Tag: Month November Week 3

How to Make a Festive Evergreen Candle – Garden Therapy
Take a walk through a winter wonderland with this evergreen candle. Made with a combination of evergreen essential oils and a cool ombre effect, this is the perfect gift to make this holiday season for all your candle-loving friends.

Without a doubt, you know someone in your life who is obsessed with candles. In my life, that person is me. So you can imagine I make quite a few candles!

Around the holidays, you can find me making all kinds of homemade gifts for my friends and family. Candles are one of the most well-received gifts and they aren’t that difficult to make.

Let’s talk about how stunning this evergreen candle is! I used an ombre layering effect, a wooden wick (for that real-life crackle), and wrapped it in twine and a cedar leaf. It looks like it came straight from an artisanal holiday market.

You too can make this beautiful, forest-inspired candle for gifts this year…or hold onto it all for yourself!

This post will cover…

A Note on Wicks

Wicks come in many different materials and forms, from basic cotton on a roll to wired and waxed wicks with tabs. No matter which you choose, you need the right size (thickness) for your candle to burn properly.

Wicks that are too small will not melt the wax all the way to the edge of the candle, creating a tunnel in the center. Wicks that are too large will create a lot of smoke. Look for labeling on the package of wicks to see what wax and candle diameter they are appropriate for.

For this evergreen candle, I’ll be using a wood wick. The crackling sound it makes gives me all the cozy vibes for the holiday season!

Wick Tips

If you use a wick that isn’t wood, keep wicks trimmed to 1/8” to 1/4” for best results. Be sure to only trim the wicks once the candles have fully cooled and cured for 24 hours. The best way to trim a wick is with a wick trimmer – it provides the perfect length every time!
- Cotton wicks come as a roll of cotton string that has been braided to provide thickness.
- Wire wicks have a thin zinc wire in the center that helps to hold the wick straight.
- Waxed wicks are coated with wax. If you are making a paraffin coated candle, use a paraffin coated wick. If you are making a soy or beeswax candle, use a soy coated wick (a soy coated wick has proven to perform better than a beeswax coated wick in a beeswax candle).
- Wood wicks are flat wicks made of soft wood that sound like a crackling fire when they burn. Wood wicks do not need trimming after they re burned.
- Tabs are metal disks (or in the case of wood wicks, they are rectangular) that weigh the wick down and give you a place to glue the wick to the bottom of the container (if appropriate).
Choose whichever wick works best for you!

What Does an Evergreen Candle Smell Like?

This candle smells just like a walk through a wintery forest. Crisp and fresh, this is a great scent to use around the holiday season. When you burn it, you will feel as though you’ve brought the outdoors inside.

For this forest candle recipe, I use a combination of cypress, cedarwood, and sweet birch essential oil. Together, you get a slightly sweet yet woodsy scent. To learn more about how to properly use essential oils in candle making, check out this post.

How to Make an Evergreen Candle

This modern ombre, evergreen candle subtly nods to the holidays, making it a lovely winter gift idea that doesn’t date itself as soon as the festivities are over.

The ombre effect is created with just one colour of wax dye in different strengths to give the candle a decorative graduated colour that adds elegance and interest along with a pop of colour while maintaining a minimalist style.

Materials

See the recipe card at the end of this article for exact measurements

Equipment

Make It

Prepare Wax

Weigh the soy wax and add it to a double boiler on medium heat. While the wax is melting, measure the essential oils into a paper cup. Then prepare the dye chips.

Cut Your Wick

Prepare the wood wick by determining its final height in the candle, approximately 1/4 inch above the tops of the wax. Feed the wooden wick into the metal base and use a dab of hot glue or wax adhesive to attach it to the bottom of the jar at the center.

Make Your Dye

Prepare your ombre colours by calculating how much dye will be needed for the amount of wax. Then, divide the dye chips into three pieces: one large, one medium, and one small.

The larger the difference between the sizes of the chips will mean a greater difference in the colour of each wax layer. Use rubber gloves to protect your hands from the dye while you’re cutting the chip.

Dye Your Wax

Add each piece of dye chip to a shot glass and top with hot wax. Use a chopstick to stir and dissolve the dye chip completely. If the dye chip doesn’t completely dissolve, you can place the shot glass in the double boiler to heat it up a bit more.

Add Essential Oils

When the melted wax has reached the specified temperature for adding essential oils (see the instructions that came with your wax), pour a third of the wax into a heatproof measuring cup. Add the wax you dissolved the largest dye chip in and pour in one-third of the essential oils. Stir well to combine.

