Did you know that wreaths are for all seasons, not just for Christmas? If you can’t tell already, I’ve got a bit of a secret obsession with wreaths. (OK, maybe not so secret!) If you are following me on Pinterest you will know that I’ve got a whole board dedicated to all sorts of different wreath ideas. From flip flops to conkers, from flamingos to pumpkins – they are the most brilliant creations to add a bit of fun. If you’ve got a minute you can check them out here. And this DIY cocktail umbrella wreath is just bursting with colour! It’s super-simple to make with not a hot glue gun in sight!
here’s what you need for your cocktail umbrella wreath
- A wreath – I used a half round polystyrene ring (it’s a flat backed one) of 35 cm. Amazon do them (see above), but I got mine in the sale from Craftmill
- A box of cocktail umbrellas which I got from Amazon here. There are 144 in the box but you won’t use all of them meaning you’ll have loads left to serve cocktails at your party!
- Some sharp scissors or garden secateurs to cut down the sticks if needed
- Some string or ribbon to hang up your masterpiece
Creating your cocktail umbrella wreath
The first step is opening up your cocktail umbrellas, which is probably the most time consuming part of this project. Opening up the little brollies can be a bit tricky so get comfortable and take your time.
I never realised why there were 2 little elastic bands around the umbrellas. Sure, the bigger one is to keep the top in place, but what does the little one do? Turns out this is to prop it open .. who knew? Not me, clearly!
I used approximately 60 umbrellas (I kinda lost count and it’s a nightmare counting them afterwards!) for this 35 cm wreath. This left it really nice and full without gaps showing.
Because I only used a half polystyrene ring (the back of the ring is flat), when I started to push the cocktail sticks in, they popped out at the back (never a good look!). I took a pair of garden secateurs and cut some of the bottom of the sticks to prevent them from sticking out. My husband bought me the secateurs a few days ago and thought I’d be doing gardening! Mwaaahaahaaaa (evil laugh alert ..)
Just a little tip – make sure to cut them at an angle as it makes it MUCH easier to push them into the polystyrene ring. I originally cut them off flat and it was WAY more difficult.
this is where the fun starts
OK, so I had a bit of a brain freeze when I started this project! I really should have added a ribbon or piece of string to hang the cocktail umbrella wreath. If you do want to do this, I highly recommend adding the ribbon or string BEFORE you completely cover the ring in umbrellas. It just makes it sooo much easier.
Got all your umbrellas ready? Now the fun starts! Start pushing them in on the inside of the ring and work your way out. Make sure to fill any gaps that are showing.
You may get some dud umbrellas that don’t open all the way. Don’t panic! I found these perfect for the inner circle (check out the orange one on the above photo). Mix up the different colours to get a good spread. Also, vary the height of the little umbrellas with some a bit higher and lower to add some variation. It just gives it a nice “full” look.
Continue this process going all the way round. When you’ve finished, just check all the way round for any gaps that need to be filled. You can either add some more brollies, or have a bit of a re-arrange.
The result!
And you’re all done! What do you guys think? How cute would this look at your next garden party to welcome your guests? If you create one, don’t forget to tag me on social media – I’d love to see what you’ve made!
By the way, want to see me make this one? I made it during one of my regular Live craft sessions on Facebook. You can check out the video here .
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you decide to use my links to purchase something (at absolutely no extra cost to you!). This will allow me to continue to share great ideas and projects with you, so I am very grateful for your support!
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