Have you ever had an idea that you just had to try? Not sure if it would work, but just had to see what it would look like? That is my post for you today. I had an idea to take a picture frame and use it to make a wreath. I gave it a go and thought you may like the idea and want to give it a try as well.

My whole family says this is not a wreath…it is a picture frame. I still think it is more wreath than picture frame. There is no picture in it, though I suppose I could put one in it. Anyway, we have a whole debate going in our house. 🙂 Regardless of whether you want to call this a picture frame or a wreath, it is filling in the last blank space on my wall. If you remember I have made letter wall art, state wall art, family wall art, more letter wall art and finished some picture frames.

As you may remember, I’ve been working with Offray, in fact they sponsored this post and sent me the ribbons I needed to make my wreath. Not only had I had the idea for this wreath for a while, but since I’ve been working with Offray, I haven’t made a wreath. Seems like the perfect use for ribbon to me. Don’t you think so?

Let me show you how to take a picture frame and turn it into a wreath…or maybe a picture frame depending on your view of the debate. 😉

Supplies

• Unfinished wood frame
• Sea Maid Ribbon 1 5/16″ – White
• Simply Sheer Asiana Ribbon 1/4″ – Pewter and Scarlet
• Grosgrain Ribbon 1/4″ – Navajo Turquoise and Cream
• Metallic Grosgrain Gold Ribbon 1/8″ (I used 3/8″, but it was too thick. I would recommend the 1/8″ for the flower loom.)
• Hot glue gun
• Hot glue sticks
• Ribbon Flower Loom (affiliate link)

Start with the Sea Maid ribbon. Cut it into strips about 6″ long. Start by covering the 4 corners of the frame.

I knew that with the curves and angles of the frame that I selected, wrapping the ribbon around the frame would produce wonky results. Even though the method I used took more time, I thought the clean lines would look better in the end.

Use your hot glue gun and glue the strip to the frame on the back. As you pull the ribbon strip over the edge, add a small bit of glue to hold it tight to the edge of the frame.

The glue on the edge will also allow you to pull the ribbon tight and hold it in place on the curves and different angles of the frame.

The back of the frame is going to look like a hot mess. It doesn’t matter. The front will look great. Make sure to hot glue the ribbon strip to the back of the frame after gluing it at the edge of the frame. 

After covering the corner, this is what the back of my frame looked like.

The front of the frame looks neat and tidy. Cover each of the 4 corners just like this one.

I think the way in which I covered the frame to make a wreath, ends up looking a bit like an old tuxedo shirt. I like the clean lines of the ribbon.

After covering the 4 corners, you need to fill in the sides. You will follow the same procedure. Glue one end of your ribbon strip to the back of the frame. 

Pull the ribbon taut as you go over the edge of the frame. Use hot glue to help you pull the ribbon tight and to hold it in place over the curves and edges.

Glue the end of the ribbon strip in place. 

Clean neat lines. Continue filling in the rest of the frame…cough, cough…now wreath until you have covered the entire unfinished surface.

Now you get to have some fun making flowers for your wreath. I have wanted to give this ribbon flower loom (affiliate link) a try and I knew this wreath was the perfect place.

I will show you a tutorial on how to make ribbon flowers next month, but they were easy once I got the hang of the using the loom. You can make single layer, double layer and even square flowers with the loom. 

I used the Simply Sheer Asiana Ribbon in both Pewter and Scarlet, Grosgrain ribbon in both Navajo Turquoise and Cream and the Metallic Gold Grosgrain ribbon to make the flowers. They are all 1/4″ wide, which seems to work best. (Though the Metallic Gold Grosgrain was 3/8″ and I would recommend using the 1/4″ instead.) I also purposefully selected colors that are working to pull together the different colors in my living room.

Once you have your flowers made and your wreath form covered, figure out the placement of the flowers on the wreath. Aren’t they so cute?

Lastly, hot glue the flowers in place and proudly hang your wreath. I also added a ribbon on the back to hang the wreath. Just use a dab of hot glue to the ribbon to add it to the back.

Keeping it real, like I always do, this wreath took a lot longer to make than I thought it ever would. It is so easy to lose track of time, but I think the covering of the frame took me 2 hours and making the flower took about the same amount of time. I would guesstimate that this wreath will take you 4 hours. None of the work is hard. It is great TV watching stuff, but it is not a super quick and easy project. Just want to make sure you know that before you give this a go.

So what do you think? Ribbon frame or ribbon wreath? Leave me a comment below or on my facebook page. I still think it is a wreath, though I can totally see my family’s argument that it is a picture frame, but you know if you side with me, we will be besties forever. 😉

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