Thanksgiving Wreath…with Burlap Bunting

Maybe you thought I was squeezing Thanksgiving right out of the holiday schedule…….but nope!  I have a few Harvest/Gratitude/Thanksgiving things that I’ve been wanting to make.  And then share.  So, yeah, I may have decorated a Christmas tree….but I stopped there.  For now.  (Because I may or may not have a few more Christmas things to share next week, which is STILL before Thanksgiving!  I can’t help it!)

But first up……I needed a little declaration for our little family to remember all that we DO have.  And to show gratitude daily.

And this little wreath does just that.

The burlap bunting goes together quickly (with no sewing involved) and is super non-fussy……..but shouts a bold statement.

The simple bunting is tied right onto a grapevine wreath, with some jute string…..and the loose ends hang down on both sides.

However, I can’t decide if I like it better atop a little shelf leading into the dining room……

Or hanging from the front door……

I guess I’ll have to swap it out every other day—- Or, hmmmmm, maybe make another wreath.  It was simple enough, I may just have to make another one but with a slightly different message.

Hey, now that I’m thinking about it………maybe I’ll sprinkle them all around the house, with different gratitude messages. 

Now, that’s a great idea…..because a reminder to be grateful is truly good for the soul. :)

Would you like to make your own Thankful Wreath?

Okay, let’s hop on this one…

SUPPLIES:

• Grapevine Wreath (mine is 19 inches)
• Burlap
• Freezer Paper
• Black Acrylic paint
• Sponge Brush
• Hot Glue
• Jute String

Start by deciding how large you’d like your letters to be.  Mine are about 1 1/8 inches tall and vary in width, depending on the letter. 

Then, fold your burlap in half and cut some rectangles on the fold, so that when they are opened up, you have a long diamond.  Just be sure that each triangle you you cut is plenty big enough for your letters.  (My triangles are about 3 inches wide and 2 3/4 inches long.)

Then, create your letter stencils from freezer paper.  (Want to know more about Freezer Paper?)

I cut mine out with my Silhouette (just like I did here) but I have also traced letters onto the paper and cut out with a utility knife (like here).  Both work.

With your triangles still folded in half, center each of your letters onto each triangle and iron the freezer paper onto the burlap.

Then, sponge on some black paint right onto the burlap within the stencil.  You don’t need a ton…….just enough to paint the very top layer of burlap.

After the paint dries, peel back the freezer paper.

Then, cut a long piece of jute string and begin arranging your letters on the string.  Open up the triangle and add a line of glue right along the fold, place jute along the glue, then fold the triangle closed again and press flat.

Open up the tip of the triangle again and add a bit of glue to the end and then press closed.

Continue arranging the G. I. V. E. along your jute string and then repeat with T. H. A. N. K. S. on your second string.  I left a 1/4 inch space between each triangle of the bunting….but the spacing depends on how long you’d like your overall string of words to extend.

Then, hold your two strings of words together in your left and right hands.  Hold them up to your wreath, to decide how you’d like your bunting to hang.  Wrap the two string ends in your left hand around your wreath, tie and knot, and let the loose ends hang.  Repeat with the right side.

Then hang your wreath….

And enjoy your special reminder to be grateful!

-Ashley

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