5 Easy Steps for Making a Milkweed Pod Wreath
Fall is just around the corner and you may be thinking about how you're going to decorate this year. Come along while I show you how to make this beautiful Fall wreath that can also be used well into the Christmas season!
Welcome to the Creative Craft Hop hosted by Donna from Modern on Monticello. If you just came from Gail @ Purple Hues and Me, welcome to the Cottage! At the bottom of this post I'll direct you to the next stop on this hop, but be sure to visit all of the other stops too for some amazing inspiration. They will all be listed.
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Let's make a wreath!
Step 1: Gather the Milkweed Pods.
I collected my pods last Fall during a walk around the pond. They had opened and the seeds were blowing in the wind. I gathered about twice as many as I needed - Ha-Ha! For this project you will need approximately 60 pods.
I left them outside in the sun for the day to make sure they were good and dry. Just in case there was any moisture left, they were stored in a plastic bag with a few silica gel packets. They were fine when I took them out this summer.
Step 2: Prepare the Base.
Cut two 15" circles from cardboard with an 8.5" opening in the middle. Glue them together with the corrugation going in opposite directions so your base will have more stability. As you can see, I used clothespins to hold the two pieces together while the glue dried.
Next, center your base on a piece of burlap and make 8 straight cuts in the middle.
Using a hot glue gun, begin folding each piece up and attach to the base.
Bring the outer sections of burlap over these and secure with hot glue.
All that extra was trimmed from the back.
Trim the excess, glue any loose pieces, and your base is almost ready.
Add a piece of jute for hanging.
It's so much easier to do this ahead of time!
Step 3: Prepare the Pods.
Place your milkweed pods in a box for painting.
I used Gold Spray Paint and, interestingly, the paint didn't show up well on the back (outside) of the pod.
Not to be discouraged, I turned them over and sprayed the insides.
Much better!
If you're wondering why I didn't leave them natural, here's the reason:
Not all of them were pretty inside and I didn't like the look.
Step 4: Attach
First, lay out your pods on the wreath base to see how they will fit.
Using a hot glue gun, attach each pod to the base.
Complete the outer row first.
Then add the inside row, tucking the pods in to cover the base.
Step 5: Add a Bow.
I made this bow using 8 20" pieces of ribbon. They were folded at 7", pinched at 6" and gathered with a pipe cleaner. The ends were dove-tailed, the loops fluffed, and it was ready to be attached to the wreath.
At the beginning of this post I said this wreath could be used well into the Christmas season. Here's how:
Right now, it is ready for Fall with the leaf pattern on the ribbon.
When Halloween comes around, add a new bow with some of this ribbon:
...and maybe a spider or 2?
For Christmas, a printed burlap ribbon will do the trick, or how about a red velvet bow?
See, you have a wreath for the next 4 months!
Update: After reading a few comments, I learned that some of my friends have never seen milkweed, I took this picture at the pond today. It can grow 2-6 feet tall. This plant was about 4 feet tall.
You can see all the seed pods in the middle. This Fall they will dry up and release their seeds.
Since monarch caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed, it's a very important plant!
Remember, this is a blog hop so it's time to visit Allyson @ Southern Sunflowers. Once you've stopped by to see her, be sure to visit all of the others for more inspiration! Here's the list:
Featured at:
Oh my, Ann! This is so creative and unique! I don't think I've ever seen a milkweed pod wreath before! It is quite beautiful with a one of a kind look! Well done!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gail. They grow all around the pond and I knew I could do something with them so I picked a bunch!
DeleteSo pretty! I guess I didn't realize that Milkweed had pods. But I'll bet you get beautiful butterflies all summer long from the Milkweed. What a bonus that you get both a beautiful wreath AND butterflies. I may have to plant some Milkweed! Great job.
ReplyDeleteThe pods grow through the summer and when Fall arrives, they burst open and the seeds fly out on white fluff. Monarch butterflies love it and many people grow it here just for the Monarchs!
DeleteThe milkweed pods are such a unique and interesting thing to use and the wreath looks so pretty! Spraying them gold was brilliant and I love how you can transition the wreath through the seasons by changing the bows, very creative and beautiful!
ReplyDeleteJenna
Thank you, Jenna. Gold was my first choice, but I think they'd also be pretty in silver or copper...hmmmm, maybe another wreath is in the making!
DeleteYou are so creative Ann. I never saw Milkweed pods before, but they are like pinecones a great thing to use in projects. I love your wreath!
ReplyDeleteI guess milkweed doesn't grow in the south? The Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on it here. It really is essential to their survival.
DeleteYour wreath turned out so well and I love how it can be extended into other holidays! I've never seen milkweed pods before and you made excellent use of them. Your wreath is so pretty and unique!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Allyson. Yes, milkweed is all over the northeast. It makes for happy Monarch butterflies!
DeleteAnn, this is so creative and I really love the overall look of your milkweed pod wreath--great idea to paint them gold!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Cecilia. It was fun to use the materials Mother Nature provided!
