How to Make a Driftwood Wreath

Driftwood is any type of wood that’s washed ashore from a body of water, and you can use it to make crafts that have a natural feel. If you want to create a simple but stunning decoration for your home, you can easily build wreaths by gluing pieces of driftwood together. For a classic circular wreath, start with a wreath ring as a base to use as a guide. If you want a more freeform shape, you can build the wreath without a base using the driftwood and glue. When you’re finished, decorate it however you want to match your room’s style!

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Using a Wreath Ring Base

1. Hot-glue the end of a burlap roll to a wreath ring. Choose a wreath ring that’s the same size as what you want for your final product. Buy a roll of burlap that’s wide and set the end against one of the wires on the front of the wreath wring. Apply a line of hot glue to the end of the burlap and press it against the wire for 30 seconds so it sets.^[1]
   
   
   
   • You can buy wreath rings and burlap online or from your local crafts store.
   • Wire wreath rings come in many sizes, so you can make a small or large driftwood wreath.
2. Wrap the burlap around the wire wreath ring to make it look more natural. Pull the burlap tight so it doesn’t wrinkle and put the roll through the middle of the ring. Bring the burlap around the outside of the ring so it overlaps the first strip by . Continue wrapping the burlap around the ring to ensure there aren’t any visible wires or gaps.^[2]
   
   
   • Put a line of glue every 3–4 times you go through the center of the ring to ensure the burlap doesn’t come loose.
3. Leave a gap between the ends of the burlap. Stop wrapping the burlap around the ring as soon as there’s only of empty space left. Cut the burlap off of the roll with a pair of scissors and use hot glue to secure the loose edge down.^[3]
   
   
   • The gap allows you to hang your wreath without attaching a wire or hook to it later on.
   • You will be able to cover the gap from the front with driftwood to conceal it. It will only be visible from the back.
4. Sort your pieces of driftwood by their sizes. Collect your own driftwood from beaches, rivers, or shorelines, or buy bags of driftwood wholesale from a craft store for your wreath. Organize the pieces on your work surface so pieces that are and longer are on one side and anything shorter is on the other side. That way you can easily work from the largest to smallest pieces when you make your wreath.^[4]
   
   
   • You can buy about 30–50 pieces of driftwood for around $10 USD.
5. Arrange the largest pieces on the wreath ring so they don’t hang off the edge. Take your pieces that are larger than and arrange them on top of the ring. Position the pieces so their lengths follow the curves of the ring to help them look cleaner. Try to fit the pieces so they don’t overhang over the sides of the ring, or else you could make it lose its circular shape.^[5]
   
   
   
   • It’s okay if you need to overlap some of the driftwood pieces on your first layer.
   • Try to cover as much of the burlap as you can with the large pieces so you don’t need to fill in as many gaps.
6. Secure the driftwood to the burlap with hot glue. Use a high-heat glue in your glue gun so it’s less likely to melt later on. Put dots of glue every along the length of a driftwood piece and press it down onto the burlap. Hold the glue for 15–30 seconds so it has time to dry before gluing down the next piece. Continue gluing the rest of the driftwood pieces down against the burlap.^[6]
   
   
   • If the driftwood comes loose while you’re working, reapply more glue and press it back into place.
   • Wipe the end of the glue gun on the driftwood after you let go of the trigger to help avoid stringy pieces of glue.
7. Fill in the gaps with small pieces of driftwood. Begin arranging the smaller pieces of driftwood on top of the larger pieces to give the wreath more depth. Try to position the pieces so they cover the most burlap before you glue them down with hot glue. Continue working around the entire wreath filling in the largest gaps first before working on the smallest ones.^[7]
   
   
   • You can live some of the burlap visible if you want your wreath to have a more rustic and DIY look.

[Edit]Creating a Wreath without a Base

1. Arrange the longest pieces of driftwood in the shape you want for the wreath. Collect driftwood on your own from bodies of water, shorelines, or beaches if you want to save money. Otherwise, you can buy driftwood from your local craft store or online. Place the longest pieces you have on your work surface to form a rough, boxy outline of the size and shape for your wreath. Overlap the ends of the driftwood pieces so you know where to attach them.^[8]
   
   
   
   • For example, if you want to make a heart-shaped driftwood wreath, then you may make the outline of the heart with 6–8 large pieces.
   • When you’re finished, your wreath will be slightly wider than the outline you’ve made.
2. Hot glue the driftwood pieces together where they overlap. Warm up a high-heat hot glue in the gun until it applies smoothly. Place a large dot on the end of the driftwood piece and press it against another piece to secure them together. Hold the pieces together for about 30 seconds so the glue has time to set before gluing the next piece.^[9]
   
   
   • Only work on 1 piece of driftwood at a time since hot glue sets within 30 seconds.
   • You can also use super glue if you want.
3. Attach more pieces of driftwood so they touch 2 pieces on the first layer. Take the next largest piece of driftwood and lay it on top of the layer you just glued together. Position the new piece so the ends cross through the centers of 2 pieces that are glued together. Glue the new driftwood piece with dots of hot glue. Continue working your way around the wreath to build up the shape.^[10]
   
   
   
   • Avoid using driftwood pieces that are shorter than for now since they won’t cover as much area.
4. Glue the smallest pieces of driftwood so the wreath has a full, rounded shape. Work from the biggest pieces of driftwood to the smallest to help give the wreath more definition. Fit the driftwood into the gaps between other pieces and glue them down so they’re secure. Keep adding driftwood until the wreath rounds out on top and when you’re happy with how full it looks.^[11]
   
   
   • It’s okay to leave some gaps where you can see through the wreath.
5. Wrap a wire around the top of the wreath so you can hang it. Cut off a piece of 18-gauge wire that’s large enough to wrap around the top of the wreath with of excess. Put the wire carefully around the top of the wreath so you don’t break off any driftwood. Twist the ends of the wires together and form them into a small hook or loop so you’re able to hang it.^[12]
   
   
   • You don’t need to add a wire if you don’t want to hang the wreath.

