Book Page Wreath {Tutorial}

Ever since I saw this tutorial I wanted to make one!  So I stopped by Goodwill to get an old book, Dollar Tree for a foam wreath and got to work.

Buy/find an old hard bound book and start ripping pages out. I used about 100 for mine.  My great friend Tara (and roommate through college) started this project with me.  She was kind enough to tear out my pages (while I made dinner for her, Brett and I).  Like I said, I got my book from Goodwill for just $.50.

Once you have your pages ripped out, figure out how you want them folded.  We folded ours like the other tutorial.  It's too hard to explain so here's some pictures.

Basically you make a circle and have a flap below it.  The circles will be facing out, making a nice fluffy wreath.  

Start gluing!  This layer will be the back of your wreath so glue the circle side to the foam wreath.  I didn't get this at first so mine are both ways, but if you want to do it right that's how.  It bugs me that some of mine are wrong even though you can't even see it!  Make sure you have a little less than an inch hanging over the edge.  You will later flip this down.  Also, I recommend using the same edge of the paper facing out.  I used the bound edge so it has some character.

Now flip the wreath over & begin working on the front.  Figure out where you will put glue so the page is about the length of the other layer.  You will be putting glue towards the back of the wreath.  See second picture so it makes a little more sense.

After you glue towards the back of the wreath, glue down the edge of the page towards the front. 

Continue folding and gluing (I suggest catching up on TV or talking with a friend/husband while doing this project).

Once that top layer is done, fold the back layer up and glue it down.

This is what it will look like with the two layers.

Start on the next (of many) layers.  Each time, come closer in (and eventually going to the back of the wreath.  If you notice empty spots, don't worry.  You can fill them in when all your layers are done.  

Here's mine after the 3rd layer.

With each new layer move it towards the back of the wreath a little more than the previous layer (like below).

After my layers this is what the back looked like.  The amount of layers that should go on depends on your preferences of how full you would like it.  

After I completed the layers, there were spots that seemed empty.  To fill in the spaces fold a page like you have been and trim some off.  Put glue on the small flap and fill in the empty spots.

Here's my wreath after adding all the layers and filling the empty spots.  I'm in love!

But I decided I wanted my wreath to look a little more aged so I inked the edges with brown ink (leftover from my many wedding projects) and a makeup sponge.  

I love what the ink adds to it!

To hang the wreath I pinned brown ribbon (also wedding leftover) to the back.  I didn't measure the ribbon because I just eyeballed it based on how much I wanted to show above the wreath.

I also hot glued the ribbon above the pins so the wreath and ribbon would be flush with the wall.

The beautiful finished wreath!  It is a bit time consuming, but totally worth it because it is so cheap!  It's on my list to hang this weekend.

Supplies:

Foam Wreath - $1

Book - $.50

Glue gun - on hand

Ink pad - on hand

Ribbon - on hand

Total - $1.50!!


I'm linking up with Emily at Jones Design Company, my inspiration for the wreath.

Rosette Wreath {Tutorial}

One of the best offerings from my favorite store - the Dollar Tree - is a foam wreath.  There's so many possibilities!  And in the blog world there is a lot of wreath inspiration out there.  I came across this post and instantly knew I wanted one!  I really liked the look of hers from a distance, but I didn't like the look of the lace rosettes.  So while searching through the remnants at JoAnn's I came across an ivory cotton/polyester blend fabric and a black and ivory floral satin like print.  I knew they would be great for what I wanted.

So with the below items, I set to work.

Cut the fabric into strips about 1 1/2 to 2 inches wide.  I made 6 rosettes of each fabric.  They range from 2-3 inches wide.  They differ depending on how tight you wrap each rosette and how tight the fabric is twisted. 

Fold the strip in half (I cut mine when the fabric was folded, less cutting).  Twist the fabric and secure one end (I just used a pair of scissors to weight the end I wasn't using down).

With the other end, start rolling the fabric securing it with a dab or two of glue ever so often.  I went a little overboard on the glue and went through a ton of glue sticks for this project,  Good thing they're cheap!

Here's (one) finished rosette!

I decided to get rid of the stray strings by taking my candle lighter to the edges.  It looks a lot cleaner without the strings.  But be careful to not catch your rosette on fire.  But if you do singe it a little, just trim it off.

After you have your rosettes finished (or when you need a break from making a lot of rosettes) begin covering your wreath.  I decided to cover it in black ribbon).  If you choose ribbon over fabric, I recommend choosing one that's a good 2-3 inches wide.  Mine was only about 1 1/2 and it took the whole roll to cover (a whopping 21 feet).   It probably wouldn't have needed the whole roll, but I'm a perfectionist so I wrapped it pretty tight so there weren't bubbles.

Every wrap around I dabbed a bit of hot glue on the wreath to keep the ribbon from moving.

Here's the covered wreath.

Next I decided how I wanted my rosettes arranged.  Then I glued on a 5/8 in thick piece of ribbon (cut to whatever length you want.  I eyeballed mine but I'd say it is about 3 feet long.

After gluing the ribbon on, I tied it at the base so the ribbon would lay right when it hung.

Then I glued the rosettes on by putting hot glue on the bottom of each rosette.  I put the rosettes close to each other, but not squished so I didn't leave a gap at the end.  Deciding on an order for your rosettes will help you with this.  

Here's my finished product!!

Before I glued them on I wasn't loving it.  I wasn't sure about the two colors, but after it's put together I love it!  Now the hard part, deciding which blank wall to put it on!

If you make your own version of this rosette wreath, I'd love to see it!

Supplies/Price Breakdown:
Wreath: $1.00
Fabric: $1.52 (ivory)
$2.63 (floral)
Ribbon $2.50
I had the glue, glue gun, scissors and 5/8 ribbon on hand.

Total: $8.11

Quick Update

I apologize for the delay in posting!  This week has been really busy!  I'm working full time during the day (the new job is going pretty well, it keep me busy!) so my nights are my time to clean, do laundry, craft, spend time with Brett and also cook dinner.  So my days are usually pretty full.  On Tuesday and Wednesday I was working on a project (post coming soon) and spending time with Brett.  Thursday I went to the Louisville Zoo to trick or treat with my adorable nephews (see below for pictures), Friday we went to a Louisville Lightning soccer game (a pro or semi-pro team in Louisville) benefitting breast cancer and yesterday we tailgated and went to the UofL game.  And they won! 

It has been a pretty busy week, and this one coming up probably will be too.  Here are a few pictures I took at the Zoo with my sister Amanda, brother in law Will and two nephews Ethan (3) and Elijah (6 months today!).

  

Ethan dressed up as a UPS delivery man (like my father in law Dale).  Too cute!

The most adorable Shrek ever!!

Mini-Shrek with Shrek and Fiona.  Ethan was not sure about them.

Love him!

The family trick or treating 

Marching to the music on the yellow brick road.

The Wizard of Oz characters.

Fun in a submarine.

Isn't he adorable?

Couldn't wait before we left to have a sucker.

Flying like Ironman.  What a goofy kiddo!

He would watch them put the candy in his pumpkin and then stare at them after.  He didn't understand the concept of trick or treating.  He did say thank you (mostly) though!

Trying to get in the candy house.  No such luck.

Very random, but he would walk up to the ice cream cones and hit his head on it.  No clue why!

He had a ball in the old safari van!

Not too sure about the elephant.  Aunt Lauren thought it would be a good photo op.