How to Create a Beautiful Wreath Step by Step Plus Care Tips

There’s nothing quite like the smell of fresh pine and the satisfaction of saying, “Yep, I made that!” A greenery wreath might look like something only pros whip up, but trust me—it’s less intimidating than it seems. We break it down step by step. Basically, making it a cozy little craft project disguised as holiday décor. My guide will walk you through the process (no tangled wire meltdowns required) and share practical tips to keep your wreath looking fresh, vibrant, and downright beautiful long after the last carol is sung.

Step-by-step wreath crafting with fresh materials

Materials

Before starting, collect all the supplies you need. Having everything ready makes the process smooth and enjoyable.

• Wire wreath base

• Greenery: Fresh pine, fir, arborvitae and juniper branches

  • Fir - Frasier, Douglas, Balsam and Silver: short spikey needles

  • Pine - White: long soft whimsical needles

  • Arborvitae - Port Oxford Cedar: flat and fan-shaped, with a lacy appearance

  • Juniper: have small, round berry-like cones

• Decorative elements: Pinecones

• Tools: Pruning shears, wire paddle, wire cutters (not included), and gloves (not included) if needed.

  
  

Prepare Your Workspace

Set up a clean, flat surface with good lighting. Lay out your materials so you can easily reach them. Protect your table with newspaper to catch clippings.

Step 1: Attach the Greenery

Begin by fastening your wire to the wreath base by twisting it around the base five times. Set the wire paddle aside, as we won't cut the wire until all the greenery is in place. Use the floral wire to secure the bundles of greenery to the base.

• Few Notes Before We Get Started:

  • Work around the wreath in one direction for a uniform look.

  • Each bundle of greens you'll attach to the wreath wire is made up of 3 branches

    • Include a varied mix in each bundle. We applied this method when assembling the kits as well. Here is an example:

      • Fir, Pine, Fir

      • Fir, Arb, Juniper

      • Fir, Pine, Arb

      • Fir Pine, Fir

    • If there is a shorter branch, place that on top of the bunch

    • Space the juniper (the greenery with the berries) evenly to achieve a more consistent appearance.

  • Overlap each bundle slightly to cover the wire and base completely.

  • Distribute the greenery 3-4" along the wreath wire. Avoid clustering everything together or leaving a gap at the end due to running out of greenery.

  • Hold up the wreath every now and then - not loving it? No worries! Unwind and give it another go.

  • Be merry, twist and repeat!

To begin attaching the greenery, grab one bundle of 3. You'll lay this up and down on the wreath. Secure the bunch to the wreath by wrapping the wire around the stems of the bunch 3 or 4 times - tightly!

The second greenery bundle you'll space a few inches down and tilt it to the left. Secure the bunch to the wreath by wrapping the wire around the stems of the bunch 3 or 4 times - tightly! Something to note is if you have greenery that tends to fall to the right, it's best to use it on this step. This way the wreath center stays open keeping the center open.

The third greenery bundle you'll space again a few inches down and tilt it to the right. Secure the bunch to the wreath by wrapping the wire around the stems of the bunch 3 or 4 times - tightly!

Repeat the second and third steps all the way around the wreath wire until it is full.

At the end you may have a very small gap. Grab a buddy to help hold back the greenery already attached to the wreath frame so it is not tied down by the wire creating a flat wreath line. Using 1-2 branches add them onto the wreath wire in the same pattern.

Once you've added enough greenery to the wreath wire, unravel 4-6" of wire and cut the wire with wire snips. Wrap the wire around the wreath to secure it - tightly. I like it wrap the last inch around the wreath metal frame.

Step 2: Add Decorative Elements

Once the base layer is full, add your decorative accents - the pine cones.

• Place the wreath on the table face up.

• Place evenly the 5 pine cones around the wreath, creating an evenly spaced look.

• Cut 5 pieces of wire, 12 to 15" each

• Wrap the wire around the pine cones in the middle. Leave two wire tails to work with

• Twist the wire tails once to secure around the pine cone

• Weave the wire through some of the greenery to keep the wreath shape

• Wrap and twist the wire tails to the wreath. Wrap the wire stems tightly against the frame or thicker stems

• Tuck or trim away any wire ends so they're hidden and safe

• Repeat this step for each pine cone

• Give the wreath a gentle shake to check that each pine cone is secure

Step 3: Final Touches and Inspection

Your wreath should feel sturdy and balanced.

• Trim any uneven or protruding stems.

• Make sure all elements are securely attached.

• Shake gently to test stability.

How to Care for Your Wreath

Proper care helps your wreath stay beautiful longer, especially if you use fresh materials.

• Keep it cool: Best spot to place your wreath is outdoors (can last up to 8 weeks). Avoid placing your wreath in direct sunlight or near heat sources to prevent it from drying out.

• Mist lightly: For fresh greenery, spray with water every few days to maintain moisture when it's kept indoors. Best spot to mist with water is the back of the wreath where the stems are

Thank you!

Thank you for being part of our Wreath Workshop. I promise our workshops are wayyyy more fun when we’re laughing side‑by‑side instead of reading step‑by‑step instructions, but I’m so grateful I could help you make your fresh greenery wreath.

We’ll have heaps more workshops (hopefully with less rain or snow drama), and I can’t wait to see you there. Until then, from my family to you & yours - Merry Christmas!