Waste-Free Wreath
Ah rainy days. They’re perfect for staying inside and crafting, with a cup of coffee or tea at your side. If you are in fact fortunate enough to not have to leave your house today, scrounge around for some plastic bags and have a go at craft diva Vickie Howell’s Waste-Free Wreath.
You will need:
16" wire wreath circle
35-40 plastic grocery bags
Empty cereal box
Star stencil
White craft paint & sponge brush
Craft glue
Glitter (she used Crafty Chica Chunky Glitter in goddess gold)
Rub-on letters
10" jewelry or florist wire
Scissors
Hole punch
1½" die cutter (or round object with a similar diameter to trace around)
38" x 7" piece of eco packaging wrap
38" x 7" piece of eco packaging wrap
Directions:
1. Cut the bottom and handles off of bags. Scrunch each grocery bag so it’s easier to work with and tie them onto the wire wreath circle. Fluff. Use plenty o’ bags so the circle is full.
2. Trim wild bag ends and make the circle semi-symmetrical. Save several of the cut-off pieces for later use.
3. Make a bow by folding the eco-packaging wrap in thirds. Pinch the center with your fingers and wrap wire around it to hold in place. Use tails of wire to attach the bow onto the wreath by wrapping it around the wire wreath circle. Snip off excess.
4. Cut open an empty cereal box so that cardboard is flat. Using a stencil, trace five stars onto plain side. Cut out stars.
5. Paint stars white. Cover with liberal amounts of glitter. Allow to dry.
6. Using either a die cutter or scissors, cut out five 1½" circles from the leftover cereal box cardboard.
7. To make letter medallions, follow the directions on the rub-on letter package. Spell PEACE by pressing one letter on the back of each cardboard circle. Or you can also use magazine letters; they’ll add another recycling element to your wreath.
8. Glue letter medallions to stars, then punch holes at the top of each one. Also punch holes in the wreath’s bag strands, where you want to attach your star ornaments. Tie finished PEACE stars using leftover pieces of bag.
Image courtesy of Vickie Howell
Comments
While the wreath is cute, I don't actually see how it's waste free. If you use reusable bags (and who doesn' t have a thousand of those by now?) you wouldn't end up with trying to figure out what o do with a bunch of left over bags.
Once you destroyed the bags to make the wreath, you can't use them again for anything else.
I am all for reusing and recycling, but let's be honest about it.
Posted by: fea | November 12, 2009 10:32 AM
I use totes but always have some plastic bags around from something. Usually use them when I take the dog for a walk. I kind of like the idea of using for something creative, like this wreath. Sure you can't use the bags again, but you can use the wreath year after year!
Posted by: Zita | November 12, 2009 11:49 AM