Trim down stems to about the point where it stops wrapping in wire with your stem cutter. Remember to fluff your pick just like you would your Christmas tree. Give your branch some love.
Determine a secure place to add this heavy pine pick. Look for a spot on your grapevine that has a cross area of strong twig so you can wedge your pick stem underneath. Once in place, use hot glue to secure it. Determine another spot on top of the pick to small zip tie as well to prevent your pine pick from falling forward over time.
Repeat as you add your next 2 fluffed pine picks. Working in a pattern of 3. Decorate your wreath adding your first pine straight up, next out to the right on the base of the wreath. And final pick pointing directly down. This will create a full, much larger appearing wreath with the use of 3 pine picks. Leave the pine cones there in a cluster, as they will help support our bow later.
Grab your frosted holly berry twigs. These are pretty boring by themselves, but they will look fabulous in a second. Weave it in amongst the pine picks. Manipulate and adjust so it looks like the berries were made on the pine picks to begin with. Trim stem. Zip tie in place once happy with placement. You can use some of your pine tines to secure the holly twig by twisting around as well. Fluff and adjust your pine to help secure as well. Use hot glue if needed.
If needed, separate your holly pick into 2 pieces to add to your remaining pine picks. Place so your berries are peeking out as far as they can, as we will add a bow in the center later on in the project. Use zip ties, pine tines, and hot glue to secure to project. Once happy with placement for your berries and pine tines, set your wreath aside.
Grab your EZ Bow Maker. I am using black and white with pops of red for our ribbons. Now for the bow! With my ribbon choices I am alternating with non-glittered and glittered, but you don’t have to. You choose what you like best. Grab your EZ Bow Maker and repeat after me, “Pinch, Twist, and Loop.” That is the key to making beautiful bows!
Let’s begin with your 4” black velvet ribbon. Measure out about 9” to create your first tail. Give it a pinch and twist before sliding into your EZ Bow Maker. Pull tail down. We’re going to measure our loop to be about 7”. Bringing it back through, twist it. Now measure again, 7” on your loop on the other side. We will create another 7” loop so this layer of bow will have 3 total loops. Pulling ribbon back through, you will measure out your second tail pointing out toward the top of your bow, about 11”. Trim ribbon to make the next layer.
For the next layer of ribbon, grab your 2nd ribbon, 2” red and white striped theme. With this layer we’re going to have our tail pointing out and up the first time, opposite from our first layer. Give it a twist. So if our tail’s pointing up, we want our first loop going up. We’re not going to measure anymore. We’re just going to make each layer of ribbons a little bit smaller going in. 2nd and 3rd loops in this layer will match the length of that loop, but instead point downward on your bow. Cut ribbon, having your tail pointing downward - about 10”, opposite in position from your loop.
Third layer of ribbon with your black and white snowflake 2” ribbon, repeat steps to have 2 long tails and 2 matching loops. This layer of bow will have just 2 loops, not 3 like we just did in steps 10 and 11. Pay attention to your loop and tail placement, as they should accent the first 2 layers of ribbon in your bow. That just means, make sure it is eye-appealing
4th layer of bow, made with 1 ½” red ribbon will be created repeating the same steps. Only 2 loops for this layer.
Final ribbon to complete this bow will be made with your 1 ½” black and white striped ribbon repeating these same steps. Only 2 loops.
To finish the bow, get 2 pipe cleaners, and twist together on ends to create 1 long pipe cleaner. Give a good tug to make sure they don’t come apart. Wrap it around all the layers of ribbon with the center of the pipe cleaner at the top. Hold the layers tight. While holding each side of the pipe cleaner as close to the bow, twist nice and tight, and you’ll see the loops and tail start to form the bow. Twist the bow and not the ribbons. Fluff and adjust your loops and tails to your fancy.
We want to add our big bow right in the center of those three pine picks amongst the pine cones. Use the pipe cleaners to weave down in and through the grapevine to secure. Once on there, fluff and adjust your loops and tails playing with placement. Have your longer tails hanging down on your wreath. When happy, place aside. We will add dovetails to ribbon ends later, but keeping length for right now
Let’s add some tails next. Grab your red and white striped 2 ½” ribbon and measure out 30”. Repeat with your black and white striped rippon, cutting 14”.
To create your first ribbon tail, grab your red ribbon in one hand. Pinch and twist the ribbon, creating one loop. Pinch and twist the ribbon again to ensure your second tail is facing the same direction as the first. Keeping that tight in your hand, grab the black and white ribbon, folding in half adding to your pinched section of the red ribbon. Fold it over. Grab a skewer and place it into your bundle of ribbons to create our own fake pick. Wrap a zip tie around that bundle so it holds together. Repeat so you have 2 of these fake ribbons picks. Fluff your ribbons and bring your wreath back over.
Trim your skewers a bit before inserting the first one off to the right side of your pine picks. This placement will have it poke out a bit and extend those ribbon colors. And your second ribbon pick up top on your wreath, poking out in that direction next.
Dovetail those ribbon ends for all, including your main bow.
Next let’s add my favorite part of this wreath, the SNOWFLAKES! First begin by snipping them from the main stem with wire cutters. Leave some length so they are easy to add. Work your snowflakes all the way around your wreath on one side to begin, tucked in behind your bow. Give a bit of bend to the wire so they pop out and add dimension. Hot glue in place once you insert into grapevine.
Before we add more snowflakes, let’s eyeball where you want to place the snowman. Having a visual plan is always a good idea. I am adding my snowman so he rests just above the bow on the opposite side of the snowflakes.
Begin by snipping a small hole on his lower back on the left and right. Insert 1 pipe cleaner into those holes and twist the pipe cleaner a bit. Then take some hot glue to hold in place and help secure the holes from tearing over time. Use your pipe cleaner to attach to your grapevine and hold in place. Use some hot glue to stay right where you want him to stay. No shifting or slipping for you little snowman. No need to worry about the rocks in your weighted snowman.
Let’s get back to our snowflakes now. Insert around on the other side of the wreath, accenting your bow and snowman. Remember to use hot glue as you insert.
Let’s add a little bit of shimmery greenery. This will help lighten up the whole project. Cut a tiny section from your main bush, being sure to fluff. Insert into your pines here and there. Add one peeking out a bit from your bow as well. Play with placement where your wreath could use some love. This also adds some pretty texture to complete your wreath.
I feel like our bow just needed a little something. So I popped in a glittery little red ornament right in the center with a drop of hot glue.
Make any adjustments as needed. Arrange the bow. Shift your greenery and berries. Move your snowman here and there, so you’re happy with everything you just created! AHHHH, it is done and so much fun.