Fall wreaths adorn the wall outside our front door, and also in the garage at the door coming into the house. I like that bit of Autumn color welcoming me home, and greeting guests no matter which door we use. Because our garage was added to the home sometime after it was built, there is a nice door and brick wall at that entrance. This was an Autumn Jubilee wreath from a previous year, and because it never hangs outside, it is still looking nice with its ribbons and pine cones.
Today, let’s make a new wreath for the front, using an old wreath for a base with materials collected from the yard, and leftover silk leaves from another project.
I’m starting with a dried grapevine wreath base that was a previous Autumn Jubilee project. After hanging outside for a couple of seasons, it was pretty bedraggled, so I removed all the elements and cleaned it up. I’ll be using a rust color, wide, wire edge ribbon for the main bow and streamers. I start that bow by making a center loop about the same size as the width of the base.
Then I add loops, twisting the back as I go so the top of the ribbon is always facing out.
Make as many loops as you like, the same number on each side of the center loop. Secure with wire. When I’ve made the bow as big as I want, I set it aside.
Then, I wrapped a wide gold ribbon around the base and glued down the ends on the back side. This will add a nice dimension with two ribbons.
Next, put the streamers on the wreath base in the rust color ribbon. Note that these are not part of the bow, these are two separate things. The bow will be off center and the streamers will be glued down at the top, and where they intersect the base again near the ends.
Add the bow to the top, and start adding elements like fall leaves. I do the bow first as it is the largest element on the wreath.
Add the same elements to the other side of the bow.
Add additional elements with different colors and textures, like small pine cones and nuts.
Keep working around the base, adding more pine cones and other textural elements until it is a full as you want. Some will overlap the gold base ribbon, most fill in the spaces between ribbon wraps.
All done. I’ll hang this one outside for the season, it will last until Thanksgiving.
Today’s giveaway is sponsored by Dot Dash Publishing, the ones that do some of our favorite magazines with inspiration for many creative projects! They will will ship the wonderful Better Homes & Gardens cookbook, along with 6 issues of their most popular magazines – American Patchwork & Quilting October and December issues, Better Homes & Gardens magazines Holiday Crafts, Christmas Ideas, Cottage Style Christmas, and Farmhouse Christmas in a nice tote bag. Total value $106!! Perfect for getting inspired for this holiday season.
Better Homes and Gardens has an amazing website, full of ideas for every aspect of holiday and everyday inspiration. To enter today’s drawing, visit Thanksgiving Ideas page to see all the cooking, decorating and project articles available to help inspire you, then leave a comment on this post. Which Thanksgiving article was the most appealing to you?
From My Carolina Home 
I enjoyed the article on centerpieces. I am always looking for ways to make the table pretty.
55 pumpkin recipes! Always looking for something new.
I like the article about squash recipes. Some sound very good.
I found the Thanksgiving Recipe article interesting -food first! Imagine that!
The Buttery mushroom stuffing recipe sounds so good.
I found looking at the Thanksgiving crafts and decorating for Thanksgiving fun and there were some great and simple ideas that won’t break the bank !
There were many great ideas for thanksgiving foods. I’m always looking for a new recipe to add something different. The slab pies were a great idea for the crowd and looked delicious.
My mom always had a new recipe of some sort on the T-day menu. I’m a sucker for squash. The Maple roasted acorn sounds delish.
I loved the Thanksgiving and Crafts page. The pumpkin with the straw flowers was amazing!
Such a pretty update to your wreath! I always think a wreath is such a warm welcome to anyone who comes. The last couple of years birds have nested in my spring wreaths, which is fun to watch the progress from egg to fly-away, but made a big mess and ruined the wreaths! Our fall wreath is behind a glass storm door, easy to see, but away from the elements. I enjoyed the 4 Small appliances article as well as How to cook a Turkey in a bag. This year, though, we are away for TG and won’t have full responsibility. Just making family rolls!
My version of the cookbook is so tatty hole reinforcements no longer keeps it in check. You sure can tell which recipes are favorites. My husband makes a mean grapevine wreath. I yield this project to him.
