DIY Day! Don't Get Your Screen Ruffled!

Happy Monday!
I have to show this little creation...that personally I L-O-V-E, but I am sure some of you may think I flipped my lid {which is quite possible too!}.

When it comes to crafting and decorating, I am always on the lookout for something just a little different, a little quirky, and a lot of fun. I saw this really cool photo in a catalog and have been obsessed with trying to duplicate it...well, in the process, I ended up with this ruffled screen wreath - which is perfect for where I live, because it can be outside and hold up to the elements - fog, rain, general coastal wetness.

Yeah, I know, of course when you think ruffles, you think hardware store...right?! Well, I do, but maybe I am a little crazy. So I ruffled up some screen and made a fun and quirky wreath that can transform with accessories and it is weather proof{ish}...and multifunctional...L-O-V-E it!

You can easily add different accessories {this blue flower is a pin...and will not stand up to the elements but looked FAB for now}. Embellish the wreath any way you want! The sky is the limit! Can I just point out my fab find the wreath is hanging on...I love my junkyard find...that awesome vintage door with the cool glass!

Here is a PDF of the Ruffle My Screen Wreath Tutorial.

{I am trying to put the tutorials and recipes in PDF form...is this OK for everyone? It makes the posts shorter and the tutorials much easier to print out.}

SUPPLIES

• Wreath form {I used a dollar tree form, 9" Straw, because that is what I had.
• You can also use Styrofoam}
• Paint {for wreath form} I used gray spray paint to match the screen.
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks {or regular glue and A LOT of patience.}
• Screen 28 x 84 Brite Aluminum Screening
• Pearls {crystals, buttons, your choice} - I used a bag of mixed pearls from the
  craft store - cheapo ones, not necessarily jewelry making quality. I also used
  the range of colors in the package rather than just one color.
• Nylon Thread
• Needle
• Gloves, optional to protect you hands

DIY IT!

***NOTE***The screen is pokey and can hurt. I did not wear gloves, but you may want to.

1. Paint the wreath form gray or silver to match the screen color. Let dry.

2. Cut 4-5 strips of screen approximately 7.5” wide and the width of the screen       {28”)

3.Lay the screen flat. Fold one edge of the screen up approx. 1/2”, and then up another 1/2”. Slightly unfold the second fold – it is a guide.

4. From the opposite edge fold the screen until the bare {unfolded edge} meets the crease {where you folded up the ?”}.

5. You should now have a double thickness length of screen about 3 “ wide {with protected edges}.

6. Repeat with all 4-5 lengths of screen.

7. Now we are going to ruffle – actually almost pleat the screen. Good news is the screen holds it’s shape really well…so this part is easy.

a. Accordion fold back and forth in about 1” folds the length of the screen.

      b. Repeat on all lengths.

c. I found ruffling each piece separately worked better – easier to handle than having them all joined. You could join them all before you ruffle if you want {step 8}

8. Once all the pieces were ruffled, I joined them together by folding the edges of the ends onto one another {I promise I will add some photos}. This kept any pokey edges concealed. A quick shot of hot glue helped hold it too.

9. At this point take your length of screen and place it around the wreath form. This is where you make your final determination how ruffled you want your wreath to be and can cut off what you do not need/want. I used 4 ? lengths of screen for mine. DO NOT GLUE IT YET.

10. Grab a needle and the pearls – Thread the needle with a long length of nylon thread. You also want to leave a long length of thread at the beginning for tie off when you are done {secure it while sewing the pearls on}.

a. Begin by going through the first pleat, about ?” from the top fold. {see above photo}.

b. String one pearl and then go through the second pleat. Continue sewing and adding pearls until the wreath is complete. You are essentially sandwiching one pearl in between each pleat.

c. You can pull for tightness and ruffling as you go, but be sure to keep your beginning tail of thread secure - you do not want to pull it through.

d. This will also be how you make you screen form the circle for the wreath.

e. When you get to the end, lay your wreath on the form, just to be sure and then tie off the ends. Because the thread is clear, I also sewed it off around the piece of screen a few times.

11. Now it is time to hot glue the screen form to your wreath form. I used generous amounts of hot glue to ensure it stayed.

12. For the hanger, I used a piece of floral wire and attached it to the back. Ribbon would also work really well.

Embellish the wreath any way you want! This blue flower is actually a pin, but the sky is the limit! Wait until you see my other screen projects…who knew screen could be so fun!

Wait until you see my other screen projects…who knew screen could be so fun! Just so ya know, I promise no more wreaths for awhile...after two DIY Days of wreaths, I've got bigger fish to fry!

This little project got an honorable mention at Ruffles and Stuff in the  Ruffle Your Stuff Contest {there were over 560 entries..so not bad for this quirky little number.}