Holiday DIY: Woodland Door Swag Welcomes Guests
Create a nature-inspired decoration that you can enjoy throughout the holiday season this year and in the future
Set the tone for a beautiful holiday this year by welcoming guests with an eye-catching woodland door swag, an alternative to the traditional wreath. This one adds an unexpected touch of color that keeps it looking fresh well into the new year. Learn how to make your own with just a few simple items from your local craft store.
See more DIY holiday door decor ideas
See more DIY holiday door decor ideas
This door swag is incredibly versatile; it can be used throughout the holiday season and can even be saved for future use (just toss the live greenery and replace it each year). You might consider swapping out the ribbon for a fresh look each season.
Materials
- Evergreen branches
- Flexible wire
- Wire cutters or pliers
- Pruning shears
- Artificial greenery and branches
- Hot-glue gun and glue sticks
- Large decorative seedpod (artificial or dried)
- Three pine cones
- Five gold bells
- 2 yards of turquoise wired ribbon
- Tape measure and scissors
- Adhesive hook for hanging
Instructions
1. Arrange the evergreen branches into a pleasing bundle that will serve as the base for your door swag. Cut a piece of wire using wire cutters or pliers and wrap it tightly around the branches about 2 inches from the top of the swag (the cut end of the branches) to hold them together.
1. Arrange the evergreen branches into a pleasing bundle that will serve as the base for your door swag. Cut a piece of wire using wire cutters or pliers and wrap it tightly around the branches about 2 inches from the top of the swag (the cut end of the branches) to hold them together.
2. Using pruning shears, cut the artificial greenery into individual pieces or stems so that you can spread them out.
3. Now arrange the greenery. Put the longest stems on the bottom, then layer other thin greenery on top of them in the middle of the arrangement. Last, place the bushier stems on top as shown.
4. Bunch the faux greenery together so that the bottom of the leaf clusters are even and the arrangement is pleasing. Decide how long you want the greenery layer to be by holding it against the bundle of evergreen branches. Use wire to secure the greenery about 2 inches below where you want the top of the greenery to be.
5. Trim the excess stems about 2 inches above the wire. Add a few dabs of hot glue in inconspicuous spots so that everything stays in place.
6. Cut most of the stem off the seedpod and use hot glue to attach it to the top and slightly to one side of the cluster of faux branches.
7. Glue the pine cones to the branches in the same manner, clustering them around the seedpod.
8. String the bells on a piece of wire and twist the ends of the wire together. Position the bells next to the seedpod and wrap the wire around the surrounding greenery to hold the bells in place.
9. Use wire to attach the artificial cluster you’ve just completed to the evergreen branches. Trim any excess stems at the top of the swag.
10. From the ribbon, measure and cut a 4-foot length and tie it in a bow around the top of the swag. Secure it with a bit of hot glue.
11. To give the bow extra oomph, cut a 20-inch length of ribbon to create another bow layer. Fold it as shown here so that there are loops on either side. Pinch the center point and wrap a short piece of wire around to secure it. Trim the ends.
12. Use hot glue to adhere this bow behind the first one.
13. Wrap the remaining 4-inch length of ribbon around the knots in the center so that they have the appearance of one large bow rather than two smaller ones. Pinch the ends and tuck them underneath, securing them with hot glue.
14. The swag can be hung by simply attaching an adhesive hook to your door.
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