| Dried hydrangea wreaths are so beautiful and | | | | of the wreath, and outside of the wreath. Continue |
| versatile in a home, and a lot of fun to make as well. | | | | to do this with each bloom until you fill it. |
| You can either purchase already dried hydrangea | | | | Balance is what you are looking for. Balance in shape, |
| flowers from your local craft store, or you can dry | | | | you don't want any sticking out way above the |
| your own. The biggest trick when drying your own is | | | | others, you don't want one side of the wreath to be |
| the timing of when you pick the flowers. It is best to | | | | fuller than the other. Try stepping back and looking |
| pick them right before you anticipate your first fall | | | | at a distance and just think "balance of shape". |
| frost. If you pick them mid-summer, they just will not | | | | The second area to look for is balance of color. This |
| dry correctly. | | | | is the purpose of doing each bloom all over, then |
| You can either hang them upside down in a darkened | | | | filling in, so you achieve that balance of color. Give |
| room to dry, or you can set them in a vase upright, | | | | another once over to check on that. |
| even adding a tiny bit of water in the bottom of the | | | | Now, this wreath is either finished, or you can add |
| vase, although even that is optional. As long as they | | | | perhaps add small sprigs of dried baby's breath to it. |
| are picked at the correct time, it's difficult to fail with | | | | Really depends on the look you want. Sometimes the |
| them. It's fun if you can, to pick several blooms from | | | | simplicity of only the hydrangeas is stunning. |
| different bushes, as it will provide a nice variety of | | | | For a grapevine wreath, it's the same principal but a |
| colors to the wreath. After they are dried, pick off | | | | different look. You can tie a bow on the wreath if |
| any dead / discolored brown blooms. | | | | you want (if you do, do so before adding flowers), |
| Now, pick the type of base you want to use for a | | | | or ribbon. I like to leave bare spaces on these to be |
| wreath. My personal favorites are either Styrofoam | | | | able to see the grapevine portion as well. Again, look |
| or grapevine type wreath bases. Take some floral | | | | for balance. You can also add dried roses to it or any |
| wire and wrap it around the wreath, then form a | | | | other type of dried flowers or grasses too. You can |
| loop of the wire to hang from the wall, and then | | | | get really creative with these and come up with very |
| wrap the wreath again. You might try hanging it from | | | | different looks. Experiment to your heart's content. |
| the wall at this point to make sure it lies correctly, | | | | Many times people expect dried floral arrangements |
| and then make any needed adjustments while the | | | | to last forever, and are disappointed when they start |
| wreath is bare. | | | | looking bad after a few years. This is a |
| To do a Styrofoam wreath, use a low melt point hot | | | | misconception. Expect them to look good for about a |
| glue gun. Separate each bloom into smaller florets. | | | | year, that's really about all they were meant to last. |
| Hot glue each floret into the wreath base, actually | | | | If they are in direct sunlight it will be a much shorter |
| poking the stem down into the Styrofoam base. | | | | time. However, the next year, feel free to strip the |
| With each bloom, space it out over the surface of | | | | old flowers off, and make another with the same |
| the wreath, for example; a floret at the top, next | | | | base for another year's worth of a gorgeous hand |
| left side, bottom, then right side, then inside the circle | | | | made wreath! |