DeleteThis wreath is absolutely fabulous! What an amazing idea to use so many free items, like scrap cardboard and milkweed pods to make a wreath that looks far from free! It really looks high-end, & there are so many ways to customize it to fit individual style & seasons. I wish that we had that type of tree (?) down here to gather the pods! It's always great hopping with you & seeing the amazing ideas you come up with! Pinned!
ReplyDeleteNiki | Life as a LEO Wife
Thank you so much, Niki. Milkweed is actually a plant - I've just updated my post with a picture.
DeleteAnn, I'm so glad you added the information about the milkweed plant. I've never seen it in our area. It certainly made a unique and pretty wreath. Great idea to make a wreath form from cardboard.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carol. It didn't occur to me that milkweed didn't grow in the south. It's essential to the survival of the Monarch butterfly, so I find it to be very special!
DeleteThe wreath is absolutely stunning, Ann. It's very unique. I've never seen anything like it, but it's got that elegant fall feeling written all over it. The gold is beautiful, but it's so odd it didn't take on the back of the pods. I'm also one of those who have never seen milkweed, so I was happy to hear I wasn't the only one and catch a glimpse of it in the wild!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Kim. I was really surprised about the back of the pods too. I guess mother Nature had other ideas!
DeleteAs for the milkweed, it seems to be unknown for so many and I had no idea. I grew up with it everywhere!
Ann,
ReplyDeleteLove this!! So pretty! Thanks so much for sharing!!
Hugs,
Deb
Thank you so much, Debbie.
DeleteWhat a beautiful wreath, it looks absolutely gorgeous. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteWhat a pretty wreath, Ann!! I love that you painted them gold and added the themed bow. Nature provides the most beautiful decor items, doesn't it?! Thanks so much for sharing at Home Imagined this week!
ReplyDeleteNature really did all the hard work on this project. Thank you so much for stopping by!
DeleteSuch a unique and pretty wreath, Ann! Love the paint color you chose, too! Visiting by was of Home Imagined!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Julie. I was thinking about silver, but the gold won!
DeleteYour wreath is so pretty. I never heard of milkweed, but I love organic decor and you did a fabulous job. Thanks for the inspiration and sharing at the Home Imagined link party. XO- MaryJo
ReplyDeleteThank you, MaryJo. Milkweed is EVERYWHERE around here! I think I need to write a post just about milkweed and the monarch butterfly!
DeleteSTUNNING wreath, Ann!
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to join us over at the Creative Crafts Linky Party every Wednesday through Sunday
https://creativelybeth.com/creative-crafts-linky-party/
Followed and Pinned!
Creatively, Beth
Thank you so much, Beth, and I just stopped by your link party!
DeleteSo beautiful and unique using the milkweed pods. Awesome and well done.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your links with us at #275 SSPS Linky. See you again next week.
Thank you so much. Mother Nature did all the real work!
DeleteWow stunning project! Great to "meet" you on craft schooling Sunday, please come again!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much - happy to join in!
DeleteYour gilded milkweed pods are pretty creative, Ann. Love them!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Kristie!
DeleteThat is so pretty!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Joanne!
DeleteThis is lovely, I'd not heard of milkweed either so I looked it up. Apparently we do have it here in the UK so I'll have to keep an eye out for it now. What a great idea for a beautiful wreath.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Julie. Milkweed is an interesting plant and when it releases the seeds, they float on white fluff - it almost looks like it's snowing!
DeleteWow! The gold does it! Love the final project :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteI really do love this wreath. I like that it’s taken from natural materials, and I would never have thought of using the milkweed pods! They are so often overlooked!
ReplyDeleteYour post got featured at the Sunday Sunshine Blog Hop! I was out of service and couldn’t tell you yesterday. :)
Thank you for the feature, Laurie. I kept looking at those dried pods and thinking there had to be a way to use them. finally, I thought of it!
DeleteI would never have thought of this idea! It is SO creative. We have milkweed growing around here - largely in part due to plantings for pollinators. This is a great way to use the pods that remain at the end of summer. Thank you for sharing this post on the Home Imagined Link Party.
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice to hear that milkweed is being grown for the pollinators and butterflies. Many people do that in this area too. I'm happy to share!
DeleteOh, this is so creative and beautiful! What a wonderful idea and outcome! I'm happy to say I'll be featuring this tomorrow at Thursday Favorite Things. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Pam. I'll be sure to stop by!
DeleteThis is just gorgeous Ann. The gold makes it so elegant. Featuring when my party opens!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Carol. I'll be sure to stop by!
DeleteI'm featuring your wreath on today's Crafty Creators. It will be up shortly, & I hope to see you there. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Niki. I will be sure to stop by!
DeleteThis is so unique and just gorgeous! Hope you have it around or years to come. Thank you for sharing it with us on Farmhouse Friday. Featuring it tomorrow! pinned
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Cindy!
DeleteAmazing wreath Ann. Very cool idea, love it
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Vicki!
Delete