Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Sandwich Baggie Wreath Tutorial

As mentioned in my first post about this wreath, I got this idea from Krafty Kat!  So I decided to make my own little tutorial for this wreath as well.  And.....here it is:
Here are the tools you'll need for this project...
Wire hanger (or just some wire if you have no hangers)
Plastic sandwich baggies - not the zip-lock ones (I used small ones, and I think I used about 180 of them)
Glue gun
Decorations

First, if you're using a hanger, bend it until it's (more or less) round:
Also bend the hanging part of the hanger downwards to create a hook.
Now start with the baggies.  Scrunch it up a bit lengthwise - this just makes it more manageable to work with:
Start tying them around the hanger:

Just make single knot.  "Fluff" out the ends again, because they'll most likely be squished after you've tied the knot.  Push it all the way to the end, and start tying the rest of the baggies.  Push them all tightly together so that your wreath looks as full and fluffy as possible.
While adding the baggies, spin some of them around the hanger so that they fluff out and so that you don't see a row of knots...like this:
Then keep going until you can't fit any more on there:
And then decorate (if you want) by hot gluing ornaments to it:
And then enjoy your cute little wreath. :D

My wreath is featured in the "How to Make Wreaths: 15 DIY Wreaths for Christmas" eBook!  :)



21 comments:

Maria@Crafty Cre8tions said...

Adorable!!! Would of never thought of using baggies for a wreath!!!!
Great job :)
Maria

Neil, Amy and The Girls said...

This is so creative!

Creative Escapes said...

This is so cute!!! I wanted to let you know, i've nominated you for the Stylish Blogger Award. Check it out at:http://mycreativeescapes.blogspot.com/2011/02/yippy-i-won-awardstylish-blogger-award.html

The designer and organizer said...

Wow loved it your so creative..www.atthedesignerz.com

Anonymous said...

This is such a cute idea!!!! Im going to do this project with my Grandson for the Holidays!!! Thank You so much for the wonderful idea and instructions!!!!!

Conni said...

Monique,

Hello! Thanks for the Memory...I'm 58 {59 in two days :} and I remember doing this exact Wreath at a Crafts Class on a good ol chilly Saturday Morning before the Holidays. I was 10 years old and my Mom who is 79 still has this Wreath. So this Craft goes back a loong time lol. Just wanting to share :{
Conni

Conni said...

PS.
Oh forgot to say I do a craft club in the Community and we now use the Plastic Grocery bags to Recycle. I like to use the White ones.

Angie Shepard said...

I've made these wreaths for years. I also made a snowman using one large and one smaller wreath. So easy to do and they look wonderful inside or outside at Christmas.

DebbeD of D(heart)Designs debbed777@gmail.com said...

I love your design idea and plan to use it in making a small wreath that can be hung on a door knob (probably about 8" when finished, might need to cut down the baggies). Thanks for your creativity. Debbe

Anonymous said...

I've had my baggie wreath for 6yrs now and it still looks great. I always use it on the front door because of it being water proof. I also mad a snowman out of 2 wreaths. Angie

Sherry Z. PA said...

My mother made one of these approx. 40 yrs. ago with recycled bread wrappers. They were very populat back then.

Jean 58 said...

When I was a young girl, my mother made one of these. I'm not sure what type of plastic bags she used but thanks for reminding me of a pleasant memory of my mom.

Unknown said...

My Mom taught me how to do this when I was a child, I taught my children how to do it, and I still do one or two a year as a gift.

I love doing this wreath, it takes no time to do and is so easy to decorate to the person you are giving it to.

Thanks for the printed instructions, I have trouble explaining it to others... they just don't see it....

<3 Jackie

Anonymous said...

My mom made these back in 1984 with heavier plastic bags, which they do not make anymore. Todays bags are thinner and easier to work with, but I still have my mom's even though she is now gone many years. What a nice memory to have of her crafting days.

Anonymous said...

I was looking for something to make for a craft sale we are having to help the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure when I came across this idea. My brain went into overdrive thinking of other ways to use this creative wreath--create a Santa Claus or a smiley face.

Betty's blogsetc. said...

This is such a lovely idea that I made it to put on my husbands headstone at the cemetery. I just hung it in the center with a bit if floral wire, and it stayed fresh looking through all the weather changes, even the snow.

Anonymous said...

Easy and Amazing, thank you

Anonymous said...

Amazing And Beautiful And Simple I love that
Thank you :)

Anonymous said...

When I was a girl we made these out of tissue paper, same concept, but we just twisted the tissue paper onto the hanger, we also had to cut the tissue paper into strips, so if anyone remembers how these were done, could you please post? Maybe I'll try cutting some tissue paper & try to figure out how long the strips should be, I can remember they were very easy to make.

Anonymous said...

Made one of these years ago using dry cleaner bags. They're hare to find now days and the baggies would be so much easier to deal with. They go with any decor. Love it.

Heathermary.nz said...

Hi. I remember making this exact same wreath with plastic shopping bags when I was a little girl (1960's) I thought my mum was crazy when she started the wreath but I was quickly hooked into helping her to make it. We just trimmed the wreath a little when we had finished to tidy up the shape. That wreath came out of the cupboard for several christmas' to come. I love recycling and I know lots of my friends have got way too many plastic bags hiding in their cupboards. You've now inspired me to clear out their cupboards and make some recycle wreaths. Thanks