Salal leaves (also known as lemon leaves) are often used as filler for floral arrangements and centerpieces because of their curved shape and beautiful glossy leaves. Those characteristics also make them perfect for modern holiday wreaths. This DIY Christmas wreath project blends dried Salal leaves with magnolia leaves painted in a metallic hue, bright poinsettia petals for a punch of color, and springs of evergreen. The result is an anything-but-ordinary holiday wreath that will last for years.
Supplies Needed
- 2 bunches of dried magnolia leaves (approximately 30 leaves)
- Copper spray paint
- 3 artificial red poinsettia flower heads (approximately 20 petals)
- Scissors
- One 20-inch wire wreath form
- 2 bunches of dried lemon leaves (Salal leaves)
- Florist's wire
- 4-inch florist's picks (approximately 75)
- 1 bunch of artificial Christmas greens with mini pinecones
- 10 fresh cedar sprigs
- Hot-glue gun and glue sticks
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How to Make the Wreath
- Remove magnolia leaves from branches leaving stems on each one. Spray both sides of magnolia leaves with copper spray paint; let dry. Cut off red petals from poinsettia flowers and set aside.
- Gather small bunches (2-4 short stems) of lemon leaves. Use florist's wire to wrap lemon leaf bunches around the wire wreath form by the stems. Place bunches close together until the entire wreath form is covered.
- Wire florist's picks to 30 painted magnolia leaves and 20 poinsettia petals. Add the leaves to the wreath by pushing the picks between the lemon leaves, securing with hot glue if necessary. Spacing them evenly around the wreath.
- Cut short lengths of Christmas greens with pinecones and hot-glue them to the wreath. Hot-clue small cedar sprigs to wreath as well to finish.
Hang your wreath on a nail or hook (if you want a damage-free hanger, try a strong suction hook). At the end of the season, tuck your wreath away for use again next year. Just wrap loosely with tissue paper and place in a wreath storage container. (We prefer a hard plastic wreath storage container to avoid accidental crushing.)