Create Your First Layer

Cool wax to 140°F and pour into the jar. Leave it untouched to set for at least one hour. It could take longer than an hour for the wax layer to set, depending on the temperature in the room that you’re working in.

Add Remaining Layers

Follow steps 5-6 for the remaining two layers, adding the essential oils and the wax with the dissolved medium chip first and then the wax with the dissolved small chip. Pour each layer only when the previous layer is completely set.

Evergreen Candle Tips
- You can trim the candle wick after the candle is poured, but you’ll get a cleaner cut if you measure and trim the wick before you pour the candle.
- When using a wood wick and a square jar, align the wick so that it is in line with the top of the jar.
- Wrap the forest candle with a piece of jute twine and inset a freshly cut sprig of evergreen between the bow and the candle glass. The simple and natural wrapping allows the for the gorgeous ombre to peek through, ready to be revealed completely when the twine has been removed.
- The active time for this project isn’t that much more than other candle-making projects. However, it takes a full day to complete this project because of the time for the wax to harden in between each layer. You can scale this project up or down to have as many layers as you would like, but keep in mind that the candle wax needs to harden completely before you pour the next layer
- This evergreen candle has a spruce-inspired blue-green colour that adds a modern touch to winter celebrations, but an ombre candle project can be done at any time of the year. Change the colour depending on the season. For the spring, use pretty pastels. For summer, use bold jewel tones. And for wall, use warm colours like yellow, orange, and red. You can also swap out the fragrance to match the seasonal colours.
Homemade Evergreen Candle

You’ll be walking in a winter wonderland with this evergreen candle.

Weigh your wax and measure your essential oils together in one container. Melt wax over a double boiler on medium heat.

While wax melts, measure your wooden wick to be 1/4 inch above where the top of the wax will be. Insert it into the metal base and attach it to the bottom of the container with glue or wax adhesive.

Refer to your wax to see how much dye is required. While wearing gloves, divide the chip into 3 sizes: 1 large, 1 medium, and 1 small.

Add each dye chip to a shot glass or paper cup and top it off with hot wax. Stir using a chopstick until fully dissolved.

Read instructions that came with your wax for adding scents. When your wax has reached the desired temperature, pour one-third of the wax into a heatproof container and add the largest dye chip and a third of the essential oils.

Wait for the wax to reach 140°F and pour it in the container. Leave it until wax has set and cooled, at least 1 hour.

Repeat steps 5-6 for the other two layers. Add essential oil and the medium sixed chip next followed by the small chip and essential oil. Wait for each layer to fully set before adding the next.

Wrap in twine and a fresh evergreen clipping.
A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.
Stephanie Rose

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November 23, 2025
Pampering Peppermint Coconut Foot Scrub – Garden Therapy
If your feet are dry and rough, or just in need of a little pick-me-up, this peppermint foot scrub is just what you need. This simple DIY scrub takes just minutes to put together, but will provide you with hours of relief.

What do achy, dry, rough feet need? A little pampering straight from the garden! That’s right, even your feet benefit from a little garden therapy.

This peppermint foot scrub is made specifically for feet. Exfoliating sugar and dried herbs will scrub away rough skin, the coconut oil will soften cracks, and soothing peppermint essential oil has a cooling effect.

Update: follow this foot scrub with an all-natural healing foot balm recipe!

When packaged nicely, this mint scrub makes for the perfect gift.

Sugar scrubs are all the rage. You will find endless recipes for them just by scrolling pages of social media. What’s the appeal, you ask? Let me tell you!

Simple to Make

First, diy foot scrubs are simple to make. Not only does it typically take just minutes to put together, but you can usually find all of the ingredients around the house. This makes sugar scrubs a fabulous way to get started if you want to learn how to make your own all-natural skincare products.

Customized Skin-Healing Ingredients

Second, you can be very creative with ingredients. Generally, you start with sugar and oil as the base. Then, the fun really begins. Sure, you can leave the sugar and oil as is and have a nice scrub, but why not dress it up a bit?

Here are just a few things that this particular sugar scrub has in it:
- Scent – in this particular recipe, I use peppermint essential oil and a peppermint tea bag.
- Medicinal properties – peppermint does more than just add a nice scent, however. It also provides a tingling, cooling relief that feet absolutely love.
- Skin healing – one of the major benefits of using coconut oil is that it naturally contains anti-fungal properties. This makes it especially excellent for use on hardworking feet.
Peppermint provides a cooling effect to the skin.

Makes Your Skin Feel Great

Third, they make your skin feel fantastic! I won’t go too far into the adjectives here because I can’t do justice to the smooth, soft, baby skin that you have hidden just beneath that outer layer. Just try it and you will see.

