Easy Cardinal Winter Wreath DIY & How to Flock a Christmas Wreath

Make your own winter cardinal wreath and learn how to flock a Christmas wreath! This snowy winter wreath DIY is the perfect base for adding ornaments, ribbon, or flowers to make a cheerful holiday door decoration.

Plus, learn how to make your own evergreen wreath from Dollar Store materials and how to make a fluffy felt snowman wreath. See all of our favorite winter wreath ideas here.

As the holiday season approaches, it’s time to deck the halls and embrace the spirit of Christmas. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just getting into the creative spirit, it’s a great time to make your own winter wreath for Christmas (and beyond)!

In this step-by-step tutorial, we’ll show you how to create a stunning Winter Cardinal Wreath that not only captures the essence of the season but also adds a touch of nature to your décor.

The first step is adding flocking to an evergreen wreath, and then dressing up the flocked wreath with the embellishments of your choice. This wreath features charming red cardinals, pinecones, and vibrant red berries that will instantly make your space feel warm and inviting.

Why This is a Great Christmas Craft

Creating a Winter Cardinal Wreath is an excellent choice for several reasons:

1. Easy and Affordable: This craft is budget-friendly, utilizing supplies that can be found at your local Dollar Tree and craft store. It’s a fantastic way to add a personal touch to your Christmas decorations while saving your hard-earned money for gifts and holiday experiences.
2. Customizable: While we’ll provide a step-by-step guide, this project is highly adaptable. You can incorporate your own style, color schemes, and additional ornaments to create a unique wreath that suits your home’s aesthetics.
3. Natural Decor: The use of pinecones and berry vines adds an earthy and rustic feel to the wreath. It’s a wonderful way to bring a touch of the outdoors inside during the winter season.

How to Make an Easy Cardinal Winter Wreath DIY

First, I’ll show you how easy it is to flock a wreath — seriously, it’s so simple, you’ll want to flock every plain wreath to add wintry charm. Be warned, it’s a little bit addictive.

Then, see how I decorated my winter wreath DIY with red cardinals and accessories.

You can choose whatever accessories for your winter wreath DIY that you’d like. I love the pop of red against the enchanting evergreen branches, so I chose to focus my wreath on a red bird and use a pair of Christmas cardinals. So I guess you could say this wreath is double flocked! 😉

The cardinal, with its vibrant red plumage, is often associated with the holiday season. These birds symbolize love, hope, and joy, making them the perfect addition to your Christmas décor.

Now, let’s dive into the step-by-step tutorial on how to create this beautiful Christmas wreath. It’s going to look great on your front door, hanging in the window, or as a table centerpiece!

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Materials

• Evergreen Wreath Form (available at many craft and home stores including Walmart, At Home, Target, and Michaels)
• Birdhouse Ornament (Dollar Tree)
• Cardinal Christmas Birds (Dollar Tree)
• Red Berry Vine (Dollar Tree)
• Large and small pinecones (found in your yard or from Dollar Tree or Michaels)
• Snow Spray Flocking (Walmart)
• Red Berry package (Dollar Tree)

Evergreen Wreaths Under $20

Find an affordable evergreen wreath form with our picks — all under $20 and some as inexpensive as $5! Or, use Dollar Tree items to make your own evergreen wreath form.

• 18″ Noble Fir Wreath (Michaels)
• 18″ Douglas Fir Wreath (At Home)
• 18″ Pine Round Wreath (Walmart)
• 20″ Mixed Greenery Christmas Wreath with Rope Hanger (Target)
• 20″ Pine Bough Wreath with Red Ornaments (Target)
• 20″ Mixed Greenery Wreath (Target)
• 22″ Mixed Pine Wreath with Red Berries (Target)
• 24″ Basic Artificial Christmas Wreath (Walmart)
• 24″ Noble Fir Wreath (Michaels)

How to Flock a Wreath or Garland in 3 Easy Steps

You can use these easy steps to add fake snow to any Christmas greenery! This is a great way to give your old fake tree a new look — it will look like a whole new tree!

Step 1: Choose a Location

Start by taking your wreath form to an area with good air circulation. Outdoors on the grass is an excellent choice. If you need to do this in an area like a garage, be sure to put down a drop cloth to contain the mess and open the window and/or door for adequate ventilation. Wear a mask for protection.

Step 2: Spray Snow Flocking

Lightly spray the entire wreath with the snow spray. Allow it to dry for about 10 minutes before applying a second coat for a thicker, more even coverage.

Step 3: Dry

Allow the wreath to completely dry. It’s recommended to leave it outside for about 30-45 minutes.

