DIY.

Earlier this year — in February, I think — I had a BRILLIANT idea: buy a plain grapevine wreath.

Why was that a brilliant idea, you ask?

Oh, it wasn't.

I love having a wreath on the front door — it's happy, and welcoming, and shows that you take pride in your home. It's kind of like the bow on a present — the wrapping paper is plenty cute on its own, but the bow makes the package. Which is why I buy a lot of grosgrain ribbon. It's inexpensive and there's really nothing cuter than a perky little knot on a present.

Anyway, the problem with wreaths is this: there are some REALLY bad ones. And it's not worth having a wreath at all if it isn't well done. Who wants to be greeted by drooping fake flowers, plastic-looking berries, and wads of poorly-hidden super glue? Kind of negates the whole point of having a wreath, dontcha think? But the bad ones are all I can find! Even the wreaths at Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware have been a little questionable lately, and besides that — I'm not spending $100 on a seasonal wreath. No matter how cute it is.

Which is why I decided to start making my own. The first time I did this was out of necessity — these tiny, adorable twin Boy Scouts from down the street asked me if I wanted to purchase a Christmas wreath. I hate the Boy Scout wreaths — three pinecones, all frosted with fake snow, and a large red bow. Almost everyone I know has one of them at Christmastime. Probably because Boy Scouts are cute and irresistible and did I mention the ones who came to my house were tiny adorable twins?? So, I bought an ugly Boy Scout wreath, and when it came I couldn't bear to put it up as it was. So I cut off the bow and the pinecones, leaving me with a pretty decent plain green wreath. To which I added a big green ribbon, springs of real juniper and red berries, and a sparkly little ornament — all of which I had on hand, minus the juniper. It turned out really cute.

So I went ahead and purchased a plain grapevine wreath for $3.99 at JoAnn Fabrics. Thinking — hey, I made that Boy Scout wreath pretty cute, why can't I just do that for every season?

Well, to be frank — because I'm just not that creative. The first two versions I "decorated" by tying a ribbon around them. And that was after some heavy thought.

Luckily, my friend Martha is never short on creativity. I saw a snake wreath tutorial in Martha Stewart Living and decided to give it a try (but without the snakes, because, well...ew.). The ghost was pulled from another craft tutorial in her magazine, and was originally meant for a mirror.


Not bad, huh? A $3.99 wreath, a $3 can of black spray paint, a scrap of ribbon, some Halloween junk I found in my basement, a piece of cardstock, and about five minutes of my life = a pretty cute (and spooky) front door.

Here's hoping Martha comes up with some good ideas for Christmas, too, because I've got nothing.