Great Gift Idea

With all those benefits wrapped into one package, why not double or even triple the recipe below and share it with a few friends? This is a DIY gift that absolutely everyone will love.

I like to package this in wide-mouth mason jars, and for a little extra touch, I will add a chalkboard label and even a cute wooden scoop sometimes.

If you are looking for other gift wrapping ideas, take a look at this post about natural and eco-friendly ways to wrap presents.

Alright, let’s talk about how you actually make this peppermint foot scrub.

Remember, this recipe is perfect for feet. You can certainly use it all over your body, and I have, but I love this for cooling and soothing feet.

The secret is in the peppermint essential oil. It has a stimulating and cooling effect on the skin that can really perk up tired feet. If you are prone to foot or leg cramps, a massage with this oil will feel terrific, particularly when followed by this magnesium lotion.

Ingredients Needed:

The following recipe makes 400g of sugar scrub.

Make it!

Layout your ingredients. Note: Set the coconut oil out in a warm place so that it softens but does not completely melt. Look for the consistency of softened butter for baking. It is very difficult to work with coconut oil straight out of the jar, as it does not mix well.

Let the coconut oil soften by placing it in a warm area.

In a bowl, mix together the sugar and the coconut oil.

Empty the contents of the teabag into a small bowl. Sprinkle the herbs into the sugar scrub. You can choose as much or as little as you would like to add, keeping in mind that adding more herbs can make the scrub more abrasive.

Grind the herbs smaller if necessary.

To give a minty green colour to the scrub, add some spirulina powder as a natural colourant. You can play with how much you’d like to add. I kept mine on the lighter side because I prefer a softer green.

Spirulina powder is made from dried algae.

Add 10 drops of peppermint essential oil. That may not seem like very much, but I promise you, a little goes a long way. This is particularly true of peppermint oil!

Peppermint oil is strong, so 10 drops is all you need.

Stir the ingredients together and scoop into a lidded jar.

Use a spoon to grab some scrub rather than your fingers to help it stay clean and last longer.

Give it!

To give this as a present, simply package the scrub in a jar with a chalkboard label, then use a liquid chalk pen to write the label. Wrap jute twine around the top of the jar, just under the lid and tie in a bow.

How to Store Peppermint Sugar Scrub

This scrub will need to be used within 3 months. It will be okay on a bathroom counter for a few days, but anything you keep longer will need to be stored in a refrigerator to extend shelf life.

Store in a fridge to preserve the shelf life.

More Plant-Based Skincare Recipes
DIY Peppermint Sugar Scrub

Give sore, tired feed the ultimate pampering with this DIY peppermint foot scrub. Coconut oil will soothe and heal skin while sugar gently exfoliates and peppermint provides cooling relief.

In a bowl, mix together the sugar and the softened coconut oil.

Add the contents of the peppermint tea bag.

Sprinkle in some spirulina powder as a natural colorant.

Add 10 drops of peppermint essential oil.

Stir together and add to a lidded jar.
A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.
Stephanie Rose

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November 21, 2025
A Succulent Snow Globe Will be the Star of Your Collection – Garden Therapy

These are the perfect winter decorations for plant lovers: succulent snow globes! A snow globe is meant as a souvenir for a special place or time, and I can’t think of anything more special to me than the garden.

I usually stay far away from artificial plants, but in this case, I’ve fully embraced them! Of course, living plants would just not do in a project like this. Succulents and cacti would quickly complain about being soaked. Actual water plants need air and quite a bit more water to thrive.

Making your own snow globe is not that difficult, and can allow you to make personal decor and gifts for family members this season. While I’m using succulents, you can fill your snow globes with just about anything you want!

Let’s dive in.

Fake snow made of glitter is what makes a snow globe so special.

Succulent Snow Globe Instructions

I hope that you decide to craft up a succulent snow globe and make it part of your holiday decor this year.

Materials

Makes one succulent snow globe

Make sure your spice jars have a rounded shape.

Make It!

Look for a succulent that will fit through the small opening of the spice jar as well as fit inside the globe. Trim the stem if necessary.

Everything must fit through the small jar opening.

Cut a wine cork into three sections. If the succulent has no stem, glue it directly to the wine cork and allow it to dry. If the succulent has a stem, trim it to size and use the nail to make a hole to set the succulent stem in. Glue the stem into the cork and allow it to dry.

Let the glue fully dry before moving on to the next step.

Next, glue the cork to the underside of the spice jar lid. Be sure not to get any glue on the seal around the inside of the lid. Gorilla Glue expands, so keep it neat, and the seal will not be compromised when it’s filled with water.

