Pool Noodle Christmas Wreath

STEP 2 - Mark a halfway point on the dowel and apply an industrial type glue to one end.

STEP 3 - Slide the dowel into the end of the noodle up to the mark.

STEP 4 - Apply glue to the second half of the dowel. Also apply glue to the edge of the pool noodle all the way around. Pinch the noodle and dowel tightly and press the other end of the noodle onto the dowel.

STEP 5 - Hold the glued ends together firmly for about 5 minutes or have a helper apply masking tape to the noodle to temporarily hold the two ends together. Set the pool noodle ring aside.

STEP 6 - I used scrap fabric in two different Christmas designs in an alternating pattern. I cut the pieces 2 ½” “ wide by as long as the scrap was. Mine was about 30” for one and 15” for the other. I used pinking shears for all the cuts to prevent fraying. Place one of each fabric piece, right sides together. Machine sew the edges together about 1/4” in from the end. I made about 16’ of cloth but had some left over after I wrapped the noodle. Iron the seams open to flatten the cloth. I rolled the finished cloth piece, right side out, on an empty packing tape core.

STEP 7 - Cut lengths of ¼” batting 2 ½” to 3” wide that will make a final length of about 16’. How much you need depends on the angle you wrap the noodle at. Apply a good white glue to the noodle and set the end of the first piece onto it. I tried to keep a ½” off center angle but as long as there are no gaps it will work fine. Glue down as you roll the batting over the face of the wreath.

STEP 8 - Glue the end of the fabric on the face ½” off center opposite the angle of the batting. Overlap the fabric ½” on the previous pass and glue the cloth on each face as you cover the wreath. Use small dots of white glue so it won’t soak through.

STEP 9 & 10 - Making the card bells. Practice on a couple card backs to get familiar with working with the card stock. It is helpful to use a flat layout of the bell when picking out the scene you would like to show from each card. You can also put the marks on the back of the card. I did this by holding the selected card up to the light with the pattern behind the card. Then mark the card with a pencil at the center of the circle that includes the special scene. Use a compass to draw a circle 4” in diameter. Decide which side of the scene should get the tab. Use a pencil to draw the diameter line. Use a ballpoint pen to draw the tab. The pen makes it easy to fold the tab evenly. I made extra bells and used the ones that came out the best.

STEP 11& 12 - Most cards have a gloss finish so I take a small piece of very fine sandpaper to de-gloss the tab. The glue takes hold much faster this way. After the tabs are dry, select the yarn to hang them. For this project, I used some Slub Yarn that was given to me. Cut the tip of the bell top to make a small hole to fit the yarn through. Once you have the bell in position, add some glue to the tip on the inside to hold the yarn. I worked the glue around with a pencil point, then, using my dampened pinky finger, I pushed the yarn tightly towards the point.

STEP 13 - The stars were traced from a foam –sticky back star I had. A wooden star would be easier to use. The stars cover up the glued ends of the yarn on the wreath.

STEP 14 - Before I hung the bells I decided to wrap the wreath with the Slub yarn. I glued it down on each revolution around the noodle. I hung the wreath on the wall and, using pins, I laid them out as shown, front and rear. I then lifted the yarn at the pin and added the glue pressing the yarn back down.

STEP 15 - The finished wreath! I sewed a pop tab on the back to hang it.

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