Are you one of those people itching to head outdoors this time of year to play in some dirt? If so, are you a veggie gardener or are flower gardens more your thing? I haven't mastered either but that doesn't stop me from trying. Whatever your preference, this easy Spring Garden Lovers Wreath has the gardener in mind.

What makes this gardeners wreath unique is that it has that I've been digging in the dirt look. No squeaky clean garden tools were used in the making of this wreath.

Easy Spring Garden Lovers Wreath

Oh, and did I mention that almost everything you need to make this budget-friendly wreath can be found at the dollar store. You can dirty it up or keep it clean - the choice is all yours.

As you can see I made the wreath with the veggie gardener in mind but you could easily add vintage floral ephemera instead. 

At a cost of around $13 for supplies, I'd say the dollar store finds for making this Spring wreath is a budget-friendly alternative to a readymade wreath.

Here's how I did it...

These are some of the supplies I used to make the wreath. This post contains affiliate links for your convenience so you can see what products I used or recommend to make this project. See my full disclosure policy.

The grass is always greener wreath form

First I stained the back of the 12-inch MDF wreath form with Bayou Moss gel stain to give it a finished look. This step is completely optional.

I used self-adhesive faux grass tiles on the front of the wreath form. Set the wreath form on the backing paper side of the faux grass and trace with a pencil. You'll notice in the photo below that I cut the grass in sections. That's only because I had a partial grass tile leftover from another project and used what was left.

TIP: Cut the faux grass on the generous side of the pencil marks.

Peel the backing paper as you work and add a dab of hot glue every so often for extra adhesion.

To conceal any bald spots in the grass and cover the inner and outer edges of the wreath form I used Kelly Green craft paint. You could paint the back of the wreath form this color too instead of stain like I did.

Add some age to those brand new garden tools

Like I mentioned at the top of this post, I want an imperfect wreath that looks like it was embellished with used garden tools. That meant aging and dirtying up the brand new house plant garden tools.

Starting with the wooden handles, I removed the glossy finish with 150 grit sandpaper and aged them by rubbing dark wax into the wood. You can see the difference between the sanded handle on the trowel and the dark waxed one on the fork in the photo below.

The black shiny finish on the metal parts of the garden tools was too new and pristine looking. I dulled the finish by painting them with blackened bronze metallic paint. Once that was dry, I randomly dabbed in a pouncing motion silver metallic paint with an art brush.

To give the tools a galvanized metal appearance I mixed a drop each of the bronze and silver metallic paint on a paper plate and dabbed it randomly as well. But I didn't stop there - those tools needed some dirt!

Get some dirt on those garden tools

Have you ever made fake dirt? Brush white school glue along the bottom of the garden tools and sprinkle the grounds from your morning coffee over the glue. Ta-da, instant fake dirt (pictured above).

While the dirt was drying I made a bow for the wreath with a spool of 1 1/2 inch floral ribbon from the dollar store. I can't make a decent freehand bow if my life depended on it so I cheat by using this bow maker tool.

The well-used garden gloves

The brand new garden gloves just wouldn't do so I slipped them on my hands and played in some dirt so they looked like they've planted a few veggies.

Vintage vegetable seed packets

A garden lovers wreath wouldn't be complete without some seed packets. I found these vintage vegetable seed packets printable on Etsy.

But first before printing them I aged a sheet of watercolor paper (bond or card stock is fine too) by brushing layers of cooled but well-steeped black tea.

To make this wreath you need to enjoy a morning coffee and afternoon tea!

Once the tea stained paper is completely dry, print the seed packets and cut three out for the wreath.

Spring daffodils and purple pansies  

Cut the stems off each of the dollar store floral picks. Divide the daffodils and pansies equally into two small bunches and wrap with florist wire.

Layer the wreath embellishments

Layer One - Garden Gloves: Starting with the dirty garden gloves attach them onto the wreath with jute twine with the fingers fanned and pointing up (pictured below).

Layer Two - Garden Tools: attach the aged garden trowel and rake on top of the gloves and secure with jute twine. Don't worry about cutting the tails of the twine as we'll have them trail down the wreath.

Layer Three - Faux Florals: attach one bundle of faux daffodils and pansies with florist wire tucking the stems just under the cuff of the garden gloves. Attach the second bundle with the stems tucked just under the fingers of the garden gloves.

Layer Four - Large Bow: attach the floral bow over the cuff of the garden gloves so it hides where the flower stems and gloves were tied onto the wreath.

Layer Five - Vintage Seed Packets: attach the three vintage seed packets with dabs of hot glue on the opposite side tucking them just under the top of the flowers.

To hang the wreath make a hanger by forming a small piece of jute twine into a loop and hot glue onto the back of the wreath.

What you'll need to make this...