Allow it to dry for 1-2 hours.

Don’t get any glue on the lid’s seal.

Fill the spice jar with water, and then add some glycerin and glitter. Choose white glitter that is small but not superfine. It will clump together with the glycerin and look like snow. The glycerin also helps to slow down the glitter’s movement so you can enjoy it for longer.

I don’t have exact amounts to share, as I simply added the glycerin and glitter, then shook up the water to see if I liked the effect. It’s easy to adjust the consistency by adding more ingredients or more water.

Shake it up and adjust as needed.

When you are ready to assemble the snow globe, top the jar up with water so that it is full to the brim. Hold it over the sink and add the lid with the succulent and twist it into place.

Note: Be sure to correctly position the succulent in the jar if there is a “front” to your design. The jar has a flat front/back and rounded sides, so it’s best to test the position before gluing the succulent in for good.

Use a clear silicone sealer around the lid to hold it in place permanently.

More Creative Holiday Projects for Gardeners

A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.

Stephanie Rose

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November 20, 2025
The Most Beautiful Flowering Houseplants – Garden Therapy

It’s sad to say goodbye to the colourful, cheery blooms of the garden when the seasons change. Flowers just make everything feel lighter and happier. That’s why I make an effort to keep flowering houseplants around, especially during the colder months when the garden has been put to bed and I need my flower fix. Design an indoor garden space with these stunning flowering houseplants, and you will hardly miss the summer garden at all.

Houseplants are a wonderful way for anyone to get a little garden therapy, no matter what the circumstances. Maybe you live in a small apartment with no outdoor space. Maybe it’s the dead of winter and you miss seeing green, living things. Maybe your home is dark and needs brightening up (if that’s the case, check out the best houseplants for low light here).

Houseplants are also a great option for those who are brand new to gardening or don’t think they have a green thumb (EVERYBODY has a green thumb, I promise). Once you see your first houseplant grow and bloom because of the care you give it, you’ll go from identifying as a black-thumb gardener to a proud plant mama in no time!

The Best Flowering Houseplants

Here are my favourite indoor bloomers and some basic care instructions for each one. I hope you create a magical, flower-filled haven in your home with these beauties.

Orchid (Orchidaceae)

Orchids are among the most stunning flowers available. Orchids like to dry out between watering and have plenty of air circulation at their roots. They like a humid environment, so make a simple humidity tray to keep them happy.

Prolong the blooms by keeping the orchid in a warm spot out of direct sunlight. When the blooms have faded, clip off the flower stem and be sure not to overwater. It will make an attractive green houseplant until the next flowers appear.

Orchids can be tricky to get to rebloom, but watering is key.

African Violet (Saintpaulia)

Named for their flowers, which are similar in shape and colour to violets, these low-growing plants produce beautiful frilly blossoms which come in various shades of purple, pink, and white.

African Violets like lots of indirect sunlight, so place them in a bright window. Water them from the bottom with lukewarm or room-temperature water and remove wilted flowers to promote new blooms.

Water from the bottom to avoid getting the fuzzy leaves wet.

Cyclamen

Usually pink, purple, or red, these sweet little flowers have delicate upward-facing petals and pretty variegated leaves. Cyclamen need to be watered regularly (every day or so), but they are also sensitive to overwatering, so check the soil’s moisture level before you water. Cyclamen also like good air circulation, so be sure to remove any dropped blooms and leaves from the top of the soil.

Note: Cyclamen are poisonous to pets.

Bromeliads (Bromeliaceae) and Air Plants (Tillandsia)

Bromeliads and air plants are often brought home when they are flowering, as they are the most striking when the vibrantly-hued flower is in its full glory. That being said, a flowering bromeliad or air plant is at the end of its life cycle.

These epiphytic plants propagate by producing pups at the base of the plant after flowering. The mother plant will then die back and allow the pups to grow, flourish, and bloom.

Bromeliads will only bloom once.

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

Peace lilies are among the easiest flowering houseplants to grow, and they will produce blooms all year long. The bloom consists of a spadix (this is the long, skinny piece that sticks up) surrounded by a white or colored spathe (the large spade-shaped “petal”). The little bumps on the spadix are technically the flowers! This plant likes shade best and should be watered only when soil is dry, about once a week.

Note: Peace lilies are poisonous to pets.

Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter Cacti

Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x Buckleyi), Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata), and Easter cactus (Hatiora gaertneri) are succulents that bloom near the holiday that they are named for. These plants produce gorgeous star-shaped flowers that are red, pink, purple, white, orange, or yellow. For in-depth care instructions, see this post.

