How to Make a DIY Whimsical Halloween Wreath

October is almost here!

And while I don’t have my Halloween decorations out just yet, that doesn’t mean that I’m not getting them ready!

In keeping my New Year’s Resolutions, I did a massive clean-out of my entire house, including holiday decorations. I ended up getting rid of several of my wreaths for the front door, including my old Halloween wreath.

I made it 4 or 5 years ago and it was worn out and faded.

While I was a little sad to see my ‘witch wreath’ go, I was more than excited to make a new DIY Halloween wreath. It only took a few minutes of scrolling through Pinterest before I found several door hangers that I loved!

After pinning several of them, I could only narrow down my favorites to two totally different wreaths.

I liked the black and white stripes of the first wreath – it kinda reminds me of Beetle Juice. But I also really like the skull in the top hat on the second wreath – it’s so whimsy and cute.

Since I couldn’t make a final decision, I decided to make a mash-up of those two ideas.

Here is how I made this whimsical DIY Halloween wreath:

Step 1: Get Supplies

Nearly everything for this wreath can be found at Wal-Mart or on Amazon. Here’s what I used:

FONYFA 6 Pcs Halloween Human Skull Realistic Skeleton Decorations Head Skull Decor Human Head Bone Skull for Statue Halloween Outdoor Decor, 3 Size,8inch,6inch,4inchLoftus International Halloween Steampunk Spider Witch Mini Top Hat Headband, Blue Purple, One Size Novelty Item

 

Step 2: Wrap with Yarn

Start wrapping the wreath foam with yarn. Then wrap and wrap and wrap some more!

This was the most time-consuming part of the whole process.

I started wrapping the wreath form, creating the black and white stripes, and halfway through I realized that my technique was flawed. The stripes were too straight when they should have been wider on the outside of the wreath and slightly more narrow on the inside of the wreath form. So, I unwrapped all of my hard work and started again.

I wish there was some tip I could give you to make this step go faster, but I have nothing. My only advice is to find an interesting podcast or a good show and a comfortable place to sit.

After wrapping each stripe, I used a little bit of hot glue to hold the loose strand of yarn in place.

Styrofoam EPS Polystyrene Wreath Rounded Edge 14Lily Sugar n Cream Yarn Super Size Bundle 2-Pack (1) Black and (1) White 100% Cotton Grown in The USA|Perfect for Knitting and Crocheting|#4 Medium Worsted Weight

 

Step 3: Make and Attach Bows

After the wreath was completely wrapped, I could start working on the ‘fun stuff’. By looking at the inspiration photo I found on Pinterest, I started making the 3 big bows that go under the skull.

I made 3 simple bows, each one slightly smaller than the one before it. I stacked them one on top of the other very close together. Then, I wired the bows into place.

After making the 3 big bows, I made 2 smaller ones with brighter purple and green ribbons.

I didn’t like them in the traditional bow shape, so I cut the loops of the bows to make a star-like shape. Then I placed them on top of the bigger bows and glued them down with hot glue.

3 Roll 30 Yards Halloween Glitter Wired Ribbon Halloween Party Favors Decor Gift Wrapping Ribbon for Craft Headband Bow Decor (Black, Orange, Purple, 1.5 Inch)Wlflash 3 Rolls 24Yards Halloween Wired Edge Ghost Plaid Candy Patterned Ribbon Skull Wreath Supplies Decorative Wrapping Craft Roll for Gift Decor Accessories Party Decoration (3 Rolls, Halloween A)

 

Step 4: Attach the Skull

After gluing all of the bows into place, it was time to attach the skull to the wreath.

To attach the skull securely, we cut the back of it off. After cutting the back half of the skull off, we were left with a large flat surface, which made it much easier to attach to the wreath form.

Even though the skull I used is bigger than the one in the inspiration picture, I was able to attach it to the wreath using just hot glue because it is light. If you are using a plastic skull, you might need to use wire to secure the skull to the wreath form.

Surebonder Cordless/Corded High Temperature Mini Hot Glue Gun With Detail Tip, 20 Watt, Recharge With Portable Heat Stand (CL-195F)KRE 4 Pack Square White Foam Skull, 7.2x6x4.8-in. DIY for Halloween Holiday Craft Decoration

 

Step 5: Attach Top Hat & Extras

Next, I cut the top hat off of the headband it came on and attached it to the skull.

To attach the top hat to the wreath, I wrapped floral wire around the base of the hat and the wreath. I also attached the bottom of the hat to the top of the skull with hot glue.

Checkered Mini Top Hat Headband with Feathers & FlowerRubie’s womens Black and White Striped Mini Top Hat Party Supplies, Multicolor, One Size US

 

After the addition of the top hat, I added a few extras that I had bought, such as glittery wreath picks and black puff ball wreath picks.

You could also add in extra ribbon, a small sign (like in the inspiration pic), or any Halloween-themed craft goodies that you find.

The wreath was very heavy on one side. To even it out, I glued a fishing weight on the back on the opposite side of the skull to make it hang straight.

I love my new DIY Halloween wreath and can’t wait for it to hang on the front door all October long!