With all the excitement of celebrating each season and all the great holidays that pop up through the year it can get very expensive very quickly if you try to decorate your home according to each season. I’m loving the Autumn Months and was recently going crazy creating Halloween crafts for my home but of course it became very, very pricey and I had to really stop and think up new ways to create in a more frugal sort of fashion.
I love watching the leaves change colour during the Autumn months and I love the pretty red berries appearing everywhere on all of the bushes in my back yard. So I thought to myself, I want to use that beauty and make something out of it. So I decided to make some pretty decorations for my home out of items from my own back yard that would cost be absolutely nothing! Frugal much? I think so but hey, when I know my husband will soon be asking questions about my exorbitant spending sprees at my local craft store I think maybe now is the time to try to think up clever ways to create more Fall prettiness without breaking the bank or send us completely bankrupt! Haha.
If you look out into your backyard I’m sure you can find so many beautiful things to use to make pretty wreaths and indoor decor for your home no matter what the season. Search for interesting branches, stones, twigs, sticks, leaves, berries, feathers, moss and whatever else you can lay your hands on. You may even want to pick a couple of items from your local park if you see something really pretty that will work well for your wreath.
How to make a fresh wreath for free
These are just some of the items I picked for my wreath. The great thing about creating something from nature is you can keep adding or taking and you don’t need to worry you spent money for nothing because the items you’re using haven’t cost you a thing.
There isn’t much in the way of materials that you will need for this project. You need plant scissors, floral wire, scissors to cut your wire, plants of your choice, ribbon or burlap and your imagination!
Begin by choosing the branches or twigs that will be the frame for your wreath. I chose something that was not too thick but had strength. Wrap the floral wire tightly to join two branches. This will be your starting point and you can build your circle from there.
Continue to add and trie branches together to create your circle. Remember to overlap so that it gives the wreath frame strength.
Once you’re happy with your circle and are sure you have secured it all well then it’s time to add volume and variety to your wreath.
I chose to add some larger leaves that where quite green and pretty at the top of my wreath and some very thin and flexible vines around the entire wreath for a little texture. The vines also helped to add more support to the wreath and I could use them to intertwine more branches without using any more floral wire.
I found some beautiful berries on one of the bushes right next to my back door, so I decided to add them into my wreath. I wrapped them around the entire wreath.
At this point I was torn… Do I leave it as is? Or do I add to it? My front door is a lot bigger than a normal front door so my wreaths need to be pretty big to really stand out. I felt that what I had created was a little too thin and it also looked more like Christmas than Fall so I went on a hunt for something that was going to give it lots of lush thickness and some Autumn colour. I didn’t have anything that stood out to me in my garden… well nothing I could physically reach anyway as some of the tress in my backyard are very tall. So I went for a little walk to my local park and found these really pretty branches on a tree. I cut a few branches and took them home. Once I added them in I knew that it was the perfect finishing touch.
Finally you will need a thick ribbon or burlap. I have a few different types of burlap material lying around so I cut a thick long piece and used it as my ribbon.
It’s up to you at this point how you will tie your ribbon. Will your wreath hang from a long pice of ribbon or will you tie it into a bow? I went with a bow for this wreath.
Once you have your bow perfectly made, cut any little burlap strings to give your bow a neater finish.
Done! Now you have a beautiful fresh wreath made from FREE items from your own back yard!
Hope you enjoyed today’s DIY and frugal project!
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Lovely wreath! My townhouse backyard here in Dallas is a postage stamp with nothing green in it (we’re renting! otherwise I swear I would have planted stuff by now!!) so I’m jealous too of your lovely greenery… ;P
Thank you so much Sarah 🙂 Haha, the greenery here is amazing. I post on my Instagram frequently showing all the prettiness 😀 I rent also but have decided to just go with it and plant what I want and really make it a home. Here for a few years so want to make the most of it 🙂
This is so cool! I love the way yours turned out! We made a little paper plate leaf wreath, but as soon as the leaves dried out the next day, it sort of looked ugly haha.
Hi Chelsea! Thanks so much 🙂 lol. Yeah, natural leaves will do that. Only works if they are kept outside and in very cold climates! Mine lasted a bit over a week and a half and looked so pretty the whole time 🙂 A leaf paper plate craft sounds great. Doesn’t matter if it looks terrible the next day, what matters is how fun it is to make at the time, specially if it’s a kids project x
Beautiful! Im about to embark on my xmas wreaths that I made from the grapevines back at the start of autumn, so this was some timely inspiration for me. If only we had those red berries in abundance at this time of year here and not in winter…..
Ohhh, how exciting. Would love to see how your xmas wreaths turn out Elisha! The red berries are gorgeous aren’t they! Love them 🙂 x
I adore home made wreaths with real plants/ foliage over faux ones any day… Yours is gorgeous! Looking forward to making another for my home again this Christmas, such a lovely way to begin the season. Rachael
Thanks Racheal! I agree. Something so gorgeous about the natural factor. I’m aiming at making a few things this Christmas out of things from nature to inspire others to do so also. It’s great to use things from your own backyard or local park AND it’s very cheap or free to make. Win! Hope you share your wreath we me when you make it. Always love seeing what others make so feel free to tag me or pop the post on my Facebook page! 🙂 xx
These look gorgeous. It is spring here, so my garden is full of all kinds of lovely things to try this with. I love a herb wreath.