These can be prolific bloomers if grown right.

Flowering Maple (Abutilon)

Flowering maples, so called because their leaves have a shape similar to maple leaves (they are actually a type of mallow), can grow anywhere from 1.5 to 10 feet tall. You can control their size by pruning regularly and selecting an appropriate indoor flowerpot. The bigger the planter, the bigger the flowering maple will get. Place in a sunny area and water only when the soil feels dry.

Hibiscus

There are hundreds of hibiscus varieties, but the most common one grown as a houseplant is the Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis). This is the tropical variety that you see plastered all over Hawaiian shirts.

To get them to flower, you want them in a bright location. They should get lots of water in the spring and summer. Indoor hibiscus can suffer from bud drop if they don’t get enough water or humidity. Mist them regularly or set up a humidity tray to help keep things humid.

Have fun creating your indoor flower garden, and remember that garden therapy can happen anywhere, from tiny apartments to big outdoor spaces.

Tips for Taking Care of Your Flowering Houseplants

A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.

Stephanie Rose

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November 18, 2025
17 DIY Christmas Wreath Ideas to Make This Year – Garden Therapy

Each December, a few of my dear friends from the neighbourhood get together and make our Christmas wreaths together. That time means more to me than any gift I could get from them. Today I want to share some of the best DIY Christmas wreath ideas I’ve made over the years for you to craft with your loved ones this holiday season.

My favourite thing about the holidays is celebrating traditions with friends and family. When those holiday traditions also include fresh air, plants, crafting, and Prosecco, it becomes a party that I look forward to all year. The annual Christmas wreath-making day is one of the best of the year!

It all started in 2009 when one of my neighbours (a gardener by trade) invited me and some of the women from the block over for “bubbly” and wreath-making. We laughed and chatted and crafted up these enormous wreaths from all the clippings she had collected from winter clean up in her clients’ gardens. The afternoon quickly became an annual event of bonding and garden therapy.

Since 2009 was also the year that I started blogging, I have a photo journal of my wreaths of Christmas past, and today I’m sharing them with you. Soon, you’ll have your very own outdoor real Christmas wreath to call your own!

In this post, we will cover:

17 DIY Christmas Wreath Ideas

Not all real Christmas wreaths are the same! There are many different ways to style a wreath, for indoors and outdoors, and for various styles. Here are a few of mine to spark some inspiration.

1. Pacific Rainforest Christmas Wreath

This wreath celebrates at least 13 different plant varieties that were cut from within a 1 km radius of my home. I used cedar, pine, blue spruce, heather, English ivy, holly, Nandina, Sarcococca, and more to add a ton of texture and colour to the wreath.

This seems to be my go-to style, as you will see, it’s pretty similar to the wreaths from a few of the previous years. You will also notice that I have become a better wreath maker over the years, as this one has a dense and even form with a clear hole in the middle. Both of these characteristics help to make the wreath look intentional and refined. I made sure to have a few sprigs popping out here and there so it still has that homegrown/homemade look that I love.

2. Giant Pink Hydrangea Wreath

One year, I decided to “Go Big or Go Home” with an enormous wreath that rivals those at a 5-star hotel with an opulent entryway.

That being said, I don’t live in a 5-star hotel, and my entryway is pretty average-sized. I hung the wreath (it held!) but it was pretty hard to get past it to get in the house. See how that looked here. The holly snagged everyone that came to visit, oy!

3. Bleached Pinecone Wreath

This DIY Christmas wreath can be displayed indoors and last forever. I went for a rustic, neutral wreath made entirely from pinecones. Bleached pinecones, to be exact.

I love how the soft, weathered look of the pinecones pairs with the natural ribbon that I used to attach it to the wall. The whole thing came together to look cozy and festive while remaining simple and clean.

4. Fresh Magnolia Wreath

I’m lucky to live by so many magnolia trees. They have the most gorgeous copper brown undersides that contrast with the dark green, shiny leaves.

For this wreath, I used Magnolia Grandiflora leaves and was sure to show off both sides. This created a beautiful contrast that the eye just can’t ignore. I also added incense cedar for fragrance and a little bit of texture variety.

The best part is that this wreath will last for months, taking you through most of fall and winter.

5. A Study in Green Wreath

The year I made this wreath, it was unusually cold and snowy. For 7 weeks, it hovered around freezing, so there was a thick layer of ice on the roads and sidewalks. I got Yaktraxs ice cleats to put on my shoes so I could still get around outdoors and enjoy the snow!

I love that when there’s snow on the ground, it makes everything green stand out all the more. This wreath was inspired by all of the gorgeous, varied green hues of the winter season. Snippets of bright green cedar, blue-green spruce, and everything in between come together to celebrate the season.

