Money-Saving Mum Crafts Dazzling Christmas Wreath That's Etsy-Perfect
- Louise Foster, from Cheshire, made the 64cm-diameter decoration with budget buys from B&M, Screwfix and ASDA
- Project cost a total of £51.50. Plus, if you already have the baubles hanging around in the loft, you could crunch down the cost to just £11.50
- It's hoped the project will spread some Christmas cheer, as money-saving mum Louise, says: “If a few lights can make someone smile then it’s worth it”
There’s nothing quite like a sprinkling of larger-than-life Christmas decorations to give your home some festive kerb appeal. And if you’re looking for ideas on how to be the best house on the block, you’ll love this oversized DIY wreath.
The dazzling decoration, which is like the beautiful handmade bauble wreaths for sale at Etsy that can fetch over £200, was made by Louise Foster, 38, with bargain buys from B&M, Screwfix and ASDA.
"When I saw how much similar handmade wreaths can sell for, it felt so good to be able to save that much by making my own," she told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk. "I'm able to put that money to better use at Christmas, and I want this year to be extra special after all we have missed out on as a family."
But to the mum of four (to Lewis 17, Evan 16, Nicholas 15, and Eve 11), the project was more than just a budget crafting challenge.
“My Christmas decorations are going up early this year to make people smile as they walk past,” explains the support worker from Widnes, Cheshire. “It has been a hard year for everyone, with people’s mental health seriously suffering. If a few lights can make someone smile then it’s worth it.
“My new house has two Juliet balconies, and I wanted something special to hang outside as a Christmas decoration,” she says. “I decided to give it a go myself in order to get the perfect size,” she says.
With lots of DIY experience already firmly under her belt, Louise set about making the wreath, which is slightly larger than the average shop-bought version, with its 2-metre circumference and 64cm diameter.
Her creative background helped her on her way.
“Although I currently work as a support worker, I’m a florist by trade so I had a rough idea on how best to place the baubles,” she says. Here’s how she did it:
Step 1: “For the frame, I settled on using pipe insulation, as it was the cheapest option. I used two lots, each measuring 1 metre long, which cost less than £2.50 in total from Screwfix. I stuck them together and then taped them all the way around with heavy-duty tape to protect the insulation from the hot glue I’d be using to stick the baubles on, and also to give it some extra strength.”
Step 2: To stay in keeping with her silver metallic theme, Louise headed to B&M to buy the baubles. “I bought 200 in total, picking out three different sizes, which came to £40,” she says. If you want to keep an eye on your budget, you can easily use any spare baubles you have hanging around in the loft.
Step 3: “Start by placing the largest baubles around the inner and outer edge,” she says. “Use hot glue to stick each side of the bauble that touches the frame. Also put a bit of glue at the points where the baubles meet the other baubles. Keep them as close to each other as possible, and don’t worry about any gaps at this stage.”
Step 4: “Next, use the medium-sized baubles to cover any gaps between the larger baubles. Make sure these are also secured to, or sit very close to, the frame. Glue them into place and, once again, don't worry too much about any gaps. You should now have four rows of baubles.”
Step 5: “For your fifth and final row, you can get creative with the smaller baubles to fill in any remaining gaps.”
Step 6: “Pick out any other decorations you would like to add, such as a bow or bells, and glue them into place. I made a bow for the top out of ribbon, which I simply folded and glued into place. I also used a shop-bought bell decoration for the bottom costing £4 from B&M.
Step 7: “Wrap some beads and battery-operated outdoor fairy lights around the wreath – I got mine for £5 from ASDA. All that’s left to do is to hang it, and have yourself a very Merry Christmas!”
Louise has been bowled over with the positive feedback from family and friends. “I’ve been asked to make so many already,” she says. “I’m now calling on local people to donate their baubles so that I can make another one to raffle off. The funds will go to a local charity called Taking A Walk In Their Shoes, which provides local families with food parcels and other essential items they need.”
If you fancy giving it a go yourself, take this advice.
“To get the same result I’d recommend you avoid mixing different sized baubles on the outer edges. Use only larger ones for a more solid foundation,” she says. “Plus, working from the biggest to the smallest baubles is more visually appealing, as it’ll give the wreath more depth. Lastly, make sure the pipe ring you use is strong enough to support the weight of the baubles.”
The only tricky part for Louise was hanging it: “I used cable ties to secure it to the balcony railings,” she reveals.
The bauble wreath project is just one of the many ways that Louise and her family are getting ready for the festive season.
“My children and I are getting in the Christmas spirit by getting the house looking and smelling festive,” she says. “I’ll soon be making my table centrepiece along with name tags and I’m also currently in the process of decorating my tree. Making decorations together is a lovely family Christmas activity to do while we are all stuck indoors during lockdown.”
Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk comments: “Making your own bauble wreath is a fantastic way to give any baubles that have been confined to the loft a new lease of life.
“There are some beautiful wreaths in the shops this year but if you are after a slightly larger, oversized version, you may end up spending that little bit more than you had budgeted. Wreaths like this can cost over £200 on Etsy, so Louise's creation is a fantastic £150 saving.
“Crafting your own means you can make a similar showstopper for less. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Rope in your loved ones to help you and you’ll be starting a new tradition you can treasure for years to come.”
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It's a great project! And the motivation to make people smile as they walk past is very kind.
Ah, that's so cool! If you don't have the time though, I'd recommend Love Lane. They have gorgeous wreaths at reasonable prices. www.lovelane2014.co.uk