Natural Christmas Wreaths and Other Crafts

We have always been close to nature and when the holidays come around, my decorations consist of collages of objects gathered from the forests and fields. One of my favorite creations is a Christmas wreath made from cones, seed pods, nuts, berries and other gathered plant materials. We start with a flexible, green grape vine, which is easy to find since they grow wild all over Louisiana.

Here's how we make the grapevine wreath:
1. Cut 3-4 strands of green grapevine, about 15-20 feet long.
2. Hold them together so the cut ends are even and the vines are laying in a straight, untangled line.
3. Start winding your wreath from the cut ends, shaping it into the desired size.
4. When you get about 5-6 feet from the end, start winding the vines in and out through the center and around the outside of the wreath to secure the vines and hold the shape.
5. To finish, weave the ends into the wreath to secure them.
6. Now you are ready to begin decorating the wreath.

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Sing hey! Sing hey!
For Christmas Day;
Twine mistletoe and holly,
For friendship glows
In winter snows,
And so let's all be jolly.

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There are so many natural plant materials that make lovely wreaths. Since we live in Pine country, we collect pine cones of different sizes. This forms the foundation of the wreath.

Other interesting seed pods and berries include:
Holly (including Yaupon)
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
Magnolia (cones and leaves)
Florida Anise seed pods
Sweet Gum balls
Hickory nuts
Chinese Tallow tree seed clusters
Cotton bolls (with or without the cotton)
Yellow-eyed Grass seed pods.

Look around the woods and your yard for interesting shapes and textures. Magnolia leaves are very tough and will last for a few years. They can even be spray painted with gold, silver or clear finish. Other evergreens like cedar and short-leaf pines also add color and beauty.

We use florist's wire and hot glue to secure the plant materials. Some of the thicker stems can be forced between the vines, but some of the larger pine cones my need to be wired on. You may also want to add artificial berries to make the wreath more long lasting. Finish it off with a big festive bow. You can make your own, but the Dollar Store usually has pretty ones for a couple of dollars.

When this picture was taken, this wreath was over 2 years old. We had a death in the family right after Christmas so the wreath was left up through February and a pair of Carolina Wrens took up residence and turned this ordinary wreath into something special. Next Christmas, all we have to do is add some new Magnolia leaves and some berries (natural and artificial) and some artificial bird's eggs in the nest and we'll have a unique and beautiful natural wreath.

Best Nest Spanish Moss Wreath
Natures Best Nest wreaths--made with natural style! Our charming twig wreath is an artful arrangement, brimming with seeds and nesting materials for your birds. Looks delightful on a door, fence or shed-or enjoy it indoors! Each wreath is handmade at Duncraft with all-natural materials-no two are alike. Your wreath may be decorated with graceful grasses such as wheat, oat or millet for the birds to snack on, and includes nesting materials such as cotton, aspen fibers, Spanish moss and feathers. Complete with a hand-tied, raffia bow with flowing streamers. 14 inches in diameter.

A natural Christmas wreath can be used for the door or as an advent wreath or table centerpiece.

To See More Designs Visit Naturally Native Creations at Zazzle.com.

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Oh, the mistletoe and holly,
The bayberry and yew,
The needled pines and hemlocks,
And the fir trees, too,
All lend themselves at Christmastime
To make the season gay,
Shedding fragrance and cheer
In their own bright way.

The poinsettia adds its beauty,
And the yule log burns with cheer,
And other plants add to the fun
At the ending of the year.
So here's a cheer for Christmas greens,
And all plants that have a part
In making Christmas blossom
In the gardens of the heart!

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KRW Holiday Wreath Sculpted Ornament by KRWDesigns

Traditional Birdseed Wreath

Duncraft's birdseed wreaths-handmade and fresh Dense and delicious! Hearty bird-edible wreaths-each made with the freshest seeds and Duncraft's exclusive blends. Trimmed with a red raffia bow and hangs from a jute hanger. 7 x 2 inches thick. Handmade in Concord, NH.

Happy Holidays Christmas Postage Stamp by TDSwhite

Nativity Advent Calendar Personalized Christmas Ornament - $ 35.95
This nativity set is fun for the whole family. It lets your child add one piece to the manger setting for each of the 24 days of December before Christmas!

Native plant seeds make good card or stocking stuffers.

Cardinal in Holly Christmas Card and Postage Designs by Naturally Native

For years, we have been sharing both native plant and easy to grow introduced plant seeds with our friends and family. We discovered that the 2 1/4" X 3 1/2" paper coin envelopes are perfect for giving seeds. We print out a label containing the planting information and description and stick that to the front of the envelope. Then we put a package of the seeds into each of our Christmas cards (more for the gardeners on our list). Most people really enjoy and will plant the little extra gift and it's our way of spreading natives and hummingbird and butterfly plants around.