Ok, so you may remember this project over at House of Hepworth’s around Halloween.  It was all over the blogosphere, I know I saw it at least three times.  And rightfully so, it’s super cute!  I kinda wanted to make one too, but I thought ‘everyone’s doing it…’ and I wanted something new.  So I stashed the idea in my mental filing cabinet, unsure of whether it would stay filed or not.  My mental filing system isn’t always reliable.  Lol.

Well, I was fulfilling an order and needed a bigger picture frame.  I wasn’t really thrilled with the idea of running to Walmart two Saturdays before Christmas.  That place is a zoo when it’s not Christmas time.  I thought ‘well, I’ll go check the thrift store that is literally a block away before I drive the 10 minutes to Walmart’.  I was rather thrilled when I found a 10×13″ frame in good shape with a $2 sticker on it.  Then I noticed a shiny piece of dryer hose…. and I thought about the pumpkin.  But, it’s Christmas time, no one’s gonna wanna make pumpkins!  I wrapped the ends together and held it up and BAM!  Inspiration struck like lightning!  Then I noticed the $.25 sticker and I quick like a bunny added it to my picture frame.  That ended up being all I got.  And, with my military discount, my total was $1.60.  He didn’t even charge me for the dryer hose.  Sweet!  That is the reason I love that thrift store chain so much, I always leave in a much better mood than when I get there.  Even when I go in happy.  And what little money I do spend (it’s always less than the sticker price) goes to a good cause.

Here is what the inspiration fairies delivered!:

 It’s a little plain, but I was going for simple.  When I actually have somewhere to display it, I will probably spruce it up some more.  The part that got me really excited: I spent maybe a quarter on this project.  I did have to buy green spray paint and the little ornament balls and the presents were in the dollar section at Target.

Here’s the how-to:
1)  Take your vent hose and decide how big you want your wreath.  I didn’t do any cutting on mine, as was already pretty short.  If you buy the hose new, though, you will need to trim it down.

2)  Spray paint your the hose.  I only did one coat, partly because it was really cold outside and partly because I kinda like the silvery glint that shines through.  Let it dry completely.

3)  Pull the two ends together to make your circle.  I used hot glue to secure it.  It dries the fastest.  Who wants to sit there and hold it while the glue dries, right?

4)  I then glued three red ball ornaments together in the shape of holly berries.  They are pretty small, smaller than the little ones at the Dollar Tree.  I found them in our Target dollar section and have seen them still there in past few days.

5)  Glue those styrofoam, foil-wrapped squares on top where ever you would like them placed (those I did get at the Dollar Tree).

6)  Wrap a ribbon around the wreath and ht glue the end to where the ribbon meets back up.  You can glue the ribbon to the wreath if you want.  I tied a half Windsor knot at the top and then secured it with hot glue to hold it in place.  Guess it was worth learning how to tie and tie.  =]