How to Make a Corn Husk Wreath

I'm not sure if living in corn country makes corny ideas flow, but I do know that a corn husk wreath is an easy fall craft project. Corn husk wreaths can be redecorated to use for any season, and they last a very long time. Best of all, the supplies you need to make a corn husk wreath are downright cheap. You will need to plan ahead so you will have plenty of dried husks when you are ready to assemble your wreath.

For each corn husk wreath you will need:

• One prepared straw wreath base from a craft shop, at least 14 inches diameter
• large bag of dried corn husks
• floral/wreath pins, the two-prong type
• Decorative items for the season or holiday
• florist wire for attaching decorative items

To assemble your corn husk wreath:

1. Save the clean inner husks from your sweet corn. Ask friends to save some for you if you don't eat much fresh corn on the cob. (See suggestion at end of article)
2. Spread the corn husks out in single layer on a clean floor to dry. It should take 3-4 days to dry the husks properly. The husks will lose their green color and will become a clean, off-white color.
3. Store dried corn husks in a large paper bag or cardboard box until you are ready to use them. Do not use plastic, or the husks may mildew.
4. Gather your materials as listed above. Lay the straw wreath on the table. Take one corn husk and fold it loosely in half, top to bottom. Do not crease the fold, but leave it curved and fluffy.
5. With a wreath pin, pierce through the two ends of the folded corn husk about 3/4 inch in from the ends of the husk, and push the pin ends into the straw. Push the pin all the way in so that it anchors the husk ends against the straw wreath.
6. Repeat this all around the wreath. Work next to the husk just added, overlapping the new husk "fold" to cover the pinned ends of the husk under it. The husk placement is like shingles, overlapping each pinned end and covering the straw base underneath.
7. You can leave the back of the straw wreath uncovered so it will hang flat against a door or wall, or you can cover the entire straw base.
8. When your straw wreath is completely covered with the fluffy folded corn husks, attach a florist wire loop for a hanger.
9. Use the florist wire to attach seasonal decorations and ribbons to your corn husk wreath. Small gourds, nuts, seed pods, and ears of mini decorative corn are ideal for a fall wreath. Use some leftover corn husks to make corn husk dolls for your wreath. Using the same basic fall wreath design, you can easily add small Halloween items in October, and then change them again as Thanksgiving approaches.
10. The corn husk wreath can be spray-painted lightly if you want to add color to the husks. You can also use dye to color them. RIT liquid dye works fine. After the husks are dried and are no longer green, soak them in a hot water dye bath until they are the color you want. Rinse them completely in cool water, and spread them out to dry again before making the wreath.

Depending on the size of your straw wreath, it takes several dozen dried corn husks for one wreath. I usually plan one brown paper grocery bag of loosely packed dried husks for one wreath.

I use sweet corn husks because they are softer than field corn and they are easier to find. (Modern corn harvesting leaves almost nothing behind to glean!) Ask at your grocery store to find out when they get fresh corn delivered, and they will probably be happy to let you pick through their bin of corn husks. Most grocery stores still buy fresh corn locally in season and clean/package it themselves in the back room. This is a good way to collect lots of husks in a hurry.

To make a small wreath, cut the corn husks into pieces and use smaller pins or staple gun staples to attach them.