Creating a Winter Sampler Wreath

December 9, 2015

By Karin Lidbeck Brent

To celebrate the start of the holiday season, I organized a holiday wreath workshop teaching a small group how to make sampler wreaths. A sampler wreath uses an abundance of local winter greenery and other natural materials showcasing everything I love about the winter garden. A few hours of foraging in all of my secret places revealed a wealth of material to play with!

Foraged Greens

Photography by Karin Lidbeck Brent

It was the perfect day—a morning of crafting followed by a delicious lunch with nine engaging women. We each created wreaths for our front doors, and each one was as unique as the woman who crafted it. Mine is already hung on the front door of my Cape Cod home.

Sampler Wreath

Photography by Karin Lidbeck Brent

Here is another variation of this wreath with pinecones, pods, nuts, and foraged materials from the forest floor. Try a light spray of white paint for a very different look.

Wreath Karin Lidbeck Brent

Photography by Karin Lidbeck Brent

For many starting a wreath from scratch can be overwhelming. Keep it simple by starting with a premade base wreath. A Styrofoam wreath can be used as the base then simply attach materials with floral picks.

This green moss wreath starts by covering the entire wreath with moss using the florist picks, then using more picks to attach broken twigs all around I added a birds for a bit of whimsey.

Bird Wreath Karin Lidbeck Brent

Photography by Joe Keller

I made this elegant rustic wreath by buying a plain twig wreath from the craft store and simply added branches of cotton and stems of variegated holly. An asymmetrical design creates a more natural look.

Cotton and Holly Wreath Karin Lidbeck Brent

Photography by Joe Keller

Attaching snapped and broken twigs to a small purchased grapevine wreath creates a modern rustic decoration. Spraying the wreath white completely upgrades the look.

Birch Wreath Karin Lidbeck Brent