Stars and Stripes Wreath

I don't know what it is about the fourth of July, but it always seems to sneak up on me. Usually it goes something like this... I first start thinking about putting a decoration or two up around the beginning of June. Somehow June flies by, and all of a sudden I realize the 4th is just days away but I haven't put a single decoration up. Since the holiday is so close I don't bother and decide that I'll do something next year. Then I repeat this exact same cycle the following year.

But this year I'm happy to say I finally got a decoration up. This stars and stripes wreath.

It's made using inexpensive craft felt- and I love the way it turned out so much that I plan on using the same technique to make another wreath.

I started by cutting circles out of the felt. I used a large mug as a template for my circle, which I would guess is about 3 1/2 inches wide. I could get six circles out of every sheet and ended up needing 8-10 sheets of each color.

Once I had the circles cut out I folded them in fourths and used straight pins to attach them onto a 16 inch foam wreath form.

I found it was easiest to start by filling in both ends of the area I wanted to be blue. And then begin making the red and white stripes. I left the middle of the blue section empty so I had a place to hold the wreath while I made the stripes. Once the stripes were done I filled in the rest of the blue section.

To make a hanger I pinned a loop of white ribbon to the back of the wreath.

The last thing I did was to use a small (and very sharp) pair of scissors to cut stars out of my scraps of white felt. Then used felt glue to attach them onto the blue section in a random pattern.

I almost didn't add the stars. I liked how the wreath looked with just the solid colors and felt like maybe my idea of the stars was going to be too much. But in the end I decided to go for it, and I'm so happy I did because it's my favorite part. I think the stars are just the finishing touch this wreath needed (and besides the flag just isn't the same without them).