Cross Wreath

$10 - $15 (based on 2017 prices)

Makes one wreath

The Dia de Los Muertos portion of 2017’s haunted house required dozens of wreaths and flowers for an intricate funeral scene. For this version, I used the same decorative paper from the sugar skull wreath to cover an extra cross left over from the demonic monks. I also created a second version (seen in the final picture) with the small assortment of random flowers left over after completing all of the wreaths for the display.

• One twelve-inch grapevine wreath
• Artificial roses in multiple colors (pink, purple, red, white, yellow)
• Two sprigs of artificial baby’s breath
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• One seven-inch wooden cross
• One sheet of decorative paper (8 ½” x 11”)
• One 4 oz. bottle of all-purpose tacky glue*

1. Cover a large portion of the wreath in a dense arrangement of the artificial roses. To enhance the appearance of the prop, ensure you create contrast by using different hues in various positions. You may want to play with the arrangement first before gluing it in place. Once this is done, accent both ends with a sprig of baby’s breath to frame the cross.

2. Coat one side of the wooden cross with a light layer of glue and then adhere the decorative paper, pressing it down as smooth as possible to prevent bubbles and wrinkles. Once the glue dries, trim the excess paper, position the cross in the open portion of the wreath, and glue it in place. Although I used hot glue, you can utilize superglue for a sturdier hold, especially if you plan to display this item in windy outdoor conditions for an extended period of time.

3. If the wreath did not come with a hanging loop, you can fashion one with a strip of ribbon or steel wire.

4. For an alternate look, you can change the type of flowers or use decorative elements rather than the paper to accent the cross.

*You will not use the entire bottle’s content for this project.