Monday, December 12, 2011

Decorating with Natural Greens

 I think it all started when I saw this in the Ballard Designs catalog.

 A personalized letter wreath! Love it! Now to figure out how they made it.
I've also always wanted to use the natural greens found in the woods outside my home so this was a great opportunity.

But where to start?
We decided to go for simple. Hubby fashioned an "M"
out of heavy gauge wire. It does help that my dear hubby used to make wreaths on the family farm.
(Or I'm sure I would have NEVER attempted to do this on my own!)


Next I spotted a tall cedar tree...
 Cut a few branches...and hand wired batches of the little branches.
Now I'm almost finished with my wreath.
I'm not sure how I like it. I think I'd like to create a thicker frame for it next time.
Pictures to follow...I just have to add a few doodads, a bow, a ribbon hanger
and it is done.


Then I spotted a holly tree (with red berries!) and a pine.
Not all holly trees have berries, did you know that? We actually have two.
One of them does not have berries. I think there has to be a male and a female tree in order to have one with berries...but I'm sure I have this info all mixed up but it is something to that affect.
ANYWAY....
Snipped a few branches from each...

 And we created nicely filled urns for either side of the door.

And swags for our lamp post and windows!
It was a lot of fun and we used everything found already at our house.
My kind of decorating!

Next up: Using natural greens indoors!

5 comments:

Unknown said...

I can't wait to see the finished M! I live in the middle of the 'burbs, in a relatively new development so there aren't any nice evergreens that I can go swipe a few branches from! LOL I've never decorated much with natural stuff because I'd have to purchase it all, plus my love is all of my mid-century, shiny & bright vintage Christmas decor. This year I bought a 4-pack of poinsettias from Costco and I'm amazed at how much I like having something 'real' in my decorations!

Joyce - Quilted Nest said...

You can cut a letter from heavy cardboard and use that as a base. Sounds like you had a crafty day!

Red Rose Alley said...

Can't wait to see the wreaths, and I do like that greenery with the red bow...it's so pretty. I hope you're enjoying the season.
~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

Anonymous said...

Brilliant...that's all I have to say....brilliant!

Ms.Daisy said...

Jillian,
Love the greenery you've designed for the urn. Looks very Martha!


Love,
Ms.Daisymau