Budget decorating: uses for a grapevine wreath

Grapevine wreaths come in a number of sizes, and are generally available at craft stores ranging from 2" to 18" in diameter. They are commonly decked with silk or dried foliage and hung on a door as decoration. Though they do make fabulous wreaths, they can also be utilized in other craft projects and add a lovely country or earthy look to any decor.

GRAPEVINE WREATH WINDOW TREATMENTS

Take two or more wreaths, depending on the width of your window. If you like, you can embellish them by weaving ribbon or twine around them. You can also add some fake or dried flowers, silk butterflies, a bow, or any small object that can be attached with a hot glue gun, but keep 3-D additions to a minimum (just one or a small cluster along the top).

Use long nails or hooks in the wall to hang your wreaths just over the top of your window. You will want one at each end, stationed a couple of inches past the edge of the window frame. If you have a narrow window, two end wreaths will probably suffice. If you have a wider window, you can add one more wreath to the center, or two or three more in equal intervals between the two end wreaths. Remember that the closer the wreaths are, the smaller the scalloped swags will be.

You will need fabric to drape through the wreaths. You can purchase a ready-made swag, or you can simply get some material (I love to raid the discount stores). You should hem it along all cut sides, or use a hemming tape to finish the edges. The length of the fabric you will need will depend upon the length of your windows and how far down you want it to hang. A good rule of thumb to follow is:

(length of window X 2) + (width of window X 2) = length of fabric

For example, if your window is 52" wide and 38" long, your measurements will be (52" X 2) + (38" X 2) = 180" of fabric, or 5 yards. If you want your curtains to hang a little longer, or your to drape a little fuller, you can add a yard or two and trim as necessary. It's better to be safe than sorry, and you can always make a matching throw pillow out of excess fabric.

When your fabric is ready, you can begin hanging it on the wreaths. Make sure your embellishments are kept at the top, where the fabric will not cover them or knock them off the vine. If you have a wreath placed in the center, start with that one. Thread the fabric through each wreath, letting it dip a little between each wreath. Adjust it until the scallops are even and you are pleased with the look.

GRAPEVINE WREATH TOWEL HOLDERS

This is a great look for a bathroom best used for guest or show towels, or else your wreaths may become distorted from frequent tugging.

You will need two or three wreaths, 6 to 8" in diameter. If you like, you can use a smaller wreath for hand towels placed on either side of a larger wreath holding a bath towel.

Decorate your wreaths with twine, ribbon, and embellishments if you like. Decide where you want the wreaths to hang by eyeballing it, or using a ruler for more precise measurements. Put hooks or long nails into the wall. Hang your wreaths from the hooks or nails. Then you can hang your towels from the wreaths, just as you would with towel ring bars.

GRAPEVINE WREATH LAMP BASE

If you have a plain, column lamp base with which you are not happy, you can get grapevine wreaths and stack them up around the base for a fuller, rustic look. The center opening of the wreath should be just larger in diameter than the base.

Get enough wreaths to stack high enough so that they come just to the fixture part when stacked. Slip them right over the base, one after the other, until it is completely concealed. Use a hot glue gun or twine to secure the wreaths together so that they hold together like one piece.

If you like, you can decorate your wreath with flowers or any other embellishments that can be hot glued to them.

GRAPEVINE WREATH NAPKIN RINGS

Use small wreaths 2" in diameter as napkin rings at your next dinner party. Bare wreaths with minimum embellishments make a lovely addition to your Autumn table. For Winter holidays, spray paint the wreaths silver or gold, and add a sprig of holly. For spring and summer, embellish them with silk flower buds, blooms and leaves using a hot glue gun.

GRAPEVINE WREATH CENTERPIECE

To match your napkin holders, you can create a centerpiece by laying a large grapevine wreath on the table and embellishing it with seasonal decorations. Fill the center with fruit or an assortment of pillar candles in glass holders (the flame must be contained to prevent your wreath from catching fire).

GRAPEVINE WREATH TOPIARY

Get a nice, large flower pot and a hunk of green floral foam. You will also need a package of dried moss, wood chips or river stones to cover up the foam in the pot. Cut a piece of cardboard to the size of the opening at the top of the pot, and make a hole directly in the center (approximately 1" diameter).

You will need three wreaths in varying sizes, such as a 12", a 6" and a 3". You will also need a thin, 6" dowel, and some ribbon or twine. If you wish to add any other embellishments, obtain them as well.

Begin by putting the foam into the pot. Take your largest wreath and find a thick point. This will be the bottom. Tie the edge of the ribbon to it. Begin weaving your ribbon up and around the right side of the large wreath in a continuous spiral pattern. When you come to the top, place your middle sized wreath on top of the large one so that they form a number '8" pattern. Weave the ribbon around both a couple of times, securing them to each other.

Continue weaving spirals around the left side of the middle wreath until you come to the top. Add the smallest wreath, so you now have a 3-part 'snowman' shape. Secure the medium and small wreaths to each other, then continue weaving up the right side of the smallest.

Continue to go all the way around the smallest wreath until you come back to the medium sized wreath. For extra security, wrap it around both a couple more times. Then, continue weaving in a spiral pattern down around the right side of the medium. Give it an extra wrap to secure the medium and large wreaths, then follow down until you come back to the bottom of the large wreath.

If you like, you can do a second wrap in the same manner but going in the opposite direction in order to achieve a cris-cross look with the ribbons.

If you plan to do any further embellishing with a hot glue gun, you should complete it at this point. If you like, you can completely conceal the grapevine and ribbon under a layer of flowers and leaves.

Take the 6" narrow dowel and stick the end of it into the bottom of the largest wreath. Use some hot glue to secure it, and further secure it by tying it with ribbon. Your wreath and dowel should now resemble a triple-decker lollipop.

Place the cardboard circle over the florist foam. It should fit just inside the opening of the pot, without overlapping the edges. Carefully stick the dowel down into the foam through the hole in the cardboard until the bottom of the wreath just lays upon the cardboard. For extra security you can spread some craft glue or rubber cement onto the bottom of the dowel. Don't move it around too much, or pull it up and down, or it will loosen the foam's hold and your topiary will tilt.

Finally, cover the cardboard with some moss, river rocks or wood chips to conceal it. Place your topiary in a corner, or use it as a centerpiece.