How to Make a Split-Door Christmas Wreath
At Last: The Answer to the Double-Door Wreath Dilemma
The challenge: one wreath or two for a double-door entryway or front door?
Have you seen those wreaths in catalogs or online that are split wreaths or double-door wreaths? Basically, it's one large wreath cut in half, with each half placed on either side of a double front door, to give the appearance of a single wreath centered smack dab in the middle of the door. It's a great idea -- whoever came up with it -- but the higher-than-normal prices for these kinds of novelty wreaths make them unobtainable for most of us.
Until now. Here's how to make a split wreath for under $15. Let's go shopping...
Buy a Cheap Wreath
I went shopping at my local Wal-Mart for a cheap and very basic wreath. Lucky for penny-pinching me, I found a nice green fake wreath -- as plain as can be -- that was all of $4. You can find similar fake wreaths at retail stores like Target, K-Mart and local discount stores, or pick up one after the holidays at a deeply discounted price.
What you should look for:
Next up:Gather your decorations and ornaments...
Get Ornaments and Decorations
If you have extra ornaments, use them on the wreath halves. If not, shatter-proof ornaments (non-glass) can be found in the dollar section of Target, at the 99-Cent Store, Dollar Tree, etc. Glitter-covered styrofoam balls are a smart choice because they are attractive, lightweight and durable. Other possibilities include bows, bells, trinkets or whatever tickles your fancy.
For the most striking wreath, stick to a simple color scheme: two colors work well.
I chose silver and chartreuse because they reflect the colors of plants in my garden and look great against the dark-plum-colored door.
Here's a breakdown of costs:
Next up:Assemble your supplies...
Assemble Supplies and Tools
In addition to a wreath and ornaments you'll need a few tools and supplies. I used:
Next up:Clip the wire...
Clip the Wire
Wearing gloves for protection from loose wires, use the wire clippers to snip or cut the wreath's wire frame. Use pliers to slightly bend back wire that was just clipped, so that the exposed wire does not cut or scrape you or the door.
Next up:Fold and measure for next cut...
Fold and Measure for Next Cut
After you have made the first cut of the wreath, fold it in half. Start by bringing the tips or edges together, then smooth-out the wreath so it bends exactly at the half point, making sure both halves are the exact same length. Then make your second snip with the wire cutters. Reshape both parts of the wreath into half-circle forms.
Next up:Fluff and spread branches...
Fluff and Spread Branches of Wreath
With your gloved hand, rearrange the wreath's wire branches. Try to fluff it out, making room for ornaments to be attached with wire to the wreath's wire frame. As additional ornaments are added, you can move branches as needed.
Next up:Secure ornaments with wire...
Secure Ornaments With Wire
Cut 4- to 5-inch lengths of the fine-gauge wire. Thread it through the hook hole at the top of the ornament, tie it in a knot, twist it, then tie and wrap it securely onto the wreath's wire frame. Repeat throughout both wreath halves.
Next up:Attach to wreath...
Attach Wire Ornaments and Decorations
Attaching ornaments to the outside of the wreath make it appear bigger and wider. Repeat the wire wrapping and tying process described in the previous step.
Next up:Evenly distribute ornaments...
Mark Placement on Door With Chalk
Decorate the wreath halves side-by-side to get a unified look. You don't want to favor one side and neglect the other! Avoid attaching ornaments or decorations too close to either end of each wreath half -- you can fill in once it's hung on your front door.
Next up:Mark placement with chalk...
Tap Nail to Make Hole in Door
A good rule for hanging anything is to place your object so that the focal point is at eye level of an average-height person, male or female. Depending on your household and holiday visitors, make adjustments. For our purposes, we're using about 5'8" (which conveniently happens to be my height) as everyperson's height, and placing the wreath on either side of the center of the double door, with eye level roughly cutting through the middle horizontal of the circular wreath.
Get it? Also think about things like roof overhangs or balconies, which may obstruct the view from the sidewalk or front walkway of the wreath. If this is the case, then slight adjustments will need to be made. Also: make sure the wreath doesn't cover the front door handles, or it will become more of an annoyance than a pleasure.
Try to place each half wreath as close to the center of the door (where it opens) without catching branches or ornaments when opened. Once your wreath's desired placement has been figured out, use chalk, a pencil or even a bar of soap to mark the spot on the door where the top screw eye will be inserted.
