Flip Flop Ruffled Ribbon Wreath For Summer: New Deco Mesh Tutorial

Who can resist a cute pair of hot pink flip flops?  We can't!  We love all the hot neon colors showing up on everything from decor, to fashion and crafts!  Why not combine them all by creating a bright summery deco mesh wreath that incorporates our favorite hues and our favorite summer flip flops? So here is our Summer inspired Flip Flop Deco Mesh Wreath! 

The DIY tutorial below features a brand new ruffled ribbon technique for filling a work wreath. This new look is not only easy to do, but also uses the smaller (an less expensive) 10" wide mesh rolls. This technique makes it very easy to add in multiple colors of mesh, different patterns of ribbon or fun textures of rope or wire  (like the glitzy sticks we used).

Ruffled Ribbon Wreath Tutorial

SUPPLIES

• 2 rolls of  10" Poly Deco Mesh Roll, Metallic Lime, Orange, Fuchsia Stripes
• 1 partial roll of 2.5" Faux Burlap Ribbon: Dark Pink (25 yards)
• 15" Tinsel Work Wreath Form: Metallic Lime Green
• Scissors and/or wire cutters

Optional Supplies for Wreath Accents

• Glitzy Sticks, Copper
• Feather Butterflies
• Flip Flops

COST/TIME

The cost of the supplies for a 1 color wreath is just under $30.  We used about 1and 2/3 rolls of 10" mesh with some left over for additional projects.  The entire wreath took about 45 minutes to create.  If you are interested in creating a ruffle wreath out of multiple mesh colors, a wide array of 10" mesh patterns and colors is available here.

Step 1
An important first step is to arrange and straighten the pairs of tinsel ties on your work wreath form as shown here.

Step 2
Measure off and cute 20 inches pieces of Deco Mesh from the 10" wide mesh roll.  You will need to cut 26 pieces of mesh to fill the form, which uses a little less than 2 rolls.

Step 3
If you are using more than 1 color of mesh, you still only need a total of 26 pieces of mesh for a 15" work wreath.  One piece of mesh will go into every pair of ties on the outside ring of the wreath, and 2 pieces will go into every pair of ties on the inside ring of the wreath.

Step 4- Making Ruffles
When you are making Ruffles you are essentially creating a pinch pleat.  Unroll one of the 20" lengths of mesh, then pinch and pull it towards you using your fingers.  Keep the entire piece pinched firmly until you get to the end, and holding it at the center, place into a set of ties on the wreath form.

Step 5- Add Ruffles
Place your ruffles in the tinsel wreath form beginning with the outside ring.  Once you have place a ruffle in between a set of tinsel ties, twist the ties tightly together twice to secure.  In the outside ring you should add one ruffle for every set of ties.

Step 6
 Continue adding ruffles around the wreath form.

Step 7
Fill in the outside ring before moving to the center ring.

Step 8- Add Ruffles to the Center
The tinsel ties located in inner ring of the work wreath should have 2 ruffles each.  This will make your wreath look much more full.  In the photo above, we used a different color mesh so that the process of stacking the ruffles was easier to see.

Step 9- Add Another Layer Of Ruffles

Add a second ruffle directly on top of the the others in the inner ring of the work wreath only. Use the tinsel ties to wrap over the top of the ruffle and twist the two ends together to secure.

Our completed ruffled ribbon wreath.

Now it is time to add themed summer accents.

It's easy to add flip-flops and other summer accents to work wreaths!  You simply wire them in using the tinsel ties.For each flip-flop we twisted a 9" piece of floral wire around the bottom of the toe strap.  We then used the floral wire to attach to a tinsel tie.

Here is how we made fun faux burlap ribbon tucks to add an additional burst of color on the wreath!

 

If you are adding bow tucks into a work wreath, then you do not have to follow step 3- securing the tuck with floral wire.  You will be able to add the ribbon tuck directly into the wreath by attaching them between a pair of tinsel ties and then twisting the ends of the ties together.

The Deco Mesh Ruffle Wreath with fun pink flip flops!

A second version of this ruffle wreath shows added sparkle and color with orange Glitzy Sticks!  Glitzy Sticks are bendable, metallic sparkly wires that come in a large array of colors to match any craft or floral project.  To match our Lime, Fuchsia, and Orange Deco Mesh we choose the Copper Glitzy Sticks which look orange.

Butterfly Beauties. We also really loved the way our summer wreath looked with brightly colored feather butterflies.   This botanical style would look beautiful on a garden gate.

Feather Butterfly Accents

The great thing about these work wreath forms is your design options are infinitely changeable. Getting tired of the flip flop wreath? Switch those out for butterflies, or glitzy sticks or flowers. What will you create for your summer wreath?

A Simple Star for Memorial Day 2013

Happy Memorial Day!

This weekend, we celebrate our country and the people who have blessed us with our freedom. We are counting our many blessings (including our great customers), too. 