6. Everything Wreath

When I made this DIY Christmas wreath, I couldn’t quite decide on a theme, so I decided to make it with a little bit of everything, and boy am I glad I did! It turned out beautifully, didn’t it?

It contained a lot of traditional holiday elements like holly and pinecones, but the hydrangea flowers added an unexpected yet equally festive vibe.

7. Scented Aromatherapy Wreath

Here’s a modern Christmas wreath idea to last you beyond the holiday season, I love this aromatherapy wreath. I think it would look gorgeous any time of the year.

In this design, I used incense cedar and eucalyptus to create not only a gorgeous look, but one that is scented and full of therapeutic benefits. It can be hung inside or out, providing a light scent to everyone passing by.

8. Dried Hydrangea Wreath

After I started adding hydrangeas to my wreath, I thought, why not make a whole wreath out of just hydrangea blooms?

Every year, I make an effort to dry my hydrangea flowers because I adore their weathered yet vibrant vintage colouring. As long as you handle the wreath with care, the dried flowers will last for as long as you like them. You could use this wreath year after year, inside or out.

9. Holly Wreath

Don’t be scared to do all but one kind of foliage. I went for a traditional holly and laurel wreath. Holly really is such a stunning plant, and it grows like crazy here in the Pacific Northwest, so it seemed like a good idea to showcase it in all its glory.

10. Evergreen Wreath

One of the cool things about evergreens is that they’re not all green. They come in lots of different colours and varied textures, making them look great all pulled together in one wreath.

Lots of colour in this wreath comes from the red foliage of new Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica) growth and holly berries (of course).

11. Culinary Herb Wreath

If you don’t have a ton of evergreen garden clippings, perhaps you have a prolific herb garden! I can’t even begin to tell you how amazing a wreath like this smells inside the home.

You can use it as an outdoor Christmas wreath, but I think it looks just as good indoors any time of the year. The herbs will dry on the wreath and look beautiful, but also allow you to harvest and use the herbs whenever you’re cooking.

12. Red and Green Outdoor Christmas Wreath

Using glossy green leaves like laurel, holly, English ivy, and magnolia made for a long-lasting real Christmas wreath that won’t drop so many needles. I love the ivy flowers just before they are about to form berries.

Ripping out big handfuls will also prevent this invasive plant from spreading, and it does make a long-lasting wreath green. This year, I also went “crazy” and added a burlap bow to the wreath (I think I was probably just filling in a bare spot, but don’t tell anyone that!).

13. Felted Snowball Wreath Ornament

If working with fresh greens doesn’t tickle your fancy, or you’re looking for something long-lasting for the indoors, try this snowball wreath.

It’s a creative spin on the wreath, using a plain grapevine wreath as the frame for a simple winter wonderland inside. Inside, you can decorate with anything you like, such as tiny fake trees, dollhouse items, fairy garden pieces, and other small decorative objects.

14. Blue Hydrangea and Hawthorne Berries

I made this wreath for the first Christmas in my new home. I moved from the street my wreath-making sisters live on to a house 7 blocks away.

It was sad to leave my close friends, but it’s not like I went that far. Even so, it did change things. There have been fewer impromptu drop-bys and garden visits since then.

It’s adorned with hawthorn berries harvested from the tree in front of my old house. The blue hydrangea blooms, Aucuba, and Skimmia came from that street as well.

15. Oval Christmas Wreath

In an effort to make a wreath from scratch, I made my own wreath form from grapevines. I wanted a bit of a different shape, so I made an oval. Many of the greens I’ve used each year can be seen, but you may also notice some Sedum Autumn Joy flowers.

Some years, they look quite good at wreath-making time. It depends on how much rain we get in the fall. The red garage door of my old house was painted to match the Japanese maple I planted in front of the garage.

16. Miniature Evergreen Wreath Ornaments

Let’s take things mini. These mini wreaths are made with real cedar clippings. The best part is you really don’t need much, taking a single bough to make an entire wreath.

I used these wreaths as ornaments and to decorate my presents with. They’re small, versatile, and easy to make.

17. The Wreath That Started It All

My very first homemade wreath! As you can see, it was made up of snippets of all sorts of greenery, which looked festive on the red front door.

I included a teeny bit of red here and there with some holly berries, but you can see that this year, I was feeling pretty green. It’s a bit messier and has some curly willow twigs added for interest. I love the wreath that started it all, and I hope that you do, too.

