Hi Doris here, Happy Christmas to you all I hope you enjoy making your forever wreath. Gather all your ingredients put some Christmas music on and let’s get Christmassy!

Doris the Florist is holding a Christmas wreath workshop on December 9th at City Business Park Plymouth for £40 everything included please contact me if you wish to make a booking where we will all become festive together making forever wreaths or traditional wreaths the choice is yours! with music, refreshments and good ol' Christmas pies or a slice of cake yummy!

Or if you would prefer you can buy a DIY kit directly from Doris with everything you will need to make your perfect Christmas wreath. Just call 01752 424807 or visit www.qcflowers.co.uk

You will need

• 15 small snow cones
• 15 micro red sparkle cones
• 15 small pine sprigs
• 15 snow pine sprigs
• 5 Lotus heads
• 2 long stems of berry to cut
• 2 long stems of gold foliage
• 8 small poinsettia
• Assorted baubles
• 9 cinnamon sticks
• Robin
• 16 inch straw ring
• Reel wire
• Bullion wire
• Floristry adhesive Glue
• Snow spray
• Glitter glue
• Wired Ribbon
• Floristry scissors

Top Tips

•Every Christmas add a new item to your wreath to create a new memory.

• Hide a scented Christmas wax in to your wreath to make it smell authentic.

• Use 12” rattan wreath rather than 16” straw wreath to save on materials

• You can use a hot glue gun for speed, use with caution as it can cause injury

Step 1

Select items you wish to add to your straw wreath for example I have used pine cones, glitter, snow spray, baubles, artificial pine stems, lotus heads, berries, foliage-coloured stems, cinnamon sticks, embellishment accessories, cold floral glue, bullion wire. These can be items you have picked up on walks, purchased from craft shops or any items you have around your home. Spray snow lightly on some of the pine cones and paint ends with glitter glue on the
smallest cones.

Step 2

Secure one end of the wreath with a wire loop to hang, twist ends and secure through wreath test to make sure secure you can also add an extra loop pin and pin in to the straw over the loop for added security. Note: you can also add ribbon to this loop afterwards if you wish to hang a longer ribbon on the front door wreath for added impact.

Step 3

Thread the baubles through the top with two equal-length wires, ensuring there’s enough to tie around the wreath. Group small baubles or use a single large one. Tie the wire around the straw wreath, twist to secure, and pin into the straw, keeping the wreath behind the ornament. Apply cold glue on the straw, wait for it to get tacky, then position the ornament on top. Hold for a minute until it sets. Repeat for other ornaments and materials, placing them where desired on the wreath using the same method (just use glue for the less heavier materials).

STEP 4

Lastly if you wish to add a bow you can either buy an already-made bow or take a long piece of wired ribbon or velvet ribbon about 90cm for luxury and make in to a large bow. Wrap bullion wire around the centre piece of bow to pinch together the bow shape, add a long tail of bullion wire together twist at the back of the bow and push long wire ends around the straw wreath carefully and secure at the back and push through the straw wreath.