For this special holiday, we created a simple patriotic red star. To create one of your own, see this post, where we used the same concept to make a different shape with metallic glamour rope. Look for a tutorial post soon for the simple bow attached to our red star. 

Wishing you "good times" this memorial day holiday!

Easy DIY Deco Mesh Sunflower Wreath

 

Summer sunflowers are here along with warm, sunny days. We couldn't resist decorating our front door with a new summer inspired creation... the Deco Mesh Sunflower! This simple, pretty flower is easy to make and doesn't require any form! Keep reading to learn how to make one.

 

The pretty sunflower on our door as a alternative to a summer wreath!

Supplies

• 21" Poly Mesh Roll: Yellow
• 10" Poly Mesh Roll: Brown
• 3-4 Tinsel Ties w/50mm Balls: Brown
• Floral wire- We used 24 Gauge Floral Paddle Wire: Gold
• Scissors

Optional Supplies

• 21" Poly Mesh Roll: Brown and Gold
• 21" Poly Mesh Roll: Metallic Apple Green for the stem

Cost/Time

The basic one color Deco Mesh Sunflower costs $21, and there will be product left over, (about 8 of the tinsel ties and most of the 10" brown mesh.  The Deluxe version of the Deco Mesh Sunflower costs under $34, and you are able to make 2 sunflowers by using both the solid yellow mesh and the two-tone brown and gold.  Each sunflower took about 30 minutes to make.

Deco Mesh Sunflower Wreath Tutorial

Step 1- Cut the deco mesh petals

Begin by measuring out 24 inches of yellow mesh. Cut here and repeat. These curls of mesh will become the sunflower petals. To make an entire sunflower you will need 12 sections of 24" mesh.  The Deluxe Sunflower Wreath has  6 yellow mesh petals and 6 petals of brown  gold mesh.

Step 2- First layer of petals

Stretch each mesh petal at a diagonal to form its shape.  When you have 6 stretched out, grasp them in all in the center, and wire them together with a 9" length of wire.  If you are making a Sunflower with only one mesh color, then repeat the process so that you have two bundles of mesh petals.

 Step 3- Making More Petals 

We wanted our background petals to have a slightly different shape and dimension, so when we  created our darker mesh petals, we rolled the mesh at a diagonal, (instead of stretching it like we did for the bright yellow petals).  Cut 6 more lengths of mesh, each should be about 24" long, and roll them up.  

Step 4- Second layer of petals

When you have rolled up all 6 pieces, cut a long piece of floral paddle wire, about 18-24 inches, and twist it around the bundle of petals, then twist the ends of the wire to secure.  Do not trim the extra wire.

Step 5- Layer the two colors of petals together

Stack the two bundles of mesh on top of each other. The bottom bundle should have the extra long wires.  Bring the bottom wires up and over the top bundle, and twist to secure the two mesh colors together.  Leave the wires pointing upwards so that in the next step you can secure the center of the flower to the petals.

Step 6- Make the center

1. Cut 5 sections of mesh from the brown 10" wide roll. Each section is be about 9 inches long.
2. Roll up the mesh so that you have  short tube.
3. Twist an 8" length of floral wire around the center of each roll of brown mesh and twist to secure.
4. Grasp the wires of all 5 rolls and twist them together tightly.  This is now the Sunflower's center.

Step 7-Tinsel ties attach the center

Lay down 3-4 tinsel ball ties across the paddle wire coming out from the top of the sunflower- as shown.  Use the floral wire on the flower petals to secure the tinsel ties in the middle. Bring the paddle wire back underneath the sunflower, twisting the ends together one last time to make sure the entire sunflower is wired together.  Place the brown mesh curls in the middle of the tinsel ties.  Bring the tinsel ties up to the center of the brown mesh and twist them together in pairs.  This attaches the Sunflower's center to the petals.

 

What are tinsel ball ties? 

 

Tinsel Ties are a pair of metallic ball ornaments attached on each end to a flexible wire tinsel tie. Sold in sets of 12 ties, they come in an assortment of sizes and colors. They are great for adding in accents to wreaths, garland or Christmas trees. Here we use them to simulate the center seeds of a sunflower.  Click HERE to see all the styles of tinsel ties available.

 

Step 8- Create a stem

The final step is adding a stem, the "tail" of your wreath, which is optional.  Begin by cutting a length of the Metallic Apple Mesh, about 24" long.  Pull it at a diagonal to stretch out the mesh the same way you made the bright yellow petals.  On the underside of your sunflower should be the ends of paddle wire you used to secure the layers of your sunflower together.  Twist them together to form a circle.  This circle will give you something to hang your sunflower from.  Now pull about 8 inches of your "stem" through the wire circle, and tying a knot.  Cut one more length of green mesh, about 18 inches long, and tie it around the center of the stem.  It looks like leaves on the stem, but it also stops the stem from unfurling.

The finished Sunflower!