[Edit]Decorating the Wreath

1. Hot-glue seashells around the wreath if you want to make it beach-themed. Look for various sizes of shells or marine-themed decorations, such as starfish or sand dollars, in home decor shops or craft stores. Set the shells and decor on the wreath and position them on the driftwood. Try multiple layouts to see which one you like the best before using a hot glue gun to secure them to the wood.^[13]
   
   
   • You can hang or tie netting around the wreath to make it seem like it got tangled in the driftwood.
2. Add live flowers or artificial succulents to the wreath to give it a natural look. Wrap the stems of live flowers in twine to bundle them into a bouquet. Look for gaps between the driftwood where you can tuck the ends of the stems so you don’t need to glue them down. As the flowers dry out or wither, you can either leave them or replace them with fresh blooms. You can also buy fake succulent plants and glue them around the driftwood to add some greenery to your wreath.^[14]
   
   
   
   • You can use artificial flowers as well if you want them to stay bright and colorful.
   • Avoid keeping real succulents on the wreath since they require water and will rot otherwise.
3. Wrap rope or fabric around the wreath to create a rustic feel. Look for thick pieces of rope or twine that contrast the color of your driftwood to add more visual interest. Coil the rope around the wreath so it goes through the hole in the middle, and wrap it as many times as you want. You can also use colored strips of fabric to add more decoration to the wreath.
   
   
   • This is a great option if you want to change the decorations frequently since you don’t have to glue anything down.
   • Tie the fabric or rope into bows for added decorative features.
4. Tie garlands and ribbons around the ring for a driftwood Christmas wreath. Look for real or artificial garlands to help contrast the colors of your driftwood and wrap them around the wreath. Run green and red ribbons alongside the garlands to add more festive colors to your wreath. Tie the ribbons into large bows on the front of your wreath so it looks like a present.^[15]
   
   
   • You may be able to hang ornaments from the driftwood pieces, but they could fall off.
   • Run string lights around the wreath if you want it lit up.
5. Attach a mirror behind the wreath to create a decorative driftwood frame. Choose a circular mirror that’s the same diameter as the inner circle of the wreath. Turn the wreath upside-down and position the mirror over the hole so the reflective surface is face-down. Use super glue or hot glue around the outer rim of the mirror and press it gently onto the driftwood. Allow the glue to set for 1–2 minutes before flipping the wreath over and hanging it.^[16]
   
   
   
   • Opt for mirrors without a frame so it’s easier to glue to the driftwood.

[Edit]Tips

• You can also put the wreath around candles or use it as table decoration if you don’t want to hang it.

[Edit]Warnings

• Clean driftwood with a scrub brush and a solution of water and bleach if you found it in the wild so you don’t spread any bacteria. This also helps to preserve the driftwood for a long time.
• Avoid using low-heat hot glue since it could melt if it gets too warm and cause your wreath to fall apart.

[Edit]Things You’ll Need

[Edit]Using a Wreath Ring Base

• Wire wreath ring
• Burlap strips
• Hot glue gun
• Hot glue
• Driftwood pieces

[Edit]Creating a Wreath without a Base

• Driftwood pieces
• Hot glue gun
• Hot glue
• 18-gauge wire

[Edit]Decorating the Wreath

• Seashells
• Netting
• Flowers
• Artificial succulents
• Twine
• Rope
• Fabric pieces
• Ornaments
• Ribbons
• Circular mirror

[Edit]References

1. ↑ https://h2obungalow.com/diy-seashell-and-driftwood-wreath/
2. ↑ https://h2obungalow.com/diy-seashell-and-driftwood-wreath/
3. ↑ https://h2obungalow.com/diy-seashell-and-driftwood-wreath/
4. ↑ https://youtu.be/_edditQBNNU?t=38
5. ↑ https://h2obungalow.com/diy-seashell-and-driftwood-wreath/
6. ↑ https://h2obungalow.com/diy-seashell-and-driftwood-wreath/
7. ↑ https://youtu.be/_edditQBNNU?t=168
8. ↑ https://youtu.be/uz5POdNqcgQ?t=83
9. ↑ https://www.shelterness.com/diy-rustic-wreath-made-of-driftwood/
10. ↑ https://youtu.be/uz5POdNqcgQ?t=130
11. ↑ https://youtu.be/jaVLOcvnDKI?t=74
12. ↑ https://youtu.be/jaVLOcvnDKI?t=37
13. ↑ https://h2obungalow.com/diy-seashell-and-driftwood-wreath/
14. ↑ https://youtu.be/uz5POdNqcgQ?t=246
15. ↑ https://youtu.be/yapGJ0e1uD4?t=64
16. ↑ https://www.craftsbycourtney.com/how-to-crafts/5-minute-diy-driftwood-wall-mirror/