Basics of Wreathmaking + FAQs

How to make a Christmas wreath

Once you make your own Christmas wreath, you won’t ever go back to buying them during the mad holiday rush. Gather the foliage for your wreath by foraging through your neighbourhood or the woods or purchasing greens from a store or online. Look for a contrast of shapes, colours, and sizes.

Next, find a form for the base of your wreath. You can make your own (like this grapevine wreath or purchase one.

Start bunching your greens. Use one sturdy stem as a base and add a couple of other small branches to it. Wrap the base of the bunch in wire or twine and secure it to your wreath.

Repeat this process until you’ve gone all the way around the wreath. Overlap each bunch over the one before it to make it appear lush and full.

Snip off any branches you dislike and add final touches, such as additional decorations. Hang from a wreath hanger. For more detailed instructions, check out this post with step-by-step instructions and a video tutorial.

How do you add things to a real Christmas wreath?

After you have your wreath made of bunched greens, you can go ahead and add in some extra decorative pieces if you wish. Items can either be wrapped in, poked in, or glued in if necessary. Some great additions include:
– Pinecones
– Lights (battery operated)
– Feathers (natural or coloured)
– Sparkly elements (such as ornaments)
– Living plants (air plants are a great one)
– Gourds (good for a Thanksgiving theme)
– Dried berries
– Dried flowers
– Ribbon or bow

What do you need for a DIY Christmas wreath?

The first item you’ll need for your wreath is the base. I like to use grapevine wreaths or wire wreath forms, depending on the type of wreath I’m creating.

For greens, holly, cotoneaster, pine, cedar, yew, pieris, laurel, fir, boxwood, camellia, magnolia, and cypress will all last long on your wreath. You can also add herbs such as lavender, rosemary, and sage.

To attach your greens to the form, opt for twine (natural) or wire (good for beginners). You may also want to buy a wreath hanger if you plan on hanging it on a door.

How can I make an eco-friendly Christmas wreath?

The more organic materials you use, the better! You can make your own grapevine (or other woods such as willow) wreath as a base and use twine rather than wire for wrapping your greenery around.

Avoid the use of floral foam as it is not compostable. Alternatively, you can use a sturdy wire frame you reuse every Christmas. You can fill wire frames with straw or moss as a base.

Of course, fill the wreath with as many fresh or dried greens as possible and avoid the use of any plastics or non-natural materials that can’t be composted. Ideally, you should be able to chuck the whole wreath in the compost bin at the end of the season if you want to!

Where can you hang a Christmas wreath?

Most often, you’ll find wreaths hanging on a front or back door. You will want to make a wreath the right size for your door length and width. You can also hang them on doors inside, but remember that wreaths don’t last as long inside as they do in the cool air outside.

Other popular places outside include over top of windows and on garden gates. Inside, you can place it over the fireplace mantle, on kitchen cabinets, in the entranceway, or lay it flat as a table centrepiece with candles or other decor in the center.

Which of these DIY Christmas wreath ideas was your favourite? Let me know in the comments!

More Holiday Posts to Read

Stephanie Rose

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December 6, 2023
A Very Merry Fresh Holly Wreath for Christmas – Garden Therapy
The prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be on your own front door! Without a doubt, holly is one of the most popular evergreen wreaths and fresh decor used around the holidays. If you want to make a classic and timeless holly wreath for your home, keep reading.

A fresh holly wreath dotted with bright red berries is a traditional way to decorate for Christmas. While I love to play with all sorts of different greens (as well as whites, golds, yellows, blues, and reds) for my holiday decorations, the 20ft tall holly tree that adorns the entrance of my urban garden explodes with berries that beg to be used in festive arrangements.

The leaves may be a bit prickly, but they are worth a few bandages for the final result of this easy-to-make fresh holly wreath.

When you think of holly, you undoubtedly will associate it with Christmas. If you have one on your property, you may also think, “Ouch!” and “Ugh!” the two sentiments I utter when a) getting stabbed by the leaves and b) when I have to clean up the leaves that just won’t compost and pluck out all the volunteers around the garden.

Despite how you feel about the prickles, it’s hard not to appreciate the beauty of the glossy green leaves and perfect red berries.

Here’s what we’ll be covering today.

The bright red and green are a great contrast against a light-coloured door.

Where to Find Holly for Your Wreath

To make this wreath, I took some clippings from the large tree that borders my new garden and the neighbouring laurels. I’m lucky enough to find lots of holly in my area and can also forage for other materials for evergreen wreaths.

Before you get started cutting evergreens from your garden, please have a quick read of my pruning basics article. While I’m all for decorating with fresh cuttings from the garden, it is important to care for the health of your trees and shrubs’ health.

