by it inspiration will hit......

A slightly better (I know,not by much) picture of the wreath.


I can't wait to try it again (even though it was boring)

Pins from the Past - Super Simple Topiary

Last year I was surfing through Pinterest, dreaming of all the pins I might try....this one officially peaked my interest, and was the first thing that I ever made from an idea found on Pinterest!  This one started it all!

 

Source: simplydesigning.blogspot.com via Nicole on Pinterest

Now I changed it up a bit....I didn't have a star paper punch at the time, so I used a flower shape,  I didn't have the tin pails, so I used some small wooden planters that were just sitting in the garage, and I didn't use the paper "grass", I used moss.  Still the same idea though......

Items Needed for this Project:

Styrofoam Ball
Scrapbook Paper
Paper Punch of your Choice
Stick Pins (pearl tops preferably)
Dowel Rod
Floral Foam (for base inside pail/pot)
Hot Glue Gun/Glue sticks
Moss or Paper "grass"
Anything you might need to decorate your base

First since my pots already had designs on them I needed to paint them, first step was cleaning them and priming them.



Now I had to decided what I wanted these to look like.  I chose to go with a crackle finish.  So first I had to paint my base coat (color that would show through the cracks) then my crackle medium, then the top coat.

I did four of these, 2 rust and 2 blue.  Once the paint was dry I decided they looked a little boring and stenciled some stars.  I went with a tan/mustard color for the stars.


Next get your scrapbook paper.  I mixed and matched a few different sheets.  Start punching out lots and lots of punches.  I went with a punch that was sort of a flower shape.

Once you have what will feel like a million of punches done, take your Styrofoam ball, push pins, and punches and get to sticking.  You are just going to take a pin and put it through the middle of your circle (or whatever shape you used) and stick it right into the Styrofoam ball.  I didn't even take the plastic off of mine.  Leave some room at the bottom to stick in the dowel rod.

Take your dowel rod and push it into the bottom of the Styrofoam ball, then take your floral foam and push the other end into it until it comes through the bottom.  Put some hot glue on the bottom of the dowel rod and stick it into the bottom of whatever container you are using as your base.  The glue will give it a little more stability.  Your moss or paper "grass" will come next, spread it liberally to cover the floral foam.  Because I truly believe glitter can be added to just about every project, I sprayed my balls with a quick coat of glitter.  I also tied a ripped piece of fabric as bow at the base of the ball.  It helps hide any gaps that might appear where the dowel rod was inserted and I just liked the look of it.


And not the best pic, but all four sitting on the ledge above my kitchen sink (ignore the mess all around the kitchen)  These weren't hard at all.  And a year later they are still sitting in the same spot.  They have held up well, and I love that I get asked all the time where I got them. 

Pin No. 20 The Burlap Wreath

I am just in love with all the Burlap wreaths that you are seeing all over Pinterest and the Blogosphere.   They are also in just about every Americana decor magazine that I have gotten over the last few months.  I wanted one, but just couldn't justify spending 40-50 dollars on one when I knew I could make one.  I actually bought the stuff for this months ago, put it in my closet and forgot it.....(Totally normal for me! Lol!)  While looking for a stray paper punch, that I might add is still doing a heck of job hiding from me, I stumbled across the stuff for my wreath.  Today is the day this baby is finally getting made!

Source: topthistopthat.blogspot.com via Nicole on Pinterest

Source: tipjunkie.com via Nicole on Pinterest

Items needed:

Foam Wreath Shape (mine was 12 inches)
stick pins or floral pins
scissors/rotary cutter
ruler/cutting mat
burlap
decorations are optional

I started with a roll of burlap that I got at Michaels that was 6 inches wide.  I used my rotary cutter and cut pieces 4 inches long, then cut those pieces in half at 3 inches.  Your going for something close to a square.  They dont' have to be perfect by any means at all.   To be honest I didn't pay attention to how much I cut, I do have half a roll left though. 

Once you have a fair amount of pieces cut gather your stick pins/floral pins and your foam base.  I've read if you have extra pool noodles that these make great wreath bases, but haven't tried it..........yet! Take your pieces of burlap, fold them in half, then fold them in half again.  Then just pin it on your wreath.  I started from the outside and worked my way in.  I found sticking in your pin at an angle helped prevent the burlap from coming over the head of the pin.

To be honest at this stage I didn't think I was going to like it, it just looked like a mess to me.
Just keep folding and sticking till your wreath is as you like.

  
I actually don't mind the look of the plain wreath.  I think with a ribbon hanger you could easily go without any decoration at all.  I wanted to hang mine for Christmas so I just took a decoration I got from Hobby Lobby's floral (holiday) department.  I bent it around the wreath.  I didn't want it to be permanent so I could change it out.

I just took some twine and attached it to the back for a hanger, I didn't want it to be seen.  Then I threw it up on the wall.....

I will be making more of these, so if your family ignore this because you are probably getting one!

I spent a whole $1.00 on the foam base at Target, $3.00 for the Burlap (half off at Michael's) and $3.00 for the decoration (half off at Hobby Lobby).  Considering I still have enough burlap left to do another wreath I would say this was a pretty cost effective project.  I am in love with this wreath!