How to Make a Magnolia Wreath for Christmas
I love making wreaths, especially wreaths for Christmas. Today I’m sharing how to make a Magnolia wreath to display on a door, over your mantel, or on a porch wall.
I’m actually going to show you not one, but two ways to make a Magnolia wreath!
I’m sharing my Magnolia wreath tutorials as part of a Celebrate Christmas Blog Hop hosted by Leen of Sand Dollar Lane.
Please keep Leen in your thoughts and prayers as she lost her mother this week and wasn’t able to share a Christmas tour this year. I also want to thank Amy of Atta Girl Says for jumping in to assist Leen. Without Amy, this tour wouldn’t have happened this year.
How to Make a Magnolia Wreath for Christmas
Every Thanksgiving, we go to my mom’s house and I spend the night with her. Then the next day we come to my house to make Christmas wreaths. It’s a fun tradition that we both love.
This year I was honestly worn out from Christmas decorating and I didn’t make a wreath, I just kept my mom company while she made a Magnolia wreath to hang on the door of her 1912 home.
Gather Supplies to Make the Magnolia Wreath
To make the Magnolia wreath, we first gathered the supplies that Mama wanted to use.
- 18″ Straw Wreath Form
- Floral Fern Pins
- Magnolia
- Evergreens
- Holly
There was no need to shop for supplies, everything that Mama needed to make her wreath was either in my basement or in my yard.
Mama clipped a tote full of Magnolia branches and as she worked, it wasn’t enough, so I clipped more for her.
She also clipped greenery from my Japanese Cryptomeria and Green Giant Arborvitae. For a pop of color, we clipped Winterberry Holly but ended up not using it and we used regular Holly instead.
Making the Magnolia Wreath
When Mr. SP purchased our home, it had a huge model railroad in the basement. He left it in place for years and then eventually tore it apart because we needed the work space.
The railroad base included drawers and cabinets and he used all of them to make multiple workbenches in our basement. Mama worked on one workbench that is located in the middle of the room. I love crafting on this workbench!
We spread out her supplies and she got to work. Note that there is wire in the picture because that is what I thought she would use but she preferred to use fern pins instead.
If you don’t know what a Fern pin is, it pins greenery to a straw wreath to hold it in place.
Since the wreath form that Mama used had been used before by me, it already had a wreath hanger attached to it. When using a new wreath form, make a hanger using floral wire before adding greenery to the wreath.
Mama started by pinning Magnolia to the outside of the wreath.
For Mama’s method, it is best to clip pieces of Magnolia from the tips of branches.
Here you can see a Fern pin holding a stem of Magnolia in place.
Along with Magnolia, she added pieces of both Arborvitae and Cryptomeria. When we clipped the Cryptomeria, we made sure to clip pieces with the small and pretty cones.
Here is Mama working away on her wreath.
After the wreath was covered in Magnolia and evergreen clippings, we took it outside to see how it looked hanging up. My hose holder made a great temporary wreath holder.
Mama then tried to add sprigs of Winterberry Holly to the wreath but it didn’t look right, so we headed out to the yard to cut some regular Holly which worked perfectly.
Hang the Magnolia Wreath
We put Mama’s wreath on my front door to admire it and I snapped a few pictures of it.
Here Mama is holding her wreath before putting it in her car to take home.
And here it is hanging on the front door of her 1912 home.
You can see some recent pictures of her Walnut Avenue historic home in this post and these posts chronical the restoration of her home.
- July 14, 2009 – History of the house and a before pictures.
- July 17, 2009 – Before pictures from when my great aunt still lived there and first stages of restoration.
- July 21, 2009 – Renovating
- August 1, 2009
- August 27, 2009
- October 19, 2009 – More renovating…So much scraping
- November 21, 2009 – Working on the basement (Was an apartment long ago.)
- February 15, 2010
- April 8, 2010 – Mama living out of the basement.
- May 5, 2010 – Why my mother is the best ever.
- May 24, 2010 – See china cabinet and piano original to the home returned there.
- July 21, 2010 – Look at those floors!
- August 17, 2010
- October 18, 2010 – Moving some things into place!
- November 5, 2010 – It looks like a home!
- December 3, 2010 – Mama cooks an entire Thanksgiving meal in a partially complete kitchen.
- November 7, 2011 – The kitchen
- November 10, 2011 – Neat pictures and documents on the stairwell
- Ideas for Decorating with Antique Frames – Interesting things hanging on the wall of Mama’s home.
Second Method to Make a Magnolia Wreath
Another method to make a Magnolia wreath is to use a wire wreath form. This is the method that I prefer.
Cut end pieces of Magnolia that look pretty. Bypass any that don’t have a full set of leaves or those with holes in the leaves.
Pull off the bottom few leaves so that there is an area of exposed stem.
Attach a paddle of floral wire to the wire wreath form. (I prefer the 18″ size.)
