Kid Friendly Craft: Make a Holiday Wreath from Christmas Tree Scraps for Under $5.00

When we brought our Christmas tree home this year, it needed to have many of the bottom branches cut off to fit in the tree stand. The greenery was so beautiful that my daughter said we shouldn't throw it away. We decided to try and make a wreath out of it. It turned out to be an easy craft for my daughter and I do to together! It was also very reasonable to make. We spent under $5.00 and will have materials to reuse if we want to make it again next year!

The first thing you will need to make your wreath is a metal ring. These are sold at any craft store and come in various sizes. Since we had some good size greenery branches to work with, we got a large hoop. While at the craft store, we purchased a bow for our wreath and some small ornaments. The whole thing was under $5.00.

We were going to use floral wire, which is a thin, green flexible wire to attach the branches to the wreath hoop. You could also use twine or any type of thin wire. An especially good wire to use would be some jewelry making wire. If you are working with a younger child, you will want to use an easier and safer material for them to work with. We chose to use old pantyhose stockings. I had a few pairs that had runs in them, so I cut them into strips. These strips were flexible and super easy for my daughter to tie.

We used scissors to cut the Christmas tree branch scraps into small pieces. Then my daughter and I started placing them in the hoop, working in a clockwise direction. As we placed the branches, we would tie them on the back of the hoop with the pantyhose strips. By working in one direction you can go around the entire hoop and cover up the place where you started.

Once we had the whole hoop covered, we hung the wreath on the door. I let my daughter stand on a chair and she started to give the wreath a haircut. This was her favorite part! She and I snipped any branches or pieces that stuck out. By trimming it to a uniform shape, it gives the wreath a more professional look. We then attached the bow and small ornaments we bought. We hung our wreath on the outside of the door. Fresh wreaths will last longer if outside, then tend to dry out in a week or two if left indoors.

We plan on cutting apart our wreath at the end of the season to save the metal hoop. We are planning on making this a yearly tradition. She and I had a blast making it. It looks beautiful and we saved money on buying a fresh wreath!

If you are considering working with your child to create a holiday wreath, I would advise you to look around the house for ribbon or ornaments you may already have to decorate it with. You can make the wreath out of extra Christmas tree branches. If you don't have any extras from your fresh tree, many garden centers will let you collect the scraps that they cut off a tree for free. I hope you enjoy this holiday craft idea and start a new fun tradition!