I created this wreath with wire, Vintaj components and art beads as a house-warming gift for a dear friend. You could create a similar one to welcome your guests during your fall celebrations or as a special gift. Another variation would be to stamp the family name of the recipient on the name plate instead of ‘welcome’ for a more personalized touch.
Supplies:
4.5″ 18 gauge brass color wire
11 3″ lengths of 24 gauge brass color wire
5 polymer clay disk beads
1 arte metal name plate
3 brass maple leaves
2 brass slender leaves
2 brass woodland leaf pendants
2 brass fern charms
2 brass filigree leaf charms
1 brass trailing leaf
3 arte metal keys
5 6mm flat copper spacers
5 3″ copper headpins
2 1″ copper headpins
8″ silk ribbon
Acrylic Paint Dabber
Renaissance wax
Steel wool
Tools: bench block, letter stamps, ball peen hammer, rivet hammer, Phillips head screw driver, brass texture plates, round and flat nose pliers, wire cutters.
Directions:
1. Create the wreath by wrapping the wire into a large loop, approximately 5 1/2″ wide. Wrap the wire in into a large loop 9 times around. Create a wrapped loop at the top of the wreath and wrap the ends of the wire around several times for a secure finish.
2. Texture the leaves with the hammers, texture plates and screw driver. (Watch this video for several techniques.) Highlight the textures with the steel wool.
4. Place the leaf pendant on the bench block and strike the center with the round end of the ball peen hammer to shape the leaf in the concave form. Repeat with the other leaf and the two filigree leaves.
5. Attach the welcome name plate to the wreath by wrapping it the 24 gauge wire.
8. String a flat spacer and polymer clay disk bead unto a 3″ headpin. Attach the headpin to the wreath by wrapping it around the wire several times.
Resources: Disk Beads, Humblebeads. All brass and wire from Vintaj – retail at Bello Modo. Silk Cord, Angela Brittain. Copper findings, Rings & Things.
lisbonlioness
October 26, 2010 at 4:09 pmThis is positively the most beautiful wreath I have EVER seen.
Erin S
October 26, 2010 at 4:37 pmthis is such a cool project. what great ideas! thanks for the tutorial!
Erin S
sandi m
October 26, 2010 at 5:03 pmHeather,
This is just a wonderful piece. What better gift than personalizing the plate and adding beads that match a decor.
It's always amazing to see the outcome of hammering metal; so much fun.
Thanks!!
sandi
Sharon P
October 26, 2010 at 5:08 pmThis is just beautiful, Heather. Brilliant idea!
Betty S.
October 26, 2010 at 5:25 pmReally sweet! Thanks for sharing…you make it seem so easy!
Betty
TesoriTrovati
October 26, 2010 at 5:52 pmCompletely blown away!
Thank you for sharing that!
Enjoy the day.
Erin
Maria
October 26, 2010 at 6:11 pmVery pretty!
Love it…Maria
Janet
October 26, 2010 at 7:17 pmBreathless I say! Just beautiful Heather..
Alice
October 26, 2010 at 10:19 pmIt's beautiful! I'll bet the homeowner was over the moon for it. Thanks for some great inspiration!
Desert Wind Designs
October 27, 2010 at 4:28 amOh wow! Beautiful! Thank-you for the tutorial!
Cindy
October 27, 2010 at 5:33 amWow, Wow, Wow, Heather you have outdone yourself! I love it so, I wanna wear it in a mini version! This is just fabulous and has me wanting to grab some copper and my texturizing hammers!
Michelle
October 27, 2010 at 12:46 pmI love this non-jewelry project! It's gorgeous!
Bead Happy!
Michelle
Courtney
October 27, 2010 at 1:44 pmabsolutely wonderful! thanks.
Jess Italia Lincoln
October 27, 2010 at 1:50 pmHeather you have outdone yourself!!! This project is exceptional, one of my absolute favorites! Thanks for the tutorial, I shared the project photo today on the Vintaj blog and sent everyone over here for the details. I need to make one for my house, and maybe even a few gifts for next year! Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
Clair
October 28, 2010 at 10:07 amBeautiful!
Dave at Rings & Things
November 4, 2010 at 9:44 pmExcellent, just excellent. Such a pleasure to be privy to your cool ideas, Heather!
Dave at Rings & Things
Molly Alexander
November 7, 2010 at 5:51 pmAbsolutely stunning Heather – just beautiful!