To begin, my heart-shaped grapevine definitely had some character/challenges/flaws. First, it was really tight. I would struggle to work my pipe cleaners down through it, so I didn't plan to. Second, the heart shape was not perfect, but that was okay. In observing your wreath frame, to begin with, (for whatever project you are doing) it helps to visualize what ways you can best create. Knowing what you have to work with is very important. Once I figured out which side of my frame I wanted to use, the angle for placement, and overall what I wanted, I felt ready.
Grab your 20-30” swag. We are only going to use part of it. Cut off 10” with wire cutters from the top, saving the bottom of the swag for another project later. Fluff those pine tines, making pretty your 10” swag piece. Add that piece to the top of your heart at an angle. Manipulate and bend the swag to fit that shape as best as you can to create a base.
Once in place, use zip ties to secure it. Try your best to work it through the tight grapevine. Use 2 to secure on both sides of your swag. Trim the excess of the zip ties so they don’t scratch up your customer’s door. Use pine tines on swag to hide any zip tie that can be seen. We now have a thicker surface to decorate.
Grab your leftover florals from your craft stash. I am using a bundle of white flowers as a filler. Place it towards the front of your wreath on top of your swag piece. Use pine tines, hot glue, and/or zip ties to secure it to your grapevine.
Using your EZ Bow Maker and repeat after me, “Pinch, Twist, and Loop.” That is the key to making beautiful bows! We will make several layered bows with lots of different colored, thin ribbons. We are using thin ribbons because we don’t want a huge bow to cover up/hide the heart shape.
Let’s begin with your 2.5” black, white, and red ribbon as a base. 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 6”. Bringing it back through, twisting it. Pulling the ribbon back through, you will measure out your second tail pointing out toward the top of your bow, about 11”. For each layer, you will alternate the sides in which you have your single loops using 1.5" ribbon. Trim ribbon to make the next layer. Keep the pattern of one loop, with 2 tails, one longer than the other.
For the next layer, grab your 2nd ribbon, a 1.5 solid red. Repeat making 1 more single loop for this layer of bow. Give it a twist. The loops will alternate in directions, just as the tails. Trim ribbon and set aside.
Third layer of ribbon with your 1.5” red and white polka dot ribbon, repeat steps to have 1 single loop and 2 tails. 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. Next, adding the 4th layer of the bow, made with a 1.5” black, white, and red checkered ribbon will be created repeating the same steps.
Now for the 5th layer of the bow, made with a 1.5” white ribbon with red trim from the Hobby Lobby will be created repeating the same steps. Final ribbon to complete this bow will be made with your 1.5” black, white, and red with hearts to create your center loop for the bow. Phew, that’s a big beautiful bunch of layers.
To finish the bow, get 2 pipe cleaners, and twist them 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. 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 that bundle of white florals. Use the pipe cleaners to weave down in and through the grapevine to secure. Work it around if your grapevine is too tight to squeeze through. Once on there, fluff and adjust your loops and tails by playing with placement. Pull the ribbon tails forward and backward so some of the white florals are showing through the bow.
Be careful to maintain the heart shape of your grapevine. It is too cute to be hidden. Place shorter tails outside of the heart and longer tails hanging down lower on the inside. Dovetail the ribbon ends to keep it classy.
Let’s add some red florals. Cut sections from your main bundle to work with. Push flowers up towards the top of the stems as you determine where to add. Have some pop from the top and bottom of your greenery base. Maintain the angles of your heart, as you workpieces into the greenery. Don’t forget to hot glue those stems as you work them in, adding pretty little pops of color.
We will need to create a hanger since this grapevine wreath is not a traditional circle/oval shape. Grab a pipe cleaner to weave through the back of your grapevine. If it is really tight, use your needle nose pliers to allow you to open a tiny little opening for the pipe cleaner to get through there. Create a loop by tightening the pipe cleaner so it is nice and secure. Step back and take a look at your wreath. Make any adjustments as needed. Arrange the bow. Shift your greenery and florals. Decide if you want to add more, or leave it as fabulous as it is.