How to Decorate a Flocked DIY Winter Wreath

Choose your own wreath embellishments and enjoy this part of the process! Test out the wreath elements in some different layouts before you start assembling and gluing. A few tips for an easy eye-catching DIY wreath:

• Asymmetry: Symmetry can be beautiful, but an asymmetrical wreath is more interesting. Varied spacing between the elements of the same size looks more natural.
• Balance: On a wreath like this, balance is achieved by having the largest elements roughly opposite of each other. If you’d like to have a specific focal point, cluster the large elements to one side of the wreath or the bottom.
• Odd Numbers: I don’t know why, but odd numbers are more aesthetically pleasing (aka they look better to our brains) so use 1, 3, or 5 of the different elements on the wreath, then place them asymmetrically and balance them by size/color.

You can see these 3 wreath decorating rules at play in our finished wreath: the largest elements are used in odd numbers (3 cardinals, 3 large brown pinecone/birdhouse elements), with asymmetrical placement, but balanced so the large red and brown elements are spaced fairly evenly.

Now, let’s show you step by step how we did it!

Step 1: Add berry vine garland

Loosely wrap the red berry vine around the entire wreath. This will add a vibrant and festive touch.

Step 2: Add large pinecones

Add some hot glue to the large pinecones and firmly press them onto the wreath form so that they adhere to the branches.

Use floral wire wrapped around the pinecone to attach more securely to the wreath frame if you’d like.

Step 3: Add Cardinals

The cardinal red birds come with clips or wire attached to them. You can choose to keep them on and clip or wire the birds to the branches, or you can remove the clips and use hot glue to attach them securely.

Step 4: Add small pinecones

Apply hot glue to the smaller pinecones and arrange them around the wreath to add depth and texture.

Step 5: Add birdhouse

Lastly, apply hot glue to the backside of the birdhouse ornament and press it firmly onto the wreath form.

Again, use floral wire to attach more securely if you’d like. Glue the wire to the back of the birdhouse, then twist the wire around the wreath frame.

Step 6: Add red berries

To add some extra color and detail, incorporate larger red berries from a package found at Dollar Tree. These berries have wires attached to them that can be pulled out. Apply a small amount of hot glue and press the berries onto the wreath form.

Once finished, your Winter Cardinal Wreath will be a showstopper. It can be hung on your front door to welcome guests or used as a centerpiece for your holiday table, adding a touch of elegance to your surroundings.

Variations for the Craft

While the Winter Cardinal Wreath is beautiful as is, you can personalize it to better suit your style and preferences:

1. Add Scent: This easy trick for adding holiday scents to your wreath will make your wreath look *and* smell beautiful! Your wreath can be an air freshener, too, and work double duty at your Christmas parties.
2. Glitter and Sparkle: Add a touch of glamour by incorporating glitter or metallic accents. You can use glitter spray on the wreath or include shiny ornaments.
3. Rustic Charm: To enhance the rustic feel, consider adding burlap ribbon or natural twine. These materials can be used to make bows or hangers for the wreath.
4. Personalization: Attach personalized ornaments, initials, or a festive sign to the wreath to make it even more special. Learn how to make your own farmhouse painted wood sign here.

Common Questions about the Making a Flocked Christmas Wreath

Where can I find the greenery wreath form?

You can purchase the greenery wreath form at craft stores like Michaels, at home stores such as At Home, Walmart, or Target, or at online retailers like Amazon.

What else can I use to make a flocked wreath or flocked tree?

A can of spray snow flocking is the easiest and quickest way to flock a tree, but if you prefer a different method, you can use flocking powder like Snoflock (with just a spray bottle and kitchen strainer/sifter).

If you have a bit of time and want to spend even less money, use white craft paint and a paint brush to dry brush white on the tips for a very cheap faux snow look.

Are the wreath materials easy to find?

Yes, most of the materials, including the red berry vine, birdhouse ornament, pinecones, and snow spray, can be found at your local Dollar Tree or craft store. Use what you have and what you can find to fit your budget!

How long does it take to make this winter wreath DIY?

The crafting process typically takes around 1-2 hours, including drying time for the snow spray. Hands-on time is under an hour.

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The Winter Cardinal Wreath is a delightful and affordable way to infuse your home with the magic of Christmas. With our easy-to-follow instructions and the ability to customize this craft to your liking, you’ll have a stunning decoration that will impress your guests and fill your heart with holiday cheer. Whether you’re an experienced crafter or a beginner, this project is a perfect choice for spreading joy and warmth throughout the festive season.