Then wire Magnolia to the form one bunch at a time. Be sure to wrap the wire around the form several times to hold the stem in place. In the picture below, I have added four stems of Magnolia to the wreath form.
Continue adding Magnolia until the wreath is full.
Gosh, I do love a Magnolia wreath! I actually made this Magnolia wreath a few Septembers ago and decorated it for fall.
Handmade Magnolia wreaths do dry out but can still be enjoyed. The leaf color fades with age and the leaves become brittle.
Spraying the wreath with this product after making it helps the wreath to last longer.
If you like the look of a Magnolia wreath but don’t want to make one, you can always buy a preserved Magnolia wreath.
Christmas Posts to Inspire You
Now it’s time to visit my blogging friends who are sharing Christmas ideas. I can’t wait to read each of these posts!
Hearth and Vine // Sustain My Craft Habit // My Family Thyme // Dabbling & Decorating
Did You Like This Post? Pin It For Later!
Paula,
I LOVE that you and your mama make a point to make wreaths together every year. So sweet! The wreath is beautiful by the way. Thank you for sharing your tradition.
Can I just say “YAAAY” on your cancer news!!! What a wonderful gift for Christmas…I am truly happy for you and your family on this news! AND, I love the magnolia wreath your Mom made…beautiful!! Continuing prayers for your health….
Paula this wreath is gorgeous. I love it when you can use natural anything to decorate and your mom’s magnolia wreath does not disappoint. I hope you have a wonderful holiday and can enjoy your time with your family.
This is so pretty! I love Magnolia wreaths so I have to try to make this!
What an absolutely stunning Christmas wreath! Thanks for sharing such a great tutorial with us, Paula. Merry Christmas to you!
That magnolia wreath is stunning. There is nothing like the beauty of magnolia in my opinion. So glad to hear your positive outcome on recent tests. Happy December!
SUCH GOOD NEWS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH.
Hi Paula, your moms magnolia wreath looks so pretty on her door. We have a magnolia tree in the backyard but I don’t think I’m allowed to make any cuttings! Maybe next year LOL!
Paula this wreath is amazing and you’re so lucky to have fresh magnolia. We don’t have that here in Vermont😜
They are both beautiful, Paula. I can tell you and your mom both got your Grandma’s floral arranging skills! I wish we could grow magnolia here:( Buying the wreaths here is pricey. What a fun week for you to be on 2 holiday blog tours! I want to look at all of these, too!
First things first- What wonderful news about your health. Love mom’s wreath, so full. If someone is unfamiliar with fern pins, now they are called “greening pins” They are in Walmart as well as Hobby Lobby and Michael’s
Magnificent news Paula!!! So happy for you!!
The wreath is gorgeous! I hope I can clip some Magnolia branches from my new trees.
Thank you and your Mama for the great tutorial!
Praying for continued great results for you Paula!!
Paula what a fun tradition you have with your mom! I can see where you get your talent from. Her wreath is just gorgeous. I just recently had some real magnolia leaves and they were so much fun to work with. Thanks for the inspiration. I pinned this for next year! Merry Christmas!
Being able to see the process of your lovely magnolia wreath is inspiring, Paula. Your momma is so talented.
I particularly like that both sides of the leaves are featured. For added texture and color.
Also, being able to read about your mom’s home is fascinating! I love visiting your blog and leaving b
What a beautiful wreath! I love the combo of Magnolia leaves and sprigs of cedar! And what a wonderful memory you have of enjoying this time with your mama!
Paula,
I love these wreaths! So festive and creative. So neat that you create with your mom! ♥
Wow! That wreath is striking, really beautiful. Crafting with your mom sounds like a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. I’ve been wanting to get some magnolia leaves so thank you for the how-to, can’t wait to make it. Merry Christmas to you!
I love a magnolia wreath. We used to have a magnolia tree in our old house growing up. What I wouldn’t give to have access to it now for clippings. I love both of your wreaths. Your mom’s looks so pretty hanging on her door. Love the addition of berries and evergreen clippings.
I love that you and your mom make wreaths and beautiful memories together. It is such a sweet tradition! The magnolia wreaths are lovely and so inspiring! Merry Christmas, Paula!
Thank you for the inspiring posts you have shared on our Blogger’s Pit Stop. We are looking forward to you sharing more next year starting January 8th.
I am also praying for your health and medicine supply as you continue your ‘march.’
May the Lord greatly bless and encourage you and that you can have a wonderful Christmas Time.
Kathleen
Paula, I love how you and your mom make wreaths together! Your two magnolia wreaths are beautiful. I wish we had magnolia trees in Connecticut. We have rhododendrons, which look somewhat similar. The wreath looks so lovely on the front door of your mom’s 1912 home! Thanks for the great tutorial. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
What a sweet tradition! Both wreaths are so pretty! I love that they both show both sides of the leaves.
I think I will make a winter one for my front porch!