Sunday, December 5, 2010

VINTAGE CHRISTMAS WREATH

One of the things I love about this time of year are all the decorations...especially wreaths. I wanted a "vintage" wreath that would take me back to my childhood and rekindle the wonderful memories I have of Christmases past. This was a basic 18" wreath. I added pinecones from my white pine trees, Christmas greenery and various leaves. A few of the items were purchased but most of them, I made...which was the FUN part!
I love the old vintage postcards, so I took some of them and made ornaments out of them for my wreath. They were made from a plain paper mache base, then the post card, then I added some tinsel garland and stickles to make them "pop". I also love Tim Holtz' mini Christmas collage stamps. You can see that I multi-color stamped with them and mounted them on a gold sparkly cardstock rectangle. They really added to my vintage wreath.
What would any wreath be without a vintage copy of "The Night Before Christmas"? I used a small composition notebook and covered it with a "vintage" cover of "The Night Before Christmas" book. Then I made the first two pages of the inside of the composition notebook look like inside pages from that famous poem. 
Growing up, our tree always had Shiny Brite ornaments on it. I took an image of a Shiny Brite ornament box and sized it for my wreath. Then I made it into a real little box and added it to my wreath. Some of my favorite stories growing up were Frosty The Snowman and Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer. So, I made those little book covers and nestled them into the piney branches of my wreath. I added some Dollar Store gold bell garland, sprayed with a little Glossy Wood Tone to take a little of the shine off of them. They amazingly look "vintage". 
Last but not least, I wired in a sweet little victorian bear doll on to the side of my wreath. I added a string of lights for her to hold. As a child, I remember how those big multicolored Christmas bulbs on the front of our house would softly wash the ceiling and walls of my room at night as I was laying in bed. How I loved those big ol' light bulbs!
I made this wreath for myself but ended up giving it to a dear friend. It ended up being a class and we had so much fun making this wreath. We shared stories of our Christmases growing up as we worked. It was a really wonderful way to spend a day!

I hope looking this Christmas wreath has brought a smile to your face
and a memory of your own childhood Christmases! 
Happy Hannukkah, Happy Holidays to all!

18 comments:

  1. What a GREAT idea, Candy! (In that time that I don't have) I just may have to follow your lead & make one for me! Tim's images in the Seasonal pad would work perfectly for me ... Ok, add that to my list ... lol

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  2. What a gorgeous wreath, Candy! I do believe you could stare at it for hours. Such a lovely display of treasured memories.

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  3. Thank you guys for the sweet compliments. Nancy, Tim's seasonal pad papers could be amazing on a wreath! Just looking at those images makes me think of things growing up! He is a genius at that! I love seeing things at Christmas that make me feel like a kid again. :)

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  4. Gorgeous and so many fond memories come up from looking at this. You should enter it in this week's challenge at simple simon Says blog. It would be a perfect piece.I don't know how you gave it away!

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  5. Awww...thanks Kathy! I am so glad it gave you some wonderful memories as well. That was totally the intent of this wreath! The beauty of making so much of it by hand is...I can always make another one...and I WILL! I will check Simon Says' challenge! Thanks for the tip!

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  6. Stuning! I have many of those same memories...what will today's kids have for Christmas memories but a lot of technical gadgets and gawdy plastic toys.

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  7. Boy, Susan! Did YOU hit the nail on the head! I would not take anything for those memories of the simple little things... Thanks for stopping by my blog!

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  8. Coming from one of The Masters...I take that as a very high compliment! Thank you so much!

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  9. Wow!! Gorgeous work!! I love the different pieces you've added to the wreath!

    Thanks so much for sharing your work with us at the Simon Says Stamp & Show Challenge!!!

    -Sarah

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  10. I saw your link on Simon says and just had to stop by to see the full pictures and story. Your wreath is fabulous and obviously attached to lots of beautiful memories including the gift of sharing. What a beautiful heart you have... to give it to a friend!

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  11. I thank you so much for your beautiful post, Far North. You "get it" when I was talking about why all the little elements I put on the wreath were so important to me. Sometimes, it's all about the memories and preserving them through the things I create. I stopped by your blog and love your work! I'm a follower now! :)

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  12. This is really gorgeous! I just love this idea, and all that vintage goodness is just stunning! Thanks for joining the Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge!

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  13. Hi Lori! I'm sort of new to all of this blogging, and following blogs stuff...but I'm lovin' it! Thank you so much for taking the time to check out the wreath. Someone told me I should post it on Simon Says. (Great site...that Simon Says!) I loved doing this wreath from the stamped images to all the other little "vintage" things adorning it. It brought back some really special memories as I was working on it.

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  14. Candy, so happy you entered this in the Simon Says Stamp & Show challenge blog! Your work rocks!

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  15. Nancy...you are TOO sweet! Thank you so much for the nice comment! I'm pumped about CHA!!

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  16. Did you see the Simon Says Stamp & Show challenge blog this morning? Congratulations Candy!

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  17. I have been out running errands this morning and forgot to even check my email until now! WOW!! I'm blown away! I just emailed Linda so I can get my Top 3 Blinkie! Yay!

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I am so happy that you stopped by my blog! I truly appreciate your time and thank you for leaving a comment! Have a wonderfully blessed day!