Did you happen to notice the magnolia leaf wreath as you approached the door? Oh good! I’m glad it caught your eye. I made it very simply and inexpensively. It only cost me $2.00 and 15 minutes of my time.
I usually speed walk for 45 minutes everyday at some point and I always admire the large magnolia trees throughout the neighborhood. They look so majestic and lush and very Florida or Southern. Steel Magnolias is also one of my most favorite movies, have you seen it? It’s a classic!
So I “borrowed” a bunch of magnolia leaves from my neighbor’s tree. Another reason why having a baby and a stroller comes in handy. I filled the bottom of the stroller up and headed home this morning. As I was picking each leaf, I noticed a sticky milk coming from the broken stem so I decided to hang them on a string with clothes pins for half an hour before working with them. My theory was to help them drain…I think it helped, or at least allowed enough time for the stem to sort of coagulate.
After I cleaned them I laid them next to my other supplies and got started. I used a floral foam wreath and T-pins from the Dollar Tree and ribbon I already had.
I started by laying the leaves in order of size.
By using the T-pins I pinned large leaves on the back of the foam, slightly overlapping them in a circular order. Then I flipped the wreath over and did the same to the front. Because the leaves are so large, I did not cover the foam first. Normally I would cover it in smaller leaves, ribbon or floral tape, but in this case I chose not too. The leaves hide it really well.
This is the back.
Front in progress.
After securing all the leaves with pins, I hid the last ones by making a leaf bow. I flipped them over and secured them using their wrong side, but I liked how it added contrast. Otherwise, the bow would not be easy to see.
After that I strung a ribbon around the foam and hung it up! It sure is even more gorgeous than I anticipated, don’t you just love when that happens?! Please enjoy and maybe try another type of foliage around your yard or your neighbor’s yard. 😉