Dollar store supplies:
12-inch MDF Floral Craft Ring Wreath Form
House Plant Garden Tools
1 1/2 Inch Floral Ribbon
Natural Jute Twine
Green Florist Wire
Faux Yellow Daffodils and Purple Pansies
Self-Adhesive Grass Tile
Garden Gloves
White School Glue
Kelly Green Craft Paint
Silver Metallic Paint

Other supplies: (some you may find at the dollar store)
Vintage Seed Packets (alternatives)
Bow Maker Tool (optional)
Coffee Grounds
Black Steeped Tea
Dark Wax
Craft Hot Glue Gun
Silver Metallic Paint
Blackened Bronze Metallic Surfacer
Bayou Moss Gel Stain (optional)

So which would be your preference; the keeping it clean OR I've been digging in the dirt version?

If you have any questions about this wreath, please leave them in the comment section below or press the Contact Me button at the top of the blog to drop me an email. I love hearing from you!

I enjoy making wreaths for each new season rather than readymade options because the possibilities for creative embellishments are endless. Aside from the front door, I love hanging them on mirrors and interior doors. I made this DIY Birdhouse Wreath and have it hung on the mirror in our front entry for both Spring and Summer.

For more DIY wreath ideas visit my Wreaths For Every Season board on Pinterest. For DIY Spring decor ideas visit my Spring|Easter page.

I share my projects at these inspiring link parties.

Do you have a naked front door? My front door has been wreathless since the holidays. Wreaths add so much charm and curb appeal to a home. A door with a wreath always says welcome, don't you think? Making my welcoming summer birdhouse wreath was long overdue.

The goal for my DIY wreath was that it had to be inexpensive, preferably using items I already had on hand and super easy to make in a jiffy. Most of the items to make mine were purchased at the dollar store or Goodwill - can't get much cheaper than that!

A Welcoming Birdhouse Wreath

It all started with this wooden birdhouse door hanger from Goodwill.

I contemplated leaving it intact and painting the houses in bright whimsical colors. I also thought about decoupaging each birdhouse with different floral napkins. But my mind kept going towards separating the birdhouses and creating two fun projects; one for our deck and this front door wreath for summer.

I used the other two birdhouses to make a sign for our deck. You can find it here in my DIY Wooden Birdhouse Sign For Lovebirds.

These are some of the supplies I used to make the wreath.

I've included a Materials List towards the bottom of this post. It contains affiliate links for your convenience so you can see what products I used or recommend to make this project.  See my full disclosure policy.

So here's how I did it...

Staining the willow wreath form

I found the willow wreath form at Dollar Tree but wasn't fond of the light color. Using a foam brush and Tobacco Road Voodoo Gel Stain from Dixie Belle Paint Company, I darkened the wreath.

Faux rose stem leaves

I've had this stash of assorted faux leaves forever. I bet some of them go back at least 30 years.

When going through the tub I found several leaves that were removed from the stems of silk roses used for our daughter's Rustic Wedding Centerpiece Boxes. I attached the leaves with florist wire and overlapped each one until I filled half of the wreath.

Painted birdhouse

I chalk painted one of the birdhouses from the birdhouse door hanger old white and sage green.

To make attaching it to the wreath easy I screwed two small eye hooks onto the back of the birdhouse and thread florist wire through the loop and onto the wreath.

Another option would be to staple the center of a long piece of florist wire onto the back of the birdhouse.

Wreath embellishments

The adorable feathered bird came in a package of six from Dollarama and was hot glued onto the wreath.

The mini grapevine birds nest was removed from the stem of an Easter egg pick also purchased at Dollarama.

The mini roses came from a package of potpourri I've had for many years and hot glued onto the wreath.

Wreath banner

The wooden letter tiles were leftover from a banner I made for the DIY Rustic Wedding Card Caddy at our daughter's wedding. I believe I purchased them at Michaels. I simply strung the letters W E L C O M E through a strand of green jute twine and tied the ends onto the wreath form.

I love the added touch of a banner hanging inside a wreath like I did here in my Easy Peasy Fall Wreath.

I much prefer DIYing seasonal wreaths because they are so much fun to make and much easier on the pocketbook.

I have such an affection for birdhouses. They take me back to my childhood where my paternal grandfather built a birdhouse village in the trees in their backyard. So no surprise that I decorate my home with them.

With candlesticks from the dollar store, I made Pedestal Painted Birdhouses for a Spring vignette in the master bedroom. I also made Dollar Store Birdhouses Decoupaged With Napkins.

Materials List

12-inch Willow Wreath Form
Tobacco Road Voodoo Gel Stain
Fabric Rose Petal Leaves (had on hand)
White Mini Roses (from potpourri)
Small Wood Birdhouse (thrift store)
Feathered Bird Pick (Dollarama)
Mini Grapevine Bird Nest (alternatives)
Mini Wood Letter Tiles (Michaels)
Green Jute Twine
Green Florist Wire
Wire Cutters
Eye Hooks
Hot Glue Gun

Items on the list that do not include a link can be found at the Interior Frugalista SHOP on Amazon.

Have I inspired you to take a trip to the dollar store for supplies to make an inexpensive natural rustic wreath for your front door this summer?

Perhaps you don't have the time or desire to make your own. Here are a couple of summer birdhouse wreaths I found that you may like.

  

I share my projects at these fabulous link parties.