Next up:Tap nail to make hole...
Insert Screw Eye
A quick and easy way of inserting a screw without an electric screwdriver: lightly tap a nail a few times with a hammer into the chalk-marked spot. This allows the grooved screw eye to be twisted into the wood door more easily and cleanly, without making a big, chipped-up hole in your door.
Next up:Insert screw eye
Attach Wreath to Door
Place screw eye into the hole you just made with the nail. Push gently, inserting in a clockwise motion until the grooved-portion is all the way in, and the round "eye" is tightly attached to the door.
Next up:Attach wreath to door
Add Ornaments and Decor as Needed: Enjoy!
Repeat the screw eye / wiring process on both sides of door -- for the top end and bottom end of the wreath, at the center of the door. Remember: it's easier to attach the top half first, then mark with chalk the placement for the bottom screw eye after the top has been attached with wire.
Next up:Add ornaments and decor...
Once both halves are up, adjust each side, bending wire frame and branches, to form an even, balanced circle. Step back to check its shape, and adjust as needed. Does it look too bare in some spots or unbalanced? Using the same wire method, attach additional ornaments and decorations to the wire frame underneath. If using wire ribbon, arrange it casually or freely so that it flows under, over and through branches and ornaments, and remember to cut it at the center top and bottom so you can open your door.
Take the wire ribbon ends and tuck them behind a branch or ornament so they aren't noticeable.
If your ornaments or branches get stuck in the door, bring them forward, standing straight out, which gives the illusion of meeting in the middle without getting caught each time the door swings open.
For fun, add a few bells so they will ring each time the door is opened. Enjoy the double-takes your guests will surely make when they open the door and magically "split" the wreath in half. Happy Holidays!
More Christmas How-To's:How to hang LED holiday lights outdoors
Tomato cage Christmas tree project
The challenge: one wreath or two for a double-door entryway or front door?
Have you seen those wreaths in catalogs or online that are split wreaths or double-door wreaths? Basically, it's one large wreath cut in half, with each half placed on either side of a double front door, to give the appearance of a single wreath centered smack dab in the middle of the door. It's a great idea -- whoever came up with it -- but the higher-than-normal prices for these kinds of novelty wreaths make them unobtainable for most of us.
Until now. Here's how to make a split wreath for under $15. Let's go shopping...
Buy a Cheap Wreath
I went shopping at my local Wal-Mart for a cheap and very basic wreath. Lucky for penny-pinching me, I found a nice green fake wreath -- as plain as can be -- that was all of $4. You can find similar fake wreaths at retail stores like Target, K-Mart and local discount stores, or pick up one after the holidays at a deeply discounted price.
What you should look for:
- A wreath with at least a 15-inch diameter, or it will get lost on your front door.
- Something that will be sturdy when cut in half. A wire frame is sturdy; a styrofoam-backed wreath cut in half would probably fall apart.
- A wreath with wire branches or stems, so you can move or rearrange them to your liking, and fluff them up.
Next up:Gather your decorations and ornaments...
Get Ornaments and Decorations
If you have extra ornaments, use them on the wreath halves. If not, shatter-proof ornaments (non-glass) can be found in the dollar section of Target, at the 99-Cent Store, Dollar Tree, etc. Glitter-covered styrofoam balls are a smart choice because they are attractive, lightweight and durable. Other possibilities include bows, bells, trinkets or whatever tickles your fancy.
For the most striking wreath, stick to a simple color scheme: two colors work well.
I chose silver and chartreuse because they reflect the colors of plants in my garden and look great against the dark-plum-colored door.
Here's a breakdown of costs:
- Wreath: $4
- Ornaments (from Target and Dollar Tree, $1 per box/package: $5
- Wire ribbon (Dollar Tree): $1
Next up:Assemble your supplies...
Assemble Supplies and Tools
In addition to a wreath and ornaments you'll need a few tools and supplies. I used:
- Wire -- a medium-thin-gauge non-corrosive silver wire. The higher the number of the gauge, the thinner the wire.
- Wire cutters
- Screw eyes
- Pliers
- Chalk
- Tape measure
Next up:Clip the wire...