The Deco Mesh Sunflower Wreath is perfect for your front door, office decor, or to hang from gates and fences at home.  Deco Mesh will not get soggy in the rain, so its the perfect decoration to leave outside- even during summer showers!

DIY Deco Mesh Butterfly

Spring has sprung and summer is on its way. With all the flowers in bloom, butterflies are flitting around everywhere. We were inspired to create our your own butterfly out of  Deco Mesh!  This fun butterfly can be used as a wreath or hanging decoration for an outdoor party. Isn't she lovely? Keep reading to see how to make one of your own.

Butterfly door decoration

SUPPLIES

• 21" Poly Deco Mesh Rolls, 2-4 colors, we used
  21" Poly Mesh Roll: Yellow
  21" Poly Mesh Roll: Pink
  21" Poly Mesh Roll: Orange
  21" Poly Mesh Roll: Metallic Apple and Moss
• Aluminum Craft Wire: Apple Green
• Scissors and/or wire cutters

COST/TIME

The cost of the supplies for a 1 color butterfly is under $17, a two color butterfly costs under $23, and a three color butterfly is under $29. There will be more than half of the roll of aluminum craft wire left over for additional projects. We used between 8 and 10 feet for each color of deco mesh in order to make the wings, so the Butterfly Deco Mesh project is perfect for using up long scraps of mesh from old rolls.  You can use any colors of mesh that you prefer, a wide range of colors and patterns are available here.  We used apple green colored aluminum wire in order to match the body of the butterfly, but any color could be used, (other colors available here).  The entire butterfly with 3 wing colors took less than an hour to create.

Follow the steps below to create your own Deco Mesh Butterfly Wreath!

Step 1- Measure the Wire

Cut about 5 feet of Aluminum Craft Wire.

Step 2- Bend the Wire

One end of the wire should be about a foot longer the other, so make a bend in the wire that creates one side about 2 feet long, and the other side about 3 feet long.

Step 3- Create the body form for the butterfly

Grasp the side of aluminum wire that is 3 feet long and form a loop as if you were tying a knot around both sides.  Then twist the loop to secure, (the loop should be about the size of a 50 cent piece).  The loop will hold the butterfly's head in place, as well as give a hanging hook. Curl the two top wires into spirals to look like antennae.

Step 4- Create the Butterfly head and wing sections

• The head and body of the butterfly are made of horizontal small loops of deco mesh.Cut an 8" length of mesh for the butterflies head. We chose an apple green metallic deco mesh.
• Beginning above the loop you formed, Lay the mesh loop underneath the wire body structure you made in the last step.
• Wrap the mesh over the top of the wire, then crisscross the mesh underneath the body.
• Tie a knot in the mesh.
• Trim the excess mesh as shown.
• The body portion of the butterfly combines a green loop and a larger bow for the wings. Cut an 8" length of green mesh for the body. Form a small loop  and secure it with an piece of wire about 8" long.
• Make a bow with mesh  (directions are shown below in detail).  The bow becomes with wings of the deco mesh butterfly.
• Attach the green mesh loop (section of the butterfly body) to the mesh bow (the butterfly wings) and you now have 1 section of the body of the butterfly.

Step 5-Repeat with additional colors
Repeat these steps two more times to make three butterfly sections.  You can choose to make the butterfly wings different colors or make them all same. Below are detailed steps on how to make a bow/wing loops using  21" wide deco mesh.
 

How to make the bow/wing loops:
First, form a loop using about 12-18" of Deco Mesh.  Without trimming off of the roll, pull another 12-18" of mesh, and using your other hand, grasp the mesh in the center.  You should now have 2 large loops of mesh.  Repeat this process using less mesh to form smaller loops, using about 8-14" of mesh.  Do not trim the mesh from the roll until you have 2 large loops, topped with 2 smaller loops. The diagram below show you what the bow should look like when finished.

Step 6- Attach the wings to the body.

 Lay the wire body piece over the wings you created. The head and the wings should both be right side down.  Grasp the wires from the wings and twist them around the body.  Repeat for all 3 sections of the butterfly.

Step 7-Create the bottom tail end of the butterfly.

 Cut a 9" to 12" length of mesh the same color as the body.  Tie a knot over the wire body below the bottom wing segment.

Once you have tied the knot, there will be extra wire body left at the bottom.  Use the loop of aluminum wire to secure the last body segment by pulling it up and over the knot of green mesh.  Then twist the loop around the wire to secure.  

 

Step 8- Fluff

Now that your parts all the parts of the butterfly are assembled, you will need to fluff the wings, arrange the body sections, and adjust the curls on the butterfly's antenna.  

 The finished Deco Mesh Butterfly!

You can also make them in a variety of colors and shapes! By making the bows larger or smaller you can change the shape of the butterfly.

These deco mesh butterflies are precious decorations for an outdoor event. Make a few and let them fluttery in the trees.