Craft a Summer Garden Hose Wreath

Don't throw that leaky garden hose away. It's still good. Well, maybe not for watering your flowers, but as a summertime craft project, it is perfect.

A garden hose resembles a wreath when it is wound up and hung on a hose hook, so why not use an old one to craft a wreath for your garden gate, tool shed or patio. The fresh and whimsical nature of this simple wreath will fit most any backyard decor style. It is easy to make and if you have a lot of excess leaky hoses, they make wonderful items to sell at your local farmer's market. Check out your neighbor's trash or the free boxes at yard sales for a never ending supply of free wreath material. I have learned that my friends are more than happy to send their trash to my house.

Old garden hose, 10-12 feet
Measuring tape
Craft knife or heavy-duty scissors
Male hose end coupling, no hose clamp needed
Craft wire
Wire cutters
Silk ivy bush
2-inch wide ribbon, approximately 3-yards
Scissors
Silk sunflower bush
Craft glue

Step 1
Cut a 10-12 foot length of garden hose using a craft knife or heavy-duty scissors. My hose had a bent coupler at one end, so I simply cut above it to remove it.

Step 2
Coil the hose into a 16-inch diameter spiral with the ends hanging evenly on each side edge. Cut a 24-inch length of craft wire. Wind the wire around the coils at the top of the spiraled hose to hold the "wreath" together. You can recut the hose ends at this time to even up the ends on each side of the wreath.

Step 3
Insert a male hose coupling into each end of the hose. These are available at your local hardware store. Inserting a coupling into a hose is a lot like reinserting a cork in a wine bottle. You just push and twist until it has been completely inserted with the threaded end still exposed.

Step 4
Cut eight stems from a silk ivy bush. Gather the cut ends of four stems together and wrap with an 8-inch length of craft wire. Repeat with the remaining four stems. Hold the gathered stems horizontally with the wired end of one bunch overlapping the wired end of the other bunch by 3-inches. Wrap an 8-inch length of craft wire over the overlap. The completed ivy bundle will have four stems to the right and four to the left, while connected in the center. Cut an 24-inch length of craft wire. Wind the wire around the center of the ivy bundle while attaching to the top of the hose wreath.

Step 5
Form a large loopy bow. I used 2-inch wide black and white gingham ribbon, because I liked the country look of it. Cut the bow wire 24-inches long. Place the bow over the center of the ivy bundle. Wrap the bow wires around the wreath to attach.

Step 6
Cut 10 stems from a silk sunflower bush. Insert five stems of sunflowers on each side of the bow, staggering the stems to spread them out. When a pleasing arrangement has been made, remove the stems (one at a time), apply craft glue to the cut ends of the stems and reinsert into the arrangement.

Step 7
Evenly separate the ends of the twisted wires on the back of the wreath into two sets. Twist each set together. You now have two strong wire cables. Place your index finger between the cables. Bring the ends of the cables together and twist. Remove your finger. This is the hanger for your wreath. Cut off the excess wire on the ends.