Retro Dime Store Mini Wreaths

These retro-inspried mini bottle brush wreaths harken back to festive dime store wreaths of the 1950s and 60s. They're super easy to assemble and can be made in hundreds of different color combinations to suit a variety of decor styles. Use them as ornaments, package tie-ons and more! Completed wreaths are 2" to 2-1/4" across.

Supplies: Small Bottle Brush Wreaths, 6mm Glass Beads, Bell Beads, Miniature Fruit, Berry Stamen, Tiny Mushrooms, Foil Leaves, Velvet Leaves, Miniature Flowers, Velvet Bows, 1/8" Velvet Ribbon, Dresden Bows, Dresden Christmas Scripts, 26 Gauge Wire, Clear-drying Glue (like Elmer's or Alleen's Tacky Glue), Scissors, Needle Nose Pliers, Paint Brushes or Pens (to wrap wire around)

General Assembly Steps:

Step 1: Gather and arrange supplies. Trim off wired stems to isolate fruits, flowers, leaves and mushrooms. Cut Dresden pieces away from main sheets. Hold up items to determine placement and mix.

Step 2: Add hanger. Details for adding hangers are noted below.

Step 3: Add bell(s). Details for adding bells are noted below.

Step 4: Glue on decorative elements.

Adding a hanger: We added two styles of hanger: a wire loop attached to the wreath and a tied-on length of red ribbon. We added the hangers first to allow us to easily center the hanger before decorating the wreath.

To add a wire hanger:

-- Cut a 7" length of wire. At center, wrap wire around a paint brush handle to form a loop. Twist wire around itself to secure. Place tails of wire on either side of wreath, gently nestle loop into bristles. Bring tails together on inside of wreath and twist to secure. Cut remaining tails leaving about 1/2". Use needle nose pliers to twist and curl wire up into the bristles.

To add a ribbon hanger:

-- Cut a 12" length of 1/8" velvet ribbon. Loop through wreath and tie securely at top of wreath, nestling ribbon into bristles. Loose ends can be tied into a knot near the ends to make a closed loop or be left open to use as a gift tie-on later.

Adding a bell: Adding a bell is very similar to adding a wire hanger.

-- Cut a 9" length of wire. At center, wrap wire around a small paint brush handle to form a loop. Twist wire around itself to secure. Add bell to wires. Place tails of wire on either side of wreath, placing top of bell at bristles. Bring wire tails together on top side of wreath and twist to secure, nestling twist into bristles. Cut remaining tails leaving about 1/2". Use needle nose pliers to twist and curl wire into the bristles. To add a second bell, repeat technique.

Tips:

- To achieve a more balanced placement of decorative elements: first add a hanger, next add your bow, then glue on additional items.

- It tales less supplies than one would imagine to achieve a striking result, like the "A Merry Christmas" wreath below center, second row. It has 6 glass beads, 1 bow, 1 Dresden script and a red velvet ribbon hanger.

- Add a narrow velvet ribbon bow by tying a length of 1/8" velvet ribbon just under the loop of a wire hanger, like the Silver Foil Candle wreath below center, first row.

- When in doubt, keep it traditional: red and green plus gold or silver are always a hit and classic Christmas.

- So many combinations of beads + leaves + fruit + bows are possible. 9 of our favorites are detailed below.