Spring has sprung, and so has my obsession with deco mesh bubbles! In today’s tutorial, we’re building a wreath that’s bright, bold, and buzzing with personality – perfect for your front door, your craft wall, or your ego (because once you nail this, you’re gonna feel unstoppable). If you’ve ever thought, “How do people make those fluffy, full wreaths that look like they came straight from Pinterest?” – you’re about to learn. And spoiler alert: it’s not magic. It’s just the bubble method and a whole lot of sass.
Materials & Tools You’ll Need
Let’s get real: no one wants a surprise mid-project. Here’s your no-BS supply list.
Materials:
- 14-inch wire wreath base
- 6 rolls of black deco mesh
- 2.5-inch wired ribbon (gold glitter, black glitter, black and white buffalo check)
- Mini ball ornaments (gold & black)
- Tiny decorative wood bees (because… come on… adorable)
- Black pipe cleaners
- Gold pipe cleaners
- Plastic sunflowers (big, bright, bold)
- Rhinestone stickers (bling it on!)
Tools:
- Glue gun (aka your BFF)
- E6000 adhesive
- Pretty pink ruler (or any ruler that brings you joy)
- Scissors
- Toothpicks
- Finger protectors (trust me, you’ll thank yourself)
What Is the Bubble Method, and Why Do I Love It?
The bubble method is fast, neat, and unapologetically extra. I fell for it during spooky season, and by Christmas, it had my whole heart. This method gives you plump, even loops without all the snipping and fraying drama. It’s like giving your wreath a full-body blowout.
Let’s Talk Deco Mesh Math
Here’s the quick & dirty breakdown:
- Wreath base = 6 sections
- Bubbles per section = 5
- Total bubbles = 30
- Using 3 stacked rolls at a time = full, fluffy glory
- Needed: 6 rolls of mesh in total
Fun fact: You must roll your mesh “over,” not under. Think of toilet paper – the correct way is over, and I will die on that hill. Yes I will.
Bubble Time: How to Build the Base
- Stack your 3 rolls of mesh. Lay them flat.
- Cut black pipe cleaners in half. You’ll use a lot of these.
- Scrunch an inch or two from the end and using a pipe cleaner attach it to the two middle rings of the wreath where it joins a cross bar.
- Measure 8 inches. Scrunch again. Attach. Repeat.
- Do this 30 times. (It goes quicker than you think.)
Running Out of Mesh Mid-Wreath? No Biggie.
When one set of deco mesh rolls runs out, just finish that last pouf and secure it to the frame with a pipe cleaner like usual. Cut off the end and tuck it behind the wreath frame so it’s out of sight.
To start the next roll, scrunch the beginning just like you did at the start and attach it to the wreath frame. Keep going as if nothing happened. No need to overthink it – just treat it like a continuation, not a reset.
Fluffing 101
When you’re done bubbling, it’s time to fluff. Separate all three layers of the mesh bubble and fan them out. Your goal? No frame peeking through. This is where the magic really starts to show.
Prepping the “Cute as Can Bee” Sign 🐝
This adorable tin sign came as a two-parter – the bottom said “Cute as Can Bee”, and it was attached by a chain link to a top sign that read “Bee Humble.” The message was cute, but for this wreath, I wanted to keep the bottom half only. So, I carefully removed the chain that connected the two pieces. No trimming required – just remove the chain and we’re in business.
Next, I flipped the tin sign over and hot glued black pipe cleaners to the back so I could attach it to the wreath. But hot glue and tin? Not friends. Once it dried the glue popped right off the slick metal surface like it was on strike.
So I pulled out the E6000. This industrial-strength adhesive is made for this kind of thing – it bonds well to non-porous materials like metal, glass, and plastic. I reapplied the pipe cleaners using E6000 & let the glue cure. I let it sit for a full 24 hours, and when I came back – success! That sign wasn’t going anywhere.
Ribbon Bundles? Let’s Dovetail and Dominate
Each bundle = 1 piece each of gold glitter ribbon, black glitter ribbon, and buffalo check ribbon.
- Cut 6 pieces of each ribbon at 10 inches.
- Optional: Dovetail those ends (my love runs deep for dovetails).
- Criss-cross, scrunch, and secure with a gold pipe cleaner.
- Make 6 bundles total.
Final Assembly 🧹
Once the glue had a full 24 hours to cure, it held like a champ. Take that, hot glue. E6000 for the win! The sign was secure, the ribbon bundles were in place, and the sunflowers and bees added just the right amount of springtime charm. I added a piece of jute twine to hang it from. Easy, breezy, bee-sy. See what I did there?
IHC Final Thoughts
This wreath was fast, fabulous, and totally beginner-friendly….with just enough chaos to keep it interesting. The bubble method is a game-changer, and the bold color palette with cute accents makes this wreath pop like springtime confetti.
Want More Wreath Magic?
Don’t forget to:
- Subscribe to my YouTube channel IHC Craft Room for more beginner-friendly tutorials
- Pin this post if you’re a visual hoarder (no shame)
- Check out the blog archives for more DIY magic
See you in the next craft sesh – glue guns at the ready. 💖 Toodleloo!
