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Project Tutorials >

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.



Specific Supplies: Below are links to the supplies we used for each wreath


Below Left, Bell and Poinsettia: dark green wreath, red velvet bow + poinsettias + gold bell bead


30 Aqua Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

30 Aqua Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

30 Blue Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

30 Blue Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

New!
30 Brown Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

30 Brown Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

30 Copper Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

30 Copper Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

30 Gold Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

30 Gold Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

30 Green Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

30 Green Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

30 Hot Pink Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

30 Hot Pink Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

New!
30 Light Green Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

30 Light Green Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

30 Light Purple Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

30 Light Purple Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

New!
30 Pearl Fuchsia Pink Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

30 Pearl Fuchsia Pink Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

30 Pearl Green Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

30 Pearl Green Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

New!
30 Pearl Light Blue Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

30 Pearl Light Blue Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

New!
30 Pearl Teal Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

30 Pearl Teal Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

30 Purple Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

30 Purple Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

30 Red Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

30 Red Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

30 Silver Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

30 Silver Round Glass Beads 6 mm ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

36 Miniature Plaster Mushrooms ~ Double-ended Mushroom Stamen

36 Miniature Plaster Mushrooms ~ Double-ended Mushroom Stamen

Out of Stock!

Long Red and White Cigar Stamen with Green Wired Stems

Long Red and White Cigar Stamen with Green Wired Stems

$9.95

12 Mini Light Orange Berries or Oranges Vintage Old Stock Millinery Fruit ~  3/8"

12 Mini Light Orange Berries or Oranges Vintage Old Stock Millinery Fruit ~ 3/8"

$5.95

12 Mini Red Berries Vintage Old Stock Millinery Fruit ~  1/2"

12 Mini Red Berries Vintage Old Stock Millinery Fruit ~ 1/2"

$5.95

12 Mini Yellow Bananas Vintage Old Stock Millinery Fruit ~  1/2"

12 Mini Yellow Bananas Vintage Old Stock Millinery Fruit ~ 1/2"

$5.95

12 Mini Yellow Lemons Vintage Old Stock Millinery Fruit ~  5/8"

12 Mini Yellow Lemons Vintage Old Stock Millinery Fruit ~ 5/8"

$5.95

12 Mini Yellow-Orange Pears Vintage Old Stock Millinery Fruit ~  1/2"

12 Mini Yellow-Orange Pears Vintage Old Stock Millinery Fruit ~ 1/2"

$5.95

12 Miniature Red Fabric Millinery Poinsettias ~ Austria ~ 1/2"

12 Miniature Red Fabric Millinery Poinsettias ~ Austria ~ 1/2"

$5.95

15 Miniature Composition Bananas ~ 3/8" ~ Czech Republic

15 Miniature Composition Bananas ~ 3/8" ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

18 Miniature Composition Lemons ~ 3/8" ~ Czech Republic

18 Miniature Composition Lemons ~ 3/8" ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

18 Miniature Composition Oranges ~ 3/8" ~ Czech Republic

18 Miniature Composition Oranges ~ 3/8" ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

18 Miniature Glossy Red Currants ~ 3/8" ~ Czech Republic

18 Miniature Glossy Red Currants ~ 3/8" ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

36 Miniature Lacquered Red Berries with Black Dots~ 3/8"

36 Miniature Lacquered Red Berries with Black Dots~ 3/8"

$7.95

36 Miniature Lacquered Red Berries with Textured Dots~ 3/8"

36 Miniature Lacquered Red Berries with Textured Dots~ 3/8"

$7.95

Small Vintage Velvet Bows ~ Set of 6 ~ TRUE RED

Small Vintage Velvet Bows ~ Set of 6 ~ TRUE RED

Out of Stock!

Tiny Velvet Ribbon Trim in Spruce Green ~ 1/8" wide

Tiny Velvet Ribbon Trim in Spruce Green ~ 1/8" wide

Out of Stock!

18 Miniature Green Raspberries ~ 3/8" ~ Czech Republic

18 Miniature Green Raspberries ~ 3/8" ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

18 Miniature Orange Raspberries ~ 3/8" ~ Czech Republic

18 Miniature Orange Raspberries ~ 3/8" ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

18 Miniature Red Raspberries ~ 3/8" ~ Czech Republic

18 Miniature Red Raspberries ~ 3/8" ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

Tiny Velvet Ribbon Trim in Green ~ 1/8" wide

Tiny Velvet Ribbon Trim in Green ~ 1/8" wide

$1.49

12 Smallest White Paper Millinery Edelweiss ~ Austria ~ 1/2"

12 Smallest White Paper Millinery Edelweiss ~ Austria ~ 1/2"

$5.95

Petite Antique Gold Merry Christmas Scripts ~ 12

Petite Antique Gold Merry Christmas Scripts ~ 12

$7.95

Petite Antique White Merry Christmas Scripts ~ 12

Petite Antique White Merry Christmas Scripts ~ 12

$7.95

Petite Dark Blue Merry Christmas Scripts ~ 12

Petite Dark Blue Merry Christmas Scripts ~ 12

$7.95

Petite Green Merry Christmas Scripts ~ 12

Petite Green Merry Christmas Scripts ~ 12

$7.95

Petite Light Green Merry Christmas Scripts ~ 12

Petite Light Green Merry Christmas Scripts ~ 12

$7.95

Petite Red Merry Christmas Scripts ~ 12

Petite Red Merry Christmas Scripts ~ 12

$7.95

Petite Silver Merry Christmas Scripts ~ 12

Petite Silver Merry Christmas Scripts ~ 12

$7.95

Small Vintage Velvet Bows ~ Set of 6 ~ DEEP GREEN

Small Vintage Velvet Bows ~ Set of 6 ~ DEEP GREEN

$5.95

Sparkling Lilac Purple Berry Peps Czech Stamen

Sparkling Lilac Purple Berry Peps Czech Stamen

$4.95

Sparkling Red Berry Peps Czech Stamen

Sparkling Red Berry Peps Czech Stamen

$4.95

Sparkling Turquoise Blue Berry Peps Czech Stamen

Sparkling Turquoise Blue Berry Peps Czech Stamen

$4.95

Sparkling Yellow Berry Peps Czech Stamen

Sparkling Yellow Berry Peps Czech Stamen

$4.95

12 Mini White Fabric Millinery Edelweiss ~ Austria ~ 3/4"

12 Mini White Fabric Millinery Edelweiss ~ Austria ~ 3/4"

$5.95

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