Front Door Wreath

This wreath took a long time but I think it is worth it. It is hanging on our front door above the greens arrangement. Originally I was planning on hanging the sinamay wreath there (for all of 15 minutes), but it was way too big and didn't look right with the arrangement below. That arrangement was crying out for a greens wreath. And since I can't have too much greenery...

I started with an 18" wire wreath frame, florist wire, greens left over from my arrangement, ribbon, battery operated lights, and fun decor. 

I began by wiring cedar, pine and boxwood to all 3 parts of the frame.

I worked my way around the frame. It took time, but I wanted to be sure the greenery would stay put.

And continued on each section till it was full.

Then I added magnolia leaves, incense cedar, and my painted hydrangeas. I also sprayed and glittered the whole wreath.

I wired in the string of lights and added some gold bling I had left over from last year.

I made the bow, attached it and hung it on the outside of the screen door on the front porch. The picture isn't the greatest...can't figure out how to make the most of my camera. 

It is above the potted arrangement I made earlier so I wanted it to match. I think it looks great!!

And now I'm noticing that the magnolia leaves have moved...so much for staying put. They look like bunny ears with the hydrangea blooms. lol

Our other front door is decorated similar but using a sled and a wreath and a large greens arrangement. Both can be seen from the street so I wanted them to tie in together. 

Do you use fresh greenery in your decor for Christmas? Do you put it indoors so you can smell Christmas all season?

I'm sharing with:

                                         

A Diamond in the Stuff                                            The Ironstone Nest - 

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Christmas Greens and Outdoor Lights

I love decorating for Christmas. And I love greenery for my outdoor decor. A few weeks ago I 'planted' my front porch arrangement.

Cedar (some cut from my trees), pine, BC cedar, incense cedar...

Holly and yew cut from my shrubs

Seeded eucalyptus and magnolia leaves

 Juniper with berries from my yard

Yew with berries from my yard

Curly willow from my tree that I spray painted gold

Hydrangea from my shrubs that were also spray painted gold

I started with a large 10 gallon pot still filled with the soil used to grow my cucumbers and began sticking in branches. I started with the cedar & pine for the base, then I added the rest of the greens as accent pieces. The BC and incense cedar are draped around the bottom softening the edge and helping to hid the pot. Since the back won't be seen, I didn't worry about decorating it, just filling it with cedar for depth. Sorry, no during pictures.

 Almost finished. Don't you just love the rusty colour of the magnolia leaves? So beautiful...

Before I added the bow, I sprayed the greens with Wilt Pruf. This helps the greenery stay fresher longer, but be sure to spray this outside...what a stink!

I had a set of twig lights that I used in the front yard in the past, but this year I added them to this arrangement so it will be lit up too. I made my bow and added it, stuck in a couple dollar store gold bling, and it's finished! It's the biggest one I've ever made, but I love it.

At night using a flash. I'm keeping the soil well watered until it freezes to help keep the arrangement fresh.

Without the flash you can see the twig lights better. And I promise, I didn't turn them on till December 1st! These are on only for the couple hours to edit and take pictures. :)

At night with all the house lights turned on. You can see the lit wreath on the front door, this is the one I made from scratch. We don't use this front door so I can have the arrangement in front of it.

Nothing fancy in the lights, but I love how Christmasy our home looks. Looking at the pictures, I can see bare spots on the shrubs...I will be looking for new lights on Boxing Day! 

This is the other front door at the top of the driveway. Sorry my car is in the way. You can see the wreath and sled decorated with greenery, too. And you can see our tree in one of the windows!

Our neighbours call us The Griswolds! lol And they hadn't seen the back courtyard, yet! 

Oh, you want to see the courtyard? Okay, I'll go find a picture or two.

 My inflatable snowman and Santa in the courtyard

The lights around the pool room. You can see the courtyard lights reflecting through the corrugated window.

The dining room doors looking out on the courtyard. You can see the snowflake mobiles I made now have lights around them.

I hope you enjoyed the tour of the outside of our home. Very festive and very well lit up! 

And now I'm going to whip up some pasta for dinner, crack open a bottle of wine, and put 'White Christmas' in the DVD player. It's been a beautiful sunny fall day and my husband has gone golfing, then to a Christmas dinner with his hunting buddies. Perfect night for relaxing and enjoying one of my favourite Christmas movies.

Do you go crazy with decorating outside like I do? Are your lights all one colour, or multi-coloured? How many have the inflatable figures on their lawn? :)

Have a Very Merry Christmas!


I'm sharing with:

    The Ironstone Nest -   

Outdoor Decor Linky Party