LOVE herb wreaths also Dani! Spring florals and foliage are the best! If you make a natural wreath you can get special wreaths made of that green stuff florists use for their arrangements they make in pots and buckets. Don’t know what it’s called but you can then keep your wreath wet and hopefully it won’t die in a day as the weather will be a bit too warm to keep it alive for a while.
What a gorgeous wreath! I wish I’d seen this post earlier when our wattle tree was covered in electric yellow flowers! It would have made a stunning wreath 🙂 Think I’ll make a Christmas style wreath for our front door now after reading this – thanks!
Hi Emma, I hope you do make one! Natural wreaths are so pretty 🙂 Those flowers sound gorgeous and they certainly would have made a beautiful wreath! Please share with me if you do make a wreath this Christmas! Tag me or share on my Facebook page so I can see your creation! x
Gorgeous wreath! My Mom is great at crafting up things like this, but I can’t say I’ve ever seen her create a wreath with fresh fall leaves, etc. I may have to try this. I’m just not sure what I can find for my base around my apartment complex, but I’ve truly never looked that hard so I may be surprised. Stopping by from SITS!
Thank you so much 🙂 You know it’s funny when you look around me how much you will find and you can also go to your local park and see what there is.Thanks for stopping by! x
Absolutely gorgeous hun. I have some jasmine blooming out back right now that would be perfect! xx
Thanks Sonia. Unfortunately I think this time of the year in Australia would make it hard for a natural wreath as it’s getting so cold but as the month get colder and right in the middle of winter this wreath will last longer than a day 😉 haha. xx
Such a beautiful wreath. I made one last year just out of rosemary my neighbour had trimmed. It was simple, free and smelt divine. Yours looks so beautiful. Zoe xx
Thank you so much Zoe. I love herb wreaths also! Rosemary is one of my all time favourite herbs, it would have looked gorgeous I’m sure 🙂 xx
Fresh wreaths are so beautiful. I miss living in an area with tons of greenery to choose from in the Fall. Your wreath is gorgeous!! Thank you for sharing at Merry Monday. Pinned!
Thank you so much Amanda! Once Spring is up on us then the Nature wreaths you can make will be stunning! 🙂 Thank you for pinning!
That is so pretty!! Thanks for linking up at Turn It Up Tuesdays
Thanks Hill 🙂 x
This is such a pretty wreath Maria. I love using yard clippings for wreaths and indoor vases (sometimes mixed with faux!). Pinning! Thanks for sharing at The Creative Circle. Can’t wait to see more!! xoxo
Thank you so much Kathy! Thank you for pinning. I love using clippings also for the indoor decor also 🙂 x
I am amazed at how gorgeous this wreathe is! I would never have guessed it was made from real branches and leaves. The berries and the colored leaves really set it off, it is perfect on your door! Love it.
Thank you so much Nikki! Such a lovely compliment. x
This is gorgeous! Beautifully done.
Thanks so much Melissa! 🙂 x
This is lovely, thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop. Watch for your feature tomorrow.
Thank you so much and thank you for featuring x
Beautiful! Thanks for linking up to Home Matters Party. #HomeMattersParty http://cu-rio.net/home-matters-linky-party-63/
Thank you Sharleen
Love your natural wreath, it turned out really pretty. I could do this! Thanks for sharing your tutorial!
Thanks so much and you’re welcome. Hope you make one of your own 🙂 x
I am definitely going to try making this wreath. We are trying to keep Christmas simple this year- it’s so easy to spend a lot of money at this time of the year but it’s homemade and natural touches that I think help keep Christmas special and simple.
Certainly and good idea on keeping it simple. I’m trying to not over do it also and find frugal ways to create decor for cheap or nothing. Share with me on Facebook if you do make a nature wreath! Would love to see what you create!
What a beautiful wreath!
Thank you Alison 🙂
Maria, how can I NOT have thought of this already! We are in Summer for Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere, so greenery is abundant. I’ll be doing this for sure! Thanks for sharing at Five Star Frou-Frou. Love, Mimi xxx
Thanks Mimi. Enjoy making it. Might need to keep it in a cooler spot in your house though as it may wilt quickly. x
This wreath is so lovely. I love the colours. I love having Christmas Bush around the house at this time of year.
Thanks so much! 🙂 Bush around the house sounds nice. I’ve never tried this when I lived back home. Maybe have to when I move back! 🙂
Love this idea and you can change it up for each season! Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday!
I love this idea! Free and beautiful! Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty
Your wreath is absolutely beautiful. I love all the fresh colours! I hope you’ll stop by and share it at The Crafty Corner link party with us. 🙂
Thanks so much Antonella, Jelica did a fabulous job!
This is such a clever idea. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome Wendy 🙂 Thank you.
This is really pretty. There’s nothing better than fresh!
Thanks for sharing at Thoughts of Home on Thursday. 🙂
Thank you Stacey 🙂 Yes, I just love the look of a fresh wreath, though it would be nice if it lasted a lot longer 🙂 A very fun craft though.