Who says wreaths are just for Christmas?  I sure will never say that.  I have a gorgeous autumn wreath up in my house right now; it stays up all year round, not because I don’t really know the date, but because I decorate with an autumn theme.  My daughter made it for me; it was fun, inexpensive, and I love it. 

The beauty of wreaths is that you can make one for any season.  Many people have one for spring, summer, autumn and winter.  They have additional ones for specific holidays such as Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, 4th of July, Halloween, and Thanksgiving.

The basic premise is the same for any wreath.  Use a grape vine cluster or straw circle to begin with.  Then decorate as you desire.  Consider the colors and various embellishments you will use; Easter wreaths would of course need Easter eggs.  A Halloween wreath would be incomplete without black cats and jack O’Lanterns.  For spring and summer, think of the flowers you love and what is special to you about this beautiful time of year.  Little bird decorations and butterflies would be a nice touch.  If your family has a tradition of berry picking in the late summer, put a lot of artificial berries on the wreath.

You can hang an ornament in the center, or put a photograph as well if you like.  Wire ribbons make wonderful bows on the top of a wreath but perhaps a folk-art painted decoration would be more to your liking.  Just have fun with it and then hang it on your front door to welcome friends or put it on that empty spot on your wall you haven’t been able to find a painting for.  It is a great craft and one that you will enjoy for years to come.

Make Your Own Floral Wreath

You’ve heard the expression “a picture is worth a thousand words.”  Here’s a new one for you and it is particularly pertinent to crafters.  “A video is worth a thousand pictures.”  Leisure Arts is a company that has been devoted to crafting and crafters for nearly three decades.  For the new technological age, Leisure Arts brings to crafters free videos, or webcasts, that address techniques and the important “how-to” lessons many crafters need.

Not only does Leisure Arts have the web casts, they also have free ipod subscriptions, to keep crafters up-to-date on what is available on the Leisure Arts Web site.  This is all free and a wonderful source of valuable information for crafters.

Leisure Arts Webcasts

Free Patterns From Leisure Arts

Leisure Arts Home Web Site

Much of the joy in crafting results from the community that is formed by crafters.  Do you have a crafting community where you live?  Do you know other crafters?  They don’t have to be crafters that do the same exact craft as you; in fact, it is more interesting if crafters pursuing various interests know each other as well.  Of course, finding groups of people who do the same crafts is valuable as well because of the available information and experience.

I found a Web site that is for people who live in a city in Texas.  You may live thousands of miles from Texas and be unable to participate, but this is a great matrix to form a crafting community for your own area.  This particular set of clubs is formed around the passion of quilting, but imagine it with knitting, crocheting, painting, stained glass or any other craft; better yet, imagine it with a bunch of different crafts. 

Take a look.  I think you will like what Stitchin Heaven is doing.

Stitchin Heaven’s Quilt Clubs

Scrapbooking is, as you know, is an extremely popular craft.  It appeals to kids, adults, women of all ages, classrooms… in short, anyone who wants to create a memory to last a lifetime, and wants to do it with a dash of creativity, likes scrapbooking.  It is almost like a crazy quilt made with photographs, paper, and memories.

One Scrappy Site is a general headquarters for scrapbookers.  It is a combination of blog/podcast/Web site/tips and hints/shopping… get the idea?  If you need it for scrapbooking, you will find it here.  If you think you know pretty much everything you need to know about scrapbooking, but don’t hang out in this site, you are in for a very pleasant surprise!

One Scrappy Site