Make a Stunning Dried Hydrangea Wreath

Dried hydrangea wreaths are so beautiful andof 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 hydrangeaBalance is what you are looking for. Balance in shape,
flowers from your local craft store, or you can dryyou don't want any sticking out way above the
your own. The biggest trick when drying your own isothers, you don't want one side of the wreath to be
the timing of when you pick the flowers. It is best tofuller than the other. Try stepping back and looking
pick them right before you anticipate your first fallat a distance and just think "balance of shape".
frost. If you pick them mid-summer, they just will notThe 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 darkenedfilling 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 theNow, this wreath is either finished, or you can add
vase, although even that is optional. As long as theyperhaps add small sprigs of dried baby's breath to it.
are picked at the correct time, it's difficult to fail withReally depends on the look you want. Sometimes the
them. It's fun if you can, to pick several blooms fromsimplicity of only the hydrangeas is stunning.
different bushes, as it will provide a nice variety ofFor a grapevine wreath, it's the same principal but a
colors to the wreath. After they are dried, pick offdifferent 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 aor ribbon. I like to leave bare spaces on these to be
wreath. My personal favorites are either Styrofoamable to see the grapevine portion as well. Again, look
or grapevine type wreath bases. Take some floralfor balance. You can also add dried roses to it or any
wire and wrap it around the wreath, then form aother type of dried flowers or grasses too. You can
loop of the wire to hang from the wall, and thenget really creative with these and come up with very
wrap the wreath again. You might try hanging it fromdifferent 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 theto 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 hotmisconception. 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, actuallyIf 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 ofold flowers off, and make another with the same
the wreath, for example; a floret at the top, nextbase for another year's worth of a gorgeous hand
left side, bottom, then right side, then inside the circlemade wreath!