The Better Homes and Garden article that appealed to me most was the article on squash recipes for Thanksgiving. Some sound just delicious!
The fall centerpieces ideas was my favorite article. I’m hosting Thanksgiving this year so I’m gathering ideas although I have had a lot of inspiration from Autumn Jubilee 2023 especially decorating with the canning jars.
I love a good pumpkin recipe! I could cook pumpkin desserts all year round. I’m a big fan of making my own wreaths.
Thanksgiving fall decorating ideas and then under that I found 40 fall wreaths. There are some amazing ideas out there. I specifically loved the square wreath.
23 Thanksgiving Ideas because it’s always nice to switch things up during the holidays. I’m a big fan of making my own wreaths too.
I liked the soup recipes. I’m always on the hunt for new soup recipes to make up during the cold winter months.
I really need to make a new fall wreath. My old one is looking a little long in the tooth! Yours is wonderful. I think I have all the supplies so maybe this will be a weekend project. Thanks for the motivation!
Love all the recipes for Turkey on the site. I never know what to do with all the leftovers and its nice to have some new ideas to try.
Like how you used more than one ribbon on your wreath. Gives your door a welcoming feel.
My favorite Better Homes and Garden Thanksgiving idea was Thanksgiving Squash Ideas that Might Upstage the Turkey. The Coconut Acorn Squash and Carrot Soup recipe looks delicious and easy. I think I’ll try this well before Thanksgiving.
A big THANK YOU to you Carole and Better Homes and Gardens for broadening my horizons with ideas, recipes and fun projects!
What an attractive wreath. My yard is full of pinecones, and I learned that they need to be cleaned well before using them in decorating projects. One year I was to bring pinecones for a centerpiece project for a luncheon, and spent a couple of days washing and drying pinecones in the oven and on all my radiators! 🙂 I loved seeing the BHG Plaid cookbook. Mine is from 1972 or so. Article I liked was the Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes to Help You Stress Less on Turkey Day.
28 Cozy Ways to Decorate a Mantle for Fall. I often get stuck in a rut when decorating the mantle. I like seeing different creative ideas to help push me forward.
I’m making Thanksgiving dinner for the first time in several years so all the BH&G recipe ideas are welcome! I have two squash on my counter waiting to find inspiration. Also interested in Christmas crafts and decorating – it’s two months from today – yikes!
I still have (and use) my cookbook I received in 1977! That is where my chocolate and coconut pies originated. I was drawn to the articles for desserts.
Love the wreath …cute way to reuse & decorations from
Nature too !
The article I loved was How to Store a Pumpkin Pie !!! This article solved a long time disagreement between my husband and I …he says “on the counter”…..I say “fridge”!!! Article confirms …because of the custard like ingredients…all leftover pumpkin pie should be refrigerated !!
I will definitely try the Apple Dutch Baby. My Mom always made a Finnish pancake much like this one. The addition of the apple topping looks yummy. Love your repurposed Autumn Wreath. It will make the entry way so warm and inviting.
Your wreath finished so beautifully. I enjoyed the table decor article, but bookmarked the page to come back to read more. There were a lot of interesting ones.
I have butternut and acorn squash from my garden, so I looked at and will use some of the recipes in the squash article. Thanks.
How to store pumpkin pie was a good article to read.
Thanksgiving Desserts led me to slab pie recipes — it would be delightful to offer a variety of small slices after a holiday meal instead of a single serving from a large pie.
Under the Fall decorating ideas, I found 22 Festive Fall Front Porch Ideas. Lots of good ideas!
That is such a pretty wreath, Carole! You really have a knack for that kind of crafting. I liked the article about recipes for Thanksgiving side dishes. I can always use some new ideas for those!
Honestly, it’s the Turkey à la King recipe. I always need recipes for turkey leftovers.
Oh, my goodness! How does one CHOSE?? The possibilities go on and on. I decided to concentrate on Thanksgiving Side Dishes. I would really love to try the Caramelized Carrot and Onion Stuffing or the Apple, Bacon and Leek Stuffing.
