Create different wreaths to decorate a door throughout the year. These wreaths aren’t weather-resistant, so make certain they are protected by a storm door. The wreaths will add a festive touch to interior doors. Select holiday or seasonal-appropriate colors. Use green construction paper for a Christmas wreath; brown, yellow, and orange for an autumn wreath; black and orange for a Halloween wreath; pink, yellow, lavender, and white for an Easter wreath.
Make a Handprint or Paper Shape Wreath
Trace around the hand, up to the wrist, on lightweight cardboard to create a template. Use the template to trace and cut out approximately 50 hand shapes. Save some time by stacking two or three pieces of construction paper and cutting through the sheets at the same time. Avoid trying to cut through a thick stack of paper as the sheets will slip creating distorted shapes.
Cut out the center of a heavy duty paper plate to create the wreath base. Start gluing the hand shapes onto the wreath base, with the wrist part angled toward the center opening. Start by adding the hands along the outer edge of the circle so the fingers extend over the edge of the plate.
Add a second layer over the first, moving the hand shapes in so they are overlapping the first round by three-quarters. Add a third layer so the wrist part hides the edges of the cut opening (but don’t cover the opening). Cut and glue on paper berries or bows in a complementary color.
Don’t want to cut out so many hand shapes? Look for pre-cut paper shapes at the craft store. This will also give more variety with options like rabbits, leaves, or bats.
Make an Egg Carton Wreath
Cut the egg cups from two paper egg cartons. Paint each cup inside and out. Cut out the middle of a heavy duty paper plate to create a ring or wreath base and paint the plate a color that coordinates with the main color of the wreath. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly.
Use white glue or hot glue to attach the painted egg cups, flat side down until the wreath base is completely covered. For a winter wreath, hot glue tiny pine cones into some of the egg cups. Add plastic spiders for Halloween, tiny plastic eggs for Easter. Be creative decorating the wreath. Glue a bow onto the wreath, if desired.
Children can create wreaths for any season or special occasion by selecting appropriate colors for paint or paper. Cut out hand shapes, use pre-cut paper shapes, or arrange egg carton cups. Kids can also create a wrapped yarn wreath or a wreath made from jigsaw puzzle pieces. Each project takes an hour or two.
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