Thread: Craft challenged, need help!

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Wow, this is a whole new section for me! I never venture into the craft section!
But I'm desperate and that's why I'm here.
I'm awful with crafts! Anyone who received my handmade halloween card can attest to that!
What I"m good at is shopping! This is what I managed to assemble so far!
I need to make a funeral wreath for our funeral theme this year. As you can see, the wreath is there....along with some black ribbon and assorted artificial flowers I've managed to find along the way. I figure whatever flowers are leftover can be used for my creepy halloween garden.

So, how do I turn this mess into a cool funeral wreath? Did I even buy the right kind of wreath? I wanted a large one to display on a stand next to the coffin. This was the largest one they had. Do I need different kinds of flowers? Point me in the right direction PLEASE!





THANKS!

MsM

No, you can make a great wreath with what you got.

I can't tell if you have craft wire or not, but even with just the wire on the wreath, you can weave the stems in and place the flowers however you wish.

Most people try to avoid having too much balance, with clumps at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock, but arrange them as you see fit. With that hot glue, you can make loop after loop for a simple or a complex bow. You can wrap the entire thing, working the ribbon in amongst the flowers, or you can give yourself tails, or no tails, whatever you wish.
They aren't specifically funerary wreaths, but if you search the Halloween Crafts forum, you'll find a large thread of Halloween wreaths.
Great inspiration in that thread.

You can do this. You have a great set up.

Hi MsMeeple!

I've never made a wreath before until this past week! I fell in love with Martha Stewart's design and followed her how to:
Halloween Silk Flower Wreath and more creative crafts projects, templates, tips, clip-art, patterns, and ideas on marthastewart.com

Attach roses (I used wire, not hot glue gun). Spray paint black. I added Dollar Tree crows to mine. I'll get some ribbon like Martha has on hers. See mine below:

MizLiz, your wreath turned out great. I love the crows!

Originally Posted by Spats

No, you can make a great wreath with what you got.

I can't tell if you have craft wire or not, but even with just the wire on the wreath, you can weave the stems in and place the flowers however you wish.

Most people try to avoid having too much balance, with clumps at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock, but arrange them as you see fit. With that hot glue, you can make loop after loop for a simple or a complex bow. You can wrap the entire thing, working the ribbon in amongst the flowers, or you can give yourself tails, or no tails, whatever you wish.
They aren't specifically funerary wreaths, but if you search the Halloween Crafts forum, you'll find a large thread of Halloween wreaths.
Great inspiration in that thread.

You can do this. You have a great set up.

Hi Spats....thanks for the response. I have been searching for ideas for days! Not just here but also a google search for funeral wreaths. I just wasn't coming up with anything that used the same type of wreath I have so I thought I'd ask for ideas here. What's the name for that type of wreath? Its not a grapevine wreath.....straw wreath? lol If I knew the name, I might be able to use that as a search term.

So you are saying that I dont have to cover the whole things with the flowers? To cluster them instead? But don't do balanced clusters. And what about the wreath itself? If I cluster the flowers and wrap the ribbon thru the whole thing, you are still going to be able to see the wreath itself. Do I need to cover it with greenery or spray paint it? Can you even spray paint that type of material?

And yes, I do have floral wire and clips. I've done flowering arranging...especially at christmas. But it was always using that green stuff that you soak in water, put in the pot/vase and then stick in the branches, leaves, greenery and flowers!

MsM

Originally Posted by MizLiz

Hi MsMeeple!

I've never made a wreath before until this past week! I fell in love with Martha Stewart's design and followed her how to:
Halloween Silk Flower Wreath and more creative crafts projects, templates, tips, clip-art, patterns, and ideas on marthastewart.com

Attach roses (I used wire, not hot glue gun). Spray paint black. I added Dollar Tree crows to mine. I'll get some ribbon like Martha has on hers. See mine below:

Very nice wreath! I think yours turned out better than Martha's! The crows are a nice touch

Originally Posted by MsMeeple

So you are saying that I dont have to cover the whole things with the flowers? To cluster them instead? But don't do balanced clusters. And what about the wreath itself? If I cluster the flowers and wrap the ribbon thru the whole thing, you are still going to be able to see the wreath itself. Do I need to cover it with greenery or spray paint it? Can you even spray paint that type of material?

MsM

It's a straw wreath, and yes, you can leave it as is, or you can spray paint it. They even make floral paints if you want to find those, but regular black or green spray paint will do the trick.
Cluster the flowers a little or a lot. Leave some wreath exposed, or cover it completely. Use a bow and ribbon, or don't.

Have fun and make it look like whatever you want.

Now, on another note, if we're talking funerary or memorial wreaths specifically, those are generally green or white foam. Most are decorated with flowers associated with death - lilies, roses, carnations, ferns, etc., but other favorites of the family or the deceased are common as well.

They are usually mounted on a small tripod for display at the gravesite. If you want details on where you can buy one locally or what florists provide these types of arrangements, call the local florists - or the local funeral homes.
They may even have these three-legged stands at the local craft place where you bought all the other supplies.

What you have would look great on a tripod or laying on a coffin lid. There's no need to go buy a foam wreath back. There's also no need to buy lilies or roses, what you have will look great.

Hahaha Spats, I think you are an art teacher I once had!
Do this....or not. Do that...or not lol I know...I need to feel the wreath right? Be one with the wreath? lol
Yeah, I was planning on putting it on a tripod. But I have that covered. Hubby is going to make me one out of scrap wood. The reason I bought that type of wreath is because it was the largest they had. The green and white foam ones were around half that size. Since its going to be on a tripod, I wanted a large one. If worse comes to worse, I'll have hubby cut a wreath shape out of wood and do it the martha stewart way

I know I just need to jump in and DO IT (otherwise we'll be eating in the livingroom till halloween since its taken over my kitchen table lol) but I'm SCARED! Its so out of my comfort zone!

But gonna take the plunge. Will let you know how it turns out. Thanks for the help
And by the way, what ever happened to YOUR wreath? You mentioned having a color scheme and flowers picked out in the wreath thread but never saw the end product posted there.

MsM

Never took a photo.

I'll post one. Maybe I'll start a wreath thread for this year around the first of October when we decorate.

And yes... be one with the wreath.

Oh oh oh, look what I found!



And I really like this one! Might have to start all over!