If you can’t find holly, you can feature other striking berries instead. Here are a few of my favourites:
- Beautyberry
- Wintergreen
- Sweet box
- Rose hips
- Black privet
For other greenery, check out this full list of ideas for decorating your wreath.

You can also buy holly from a florist or even a local grocery store. Many florists will readily have these supplies available and would be happy to sell you the greenery to make your wreath.

Holly is commonly found in woodland areas.

How to Make a Fresh Holly Wreath

Using the holly, laurel leaves, and a grapevine wreath form, this traditional striking wreath can be made in under 30 minutes. But with minimal materials, it makes a big impact hanging on your front door!

Materials

You can use any wreath base, but I like a natural-looking vine wreath.

Make It!

Organize your clippings ahead of time by trimming them down in advance.

Start your wreath by gathering a bunch of laurel branches. Add one holly branch with lots of berries to the top and trim the bottom of the bunch.

To save time, don’t cut your twine. Just keep wrapping with the bundle.

Wind twine around the base of the bunch and then around the grapevine wreath. Secure the bunch by tying the twine in a knot, but do not cut the end.

Continue by making more bunches like the first one and winding them onto the grapevine wreath with twine.

Alternate the directions of your bundles for a more full and natural-looking wreath.

When you come to the end of the holly wreath, tuck the last bunch under the tops of the leaves of the first bunch, then wrestle with the twine and the pointy leaves until you have that last bunch secured. Tie it in a few knots to ensure that everything stays in place.

Now, have a quick look at the wreath. Are there any unruly bits? Use your pruners to shape the wreath and tame down some wild branches.

Hang it and prune some more to get a better look at what needs extra trimming.

Hang your wreath and have a good look at it. Is there more trimming to be done? Are there more berries needed, or is there a bare spot? Taking time to make these adjustments will make the most refined wreath.

Finally, hang your holly wreath where you are sure to enjoy it most or to create a festive welcome for your guests.

You can add more decorations or leave it as is.

Decorating Ideas for Your Holly Wreath

For my holly wreath, I left it free from decorations as I let the berries take centre stage. That being said, there are lots of ways you can decorate your wreath!

Pinecones always look good on any wreath. You can use floral wire to wrap around the base layer of the pinecones and then secure it in the wreath. Bleached pinecones have a specially unique and festive look.

For other rustic additions, you can add in other dried seed heads and flowers like hydrangea, magnolia, poppy, thistle, and Chinese lantern flower.

Battery-operated fairy lights always look amazing when weaved into the wreath. I especially like these star-shaped ones, as well as these Moroccan-inspired lights.

For something a little different than pinecones, try a magnolia seed head.

Frequently Asked Questions About Holly Wreaths

How do you keep a holly wreath fresh?

If you hang your holly wreath outdoors, it shouldn’t need supplemental water to stay fresh. The cold air is usually enough to keep it looking good.

If you want to hang it inside or live in a warm and dry climate, you can spritz the wreath daily with water. You can also try using a finishing spray after making your wreath, which helps to keep fresh greenery hydrated for longer.

How long will a holly wreath last?

A holly wreath should last at least two weeks indoors and much longer outdoors. I usually compost my evergreen wreaths after Christmas because they’re no longer in season, even though they still look fresh!

How do you make a holly wreath without getting stabbed?

Holly can be very prickly, so making a holly wreath can be a little painful if you get poked. The classic types of holly, like English (Ilex aquifolium) or American (Ilex opaca), can be pretty prickly. You can find less prickly varieties like winterberry (Ilex verticillate) or Burford (Ilex cornuta). Otherwise, wear thick gardening gloves and long sleeves, and you shouldn’t get any painful pokes.

Another wreath of mine featuring holly!

For more inspiration on making fresh wreaths, check out this collection of my wreaths over the years using hydrangeas, lavender, evergreens, eucalyptus, hops, air plants, succulents, and more!

More Christmas Decorating Ideas
DIY Holly Weath

The holly wreath uses fresh laurel leaves and holly berries for a quintessentially Christmas decor piece.

Gather a handful of laurel branches. Add one holly branch with berries to the top.

Wind twine around the base of the bunch, and then secure the bunch to the wreath by wrapping the twine around the grapevine wreath. Secure twine by tying a knot, but do not cut it.

Continue making more bunches and layering them onto the grapevine wreath using the same twine.

At the end, tuck the last bunch under the top leaves of the first bunch. Secure with the twine and tie a few more knots before cutting.

Trim back any unruly parts of the holly wreath with the pruners.

Hang your wreath!
Stephanie Rose

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November 29, 2023