I’m impressed with your wreath and bow making….chosing is the hardest part…I really enjoy your website thank you bobbie
My bows always look “sad – now I know why and how to do this the proper way! Thanks!!!!!
15 Slab Pie Recipes That Are So Much Easier to Make for a Crowd. All those pies look delicious and easy to make. yum
My first cookbook when I moved out of my parent’s was the BH&G red and white one! I still have it, some 30+ years later. It would be fun to see the updates.
A friend of mine always makes 5 to 8 pies every year for Thanksgiving dinner so I immediately saw a use for the fun “Adorable DIY Thanksgiving Pie Boxes!” There’s always so much pie to take home.
And then I saw the “46 DIY Outdoor Halloween Decorations to Add Seasonal Spookiness” article and will be checking that out right now!
I enjoyed the slab pie article
I love the ‘Branching Out’
Leaf design! And your wreath looks lovely.
Carla from Arizona
Very nice! It’s all I can do to get the Christmas wreath hung every year. I tried making wreaths ones but it stressed me out. LOL!
I read “Air Fryer Turkey Breast Crispy and Juicy.”
I need a new better homes & gardens cookbook. I gave mine to my son when he moved into his first apartment. My favorite cookbook by far.
In the Thanksgiving casserole recipes, the sweet potato topped turkey pot pie sounds yummy. A fun way to use leftovers
Your wreath is beautiful. Very welcoming
I love the jellied cranberry sauce that comes in a can so the article most interesting to me was-9 Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipes That Will Steal the Show. Maybe I can experiment and branch out this year with a new favorite!
Their smoked turkey looks scrumptious! I have the most ancient BH&G cookbook that could use replacing. And ideas—I need holiday inspiration after a massive craft table to raise QOV funds. Love the easy wreath, and the idea to reuse the base wreath from a previous creation.
I love their 25 outdoor décor ideas. Especially the Jumbo Jack O’Lantern made out of wire baskets! So cute!!
I really wanted to try making the DIY Thanksgiving Pie Box, but unfortunately I couldn’t download the template. I kept getting a “File was not downloaded due to a security risk” message.
Try a different browser.
The article with slab pie recipes will come in handy when I am prepping for a big holiday crowd!
hi
I did’nt see the drawing in the big list of stuff
?????
virginia
The drawing will be for the prize package from Dot Dash, as pictured in the post. Not sure what you are unclear about.
I enjoyed reading and perusing the photos in the article by BH&G 28 Cozy Ways to Decorate Your Mantle for Fall. They have some great ideas. I loved the painted white picture frames. Never thought to do anything like that. Thank you for the giveaway!
Such a lovely wreath! I have salvaged the base from old wreaths too after the ribbons, flowers and doo-dads fade away. I’ve tried my hand at making ribbon bows without a lot of success, but I will give it another go with your great tutorial!
Looking over all the interesting articles for the holiday that is coming up way too quickly, I’ve already pinned a few mouthwatering recipes from 55 Pumpkin Recipes You Can Make for Every Day of Fall. We love pumpkin anything around here!
Love the wreath, Carole. You made it look easy!
Thanks for the ideas recycling prior wreaths.
I liked the Thanksgiving and Holiday decorating ideas–especially the table decorations!
I’m always looking for new ideas for appetizers so the Thanksgiving appetizers and side dishes was the article that I chose to spend the most time with.
Your wreath directions are helpful and it looks lovely. There are so many inviting articles on the BH&G site, but my favorite is 15 Slab Pie Recipes. I never heard of slab pies before, but what a simple way to enjoy pie as a dish-to-pass for a group. There’s the dessert idea for my quilt guild holiday party!
Beautiful wreath! I love the pie slab idea!
Your wreath is very pretty and certainly epitomizes Autumn! I liked the Thanksgiving Decorating Ideas…we just added a new bi-level front porch to our home and a wraparound deck. I’m really interested in ideas for entry ways, doors and decks. Thanks for another great post!
I love your tutorials! And I just had a chance to look at all those articles – I really love “slab” pan desserts and that article is a perfect round up of them.
If you are interested