No holiday is complete without its very own wreath or tree, and Easter or Spring are no exception. Every day is a holiday when you have an amazing wreath to celebrate with and we went to straight to the expert to create an Easter-inspired wreath. Covered in pompoms and sequins with an extra dose of vintage vibes, kitsch queen Jen Perkins will show you how to create a “retro-riffic” Easter wreath featuring Kate Gabrielle’s ’70s inspired designs.
Jen: I’ve been a fan of Kate Gabrielle’s Spoonflower shop for a while. I’ve always coveted her floral patterns that were reminiscent of the 1970’s sheets I slept on as a child. Always a sucker for nostalgia, I decided to take a few Petal Signature Cotton™ fat quarters featuring her floral designs and use it on my new favorite spring wreath.
How to Make a Retro Easter Wreath
DIY Easter Wreath Supplies
- Wreath—I’m using this Aqua Blue Wreath to coordinate with Kate’s designs
- Fat quarters of your favorite Spoonflower Easter Designs in Petal Signature Cotton®—I’m using a collection of Kate Gabrielle’s floral designs
- 3-5 Styrofoam balls in varying sizes
- Rickrack
- Small sequin pins
- Sequins
- Scissors
- Printer paper
- Pom poms
- Hot Glue Gun and hot glue sticks
- Optional: vintage plastic flowers — I found mine at the local thrift store
- Optional: Adhesive craft foam
Part 1: Make Your Wreath Embellishments
Step 1: Create a template to cover your styrofoam balls
Make a template in the shape of a leaf from a piece of paper based on the size of your foam ball. The leaf template should be long enough to cover the foam ball from the top to bottom and when all six fabric leaf pieces are layered, the foam ball should be completely covered.
Step 2: Cut out fabric pieces using your template
Cut out six fabric pieces using your leaf template for each ball. I’m alternating the patterns of fabric on mine to give each ball more variety, but if you want a solid ball of one design, just cut all the leaves from the same fabric.
Step 3: Cover your styrofoam balls with the fabric leaves
One petal at a time, using your sequin pins, pin the six pieces to the bottom center of the ball and then the top of the ball, slightly overlapping each piece, printed side facing out. This part will most likely not look perfect or smooth, but not to worry because the rickrack in the next step will save the day!
Step 4: Cover the fabric edges with decorative trim
Where the edges of the fabric meet between each petal, cover with ribbon or decorative trim like rickrack. The ribbon or rickrack will help hide the seams created in step 2. Technically this step is not necessary, but I mean come on, it really kinda is. The same could be said for adding the sequins and pompoms—you could skip it but why on Earth would you? Using the hot glue and small sequin pins, adhere your wreath flare!
Step 5: Decorate the balls to your liking
Embellish each foam ball as much or as little as you like. Think about the sequined and beaded ornaments your grandma made at Christmas and get crazy.
Step 6: Create other embellishments
You might have noticed that the fabric got used more places within the wreath than just the fabric-covered balls. Very observant my vintage bed sheet loving friends!
Throughout the wreath besides sparkly pompoms and tack-a-licious plastic foliage are also loomed flowers with felt and fabric-covered centers. You can follow my handy-dandy flower loom tutorial but the key to the cuteness are the covered button centers using the same Kate Gabrielle fabric!
Did you also see the foam fabric flowers poking out from the aqua branches? Yup, more of the Kate Gabrielle fabric. Using sticky back craft foam I attached the fabric flowers to the sticky side of the foam and then cut them out! No iron-on interfacing is needed—just peel, stick and cut, and you have flowers for your wreath project.
Part 2: Attach Your Embellishments to Your Wreath
Step 7: Attach your styrofoam balls
Now it’s time to assemble your wreath! I always start a wreath with a centerpiece, and in this case, the fabric-covered balls are the star of the show. Sure those gaudy vintage plastic flowers I picked up at the flea market really add something special, but they would be nothing without the sequined fabric balls. Use a hot glue gun to arrange all the parts in a cluster on your wreath.
Pro Tip:
Oh I’m sorry, is this wreath amazing in the most kitsch-tastic way possible? Ya, it is. Even minimalists are out there debating coming over to the “more is more, less is a bore” side after looking at this fabulous fabric-covered wreath!
I don’t know about you, but I think I love this fabric even more in a wreath hanging on my wall than I did as a kid with it on my bed!
Ready for more retro-inspired designs to create your own version of Jen’s wreath? From roller skates to vintage kitsch, these designs will help get you started.
Frequently Asked Questions
2. Make Your embellishments.
3. Attach them to your wreath with a hot glue gun.
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About the Guest Author
Jennifer Perkins is a creative content designer, kitsch enthusiast, overkill holiday decorator, pompom connoisseur and as of March 2020 the author of Easy Arts and Crafts for Kids: 50 Fun
Projects to Make, Share and Wear. You can find more of Jen’s kitschy crafts over on Instagram @jenperkins
I love this, Jennifer!! It reminds me of my childhood in the 70’s, with the color combo! I love the way you incorporated the traditional Easter color of purple into the design!!