Clip the Wire
Wearing gloves for protection from loose wires, use the wire clippers to snip or cut the wreath's wire frame. Use pliers to slightly bend back wire that was just clipped, so that the exposed wire does not cut or scrape you or the door.
Next up:Fold and measure for next cut...
Fold and Measure for Next Cut
After you have made the first cut of the wreath, fold it in half. Start by bringing the tips or edges together, then smooth-out the wreath so it bends exactly at the half point, making sure both halves are the exact same length. Then make your second snip with the wire cutters. Reshape both parts of the wreath into half-circle forms.
Next up:Fluff and spread branches...
Fluff and Spread Branches of Wreath
With your gloved hand, rearrange the wreath's wire branches. Try to fluff it out, making room for ornaments to be attached with wire to the wreath's wire frame. As additional ornaments are added, you can move branches as needed.
Next up:Secure ornaments with wire...
Secure Ornaments With Wire
Cut 4- to 5-inch lengths of the fine-gauge wire. Thread it through the hook hole at the top of the ornament, tie it in a knot, twist it, then tie and wrap it securely onto the wreath's wire frame. Repeat throughout both wreath halves.
Next up:Attach to wreath...
Attach Wire Ornaments and Decorations
Attaching ornaments to the outside of the wreath make it appear bigger and wider. Repeat the wire wrapping and tying process described in the previous step.
Next up:Evenly distribute ornaments...
Mark Placement on Door With Chalk
Decorate the wreath halves side-by-side to get a unified look. You don't want to favor one side and neglect the other! Avoid attaching ornaments or decorations too close to either end of each wreath half -- you can fill in once it's hung on your front door.
Next up:Mark placement with chalk...
Tap Nail to Make Hole in Door
A good rule for hanging anything is to place your object so that the focal point is at eye level of an average-height person, male or female. Depending on your household and holiday visitors, make adjustments. For our purposes, we're using about 5'8" (which conveniently happens to be my height) as everyperson's height, and placing the wreath on either side of the center of the double door, with eye level roughly cutting through the middle horizontal of the circular wreath.
Get it? Also think about things like roof overhangs or balconies, which may obstruct the view from the sidewalk or front walkway of the wreath. If this is the case, then slight adjustments will need to be made. Also: make sure the wreath doesn't cover the front door handles, or it will become more of an annoyance than a pleasure.
Try to place each half wreath as close to the center of the door (where it opens) without catching branches or ornaments when opened. Once your wreath's desired placement has been figured out, use chalk, a pencil or even a bar of soap to mark the spot on the door where the top screw eye will be inserted.
Next up:Tap nail to make hole...
Insert Screw Eye
A quick and easy way of inserting a screw without an electric screwdriver: lightly tap a nail a few times with a hammer into the chalk-marked spot. This allows the grooved screw eye to be twisted into the wood door more easily and cleanly, without making a big, chipped-up hole in your door.
Next up:Insert screw eye
Attach Wreath to Door
Place screw eye into the hole you just made with the nail. Push gently, inserting in a clockwise motion until the grooved-portion is all the way in, and the round "eye" is tightly attached to the door.
Next up:Attach wreath to door
Add Ornaments and Decor as Needed: Enjoy!
Repeat the screw eye / wiring process on both sides of door -- for the top end and bottom end of the wreath, at the center of the door. Remember: it's easier to attach the top half first, then mark with chalk the placement for the bottom screw eye after the top has been attached with wire.
Next up:Add ornaments and decor...
Once both halves are up, adjust each side, bending wire frame and branches, to form an even, balanced circle. Step back to check its shape, and adjust as needed. Does it look too bare in some spots or unbalanced? Using the same wire method, attach additional ornaments and decorations to the wire frame underneath. If using wire ribbon, arrange it casually or freely so that it flows under, over and through branches and ornaments, and remember to cut it at the center top and bottom so you can open your door.
Take the wire ribbon ends and tuck them behind a branch or ornament so they aren't noticeable.
If your ornaments or branches get stuck in the door, bring them forward, standing straight out, which gives the illusion of meeting in the middle without getting caught each time the door swings open.
For fun, add a few bells so they will ring each time the door is opened. Enjoy the double-takes your guests will surely make when they open the door and magically "split" the wreath in half. Happy Holidays!
More Christmas How-To's:How to hang LED holiday lights outdoors
Tomato cage Christmas tree project
Source...