Tropical Wreath Craft Kit Instructions

This DIY post is specifically for a purchased craft kit that you can find on my Etsy shop.

With everything happening in 2020, it may be hard this year to take a family vacation this summer. So, have a staycation with Unplanned Whimsy! This Tropical Wreath Craft Kit is an awesome way to get the family together and create something beautiful!

There are also other craft kits in my Etsy shop with instructions in my blog  here if you would like to see other whimsical crafts to try this summer.

Before this tutorial goes any further, I want to be sure to make something clear: I would place this craft in the moderate to expert range of crafting abilities. This craft kit can be assembled by a child, but MUST be under the close supervision of an adult, due to the small pieces that could be choking hazards and the use of a hot glue gun.

Step One: Gather Your Supplies

You will first need to purchase your DIY Kit from my Etsy Shop HERE

In this purchased kit you will receive: 

• Precut felt Hibiscus Pieces: 3 larger flowers, 3 inner flowers, & 3 pistils
• Precut Felt Orchid Pieces: 2 sepals, 2 petals, & 2 lips
• 2 Felt Strips: 1 Aqua and 1 Dark Green
• Precut Felt Leaves: 6 Aqua, 6, Green, & 6 Dark Green
• Precut Parrot Pieces
• Precut Pineapple pieces
• 1 10 inch Wire Ring
• Twine
• Additionally, you will need: a Pair of Scissors and Adhesive

I recommend using a glue gun; however, if you would like to make this a more child-friendly project feel free to use felt glue. I strongly recommend using hot glue during step two.

A glue gun provides a shorter waiting time for drying, allowing your project to be finished sooner. (Which is nice when photographing step-by-step directions).

Felt glue will work fine, but there will be delayed crafting as you wait for the glue to dry. A really good example of this waiting time can be found in the directions for my Spaceship Banner Craft Kit. I used felt glue for the entire project.

It is up to you, so long as you do this craft safely and have fun.

*Now technically, you may choose whatever leaves you wish for steps 2,3, and 4; however, I am showing you the colors I chose for these steps based on my original design. I did not test the steps for this craft with mixing the colored leaves. If you do choose to mix your leaf choices please read all of the instructions first and lay out your design to be sure that you are happy with it.

Step Two: Attach the Aqua Leaves to the Wire Hoop Base

This step is all about creating a base for the rest of the wreath.

Step 2.1 Set the Leaves into Place

To create the bottom layer of the wreath, arrange the aqua leaves into place under the metal ring.

To do this, imagine that the metal ring is a clock. Place the leaves in the positions of the clock as follows: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12.

This positioning will allow for ample space between the aqua leaves in order to properly attach the green layers of leaves later.

Step 2.2 Create the Correct Angle for the Leaves

Once the aqua leaves are in their correct positions under the ring, they now need to be angled towards the middle of the wreath. Making the aqua leaves angled allows them to be seen through the top layers of green leaves that will be added later.

You can angle them however you wish! I always recommend creating your design before you glue down the pieces, just to be sure you will like your finished product.

The angle I chose to do is shown in the photo to the left. (The ring goes over the thickest bottom side of the leaf and then travels out the second-from-the-bottom ‘arm’ of the leaf on the other side.)

Step 2.3 Glue the Leaves onto the Wire Ring

Now that the aqua leaves are spread out (on the imaginary clock) and each are angled to perfection, they are now ready to be attached to the wire ring. To do this, take the aqua strip of felt and cut it into small rectangles. The rectangles need to be wide enough to fit onto one side of a leaf, over the metal wire, and down onto the other side of the leaf.

Once all of the rectangles are cut, take one and add hot glue to one side of it. Then carefully take the rectangle and with the glue-side down, press it firmly over the wire and leaf as shown below. Continue to add the felt rectangles to each leaf until all of the aqua leaves are attached to the wire ring. Remember to keep the leaves in their correct angles and spacing while you work.

As always, I recommend laying out all of the leaves before you glue them down. To do this, check out the final photo of each step to show you where the leaves will be placed, and read all of the directions before gluing.

Step Three: Attach the Green Leaves to the Wreath

First, place the base of the wreath, created in the previous step, leaf-side down to expose the felt rectangles. The green leaves in this step will be attached to the felt rectangles over top of the aqua leaves.

The green leaves will be attached onto the aqua felt strips on the base of the wreath. Angles are up to you; however, I chose to lay the leaves on top of the wire as if the middle vein of the leaf aligned with the wire, as shown below.

To attach the green leaves to the aqua leaves, simply place a strip of glue over top of the aqua rectangle and lay the green leaf onto the glue while keeping the correct angle, as described above. Continue this process until all of the green leaves are attached to the wreath.

Step Four: Attach the Dark Green Leaves

The last layer of leaves!

First, place the dark green leaves in between each of the green leaves from the previous step, as shown below. The dark green leaves will overlap the lighter green. I angled these dark green leaves in the same way that the green leaves are from the previous step, with the wire going straight through the leave’s imaginary veins.

Next, carefully lift the top of each light green leaf, so that it will overlap the bottom of each dark green leaf above it. This is shown in the photos below. Once you have completed this overlapping process throughout the entire wreath, it is time to glue them in place.

To glue the leaves together simply lift the top of each leaf, add glue underneath of the lifted top, and gently press it down so the glue will set, as shown below. Once each of the leaves have been glued together, go through the wreath lifting any parts that may seem loose, such as outer edges of the leaves, and glue them together.

Step Five: Attach Twine to the Back of the Wreath

Creating a loop of twine for the back of the wreath allows it to be hung on almost any size hook. To create the loop of twine I will be using two knots. This method guarantees that when I am finished the loop will lay parallel with the wreath so there are no twists in the twine while hanging the wreath. *You can use any type of knot you wish to create your loop, I am just going to show you the way in which I create my knots for this step.

Create the First Knot

To start the first knot, take the twine and fold it in half. Then, take the open end of the twine and create a loop by folding over the existing twine, so that now the open end of the twine is running perpendicular to the rest of the twine, as shown in the top right photo below. Next, take the open end of the twine and pull it through the loop, so that it looks like a pretzel, as shown in the bottom right photo below.

Finally, pull the open end of the twine tight to finish the knot.

Create the Second Knot to Attach the Twine to the Wreath

To create the second knot, you will need the loop of twine created in the last step and the leaf-covered wreath base. Face the wreath upside down with the aqua leaves facing up, before starting, as shown below.

First, take the looped twine and attach it onto the wreath by threading the twine between the metal hoop and a dark green leaf. Now that the twine is in place, take the knot side of the twine and pull it over the smooth side of the loop, as shown in the two right photos below.

Once the knot side of the twine is up and over the smooth side, take the smooth side and pull it, as shown in the left photo below. Pull it tight until it looks like the finished photo to the right. Doing this step ensures that the first knot of the twine is hidden and will stay in place.

Now that you have attached the twine into place, be sure to remember that this is now the top of the wreath.

Optional Step: Secure the Dark Green Leaves

The leaves have been secured and will remain in place due to the steps taken in Step Four; however, you can add additional security if desired. To add this extra security measure you will first need to cut the strip of dark green felt into rectangles; exactly like attaching the aqua leaves in step 2.3.

Once all of the rectangles are cut, take one and add hot glue to one side of it. Then carefully take the rectangle and with the glue-side down, press it firmly over the wire and leaf as shown below. Continue to add the felt rectangles to each leaf until all of the dark green leaves have been secured.

Step Five: Create the Orchids

You can mix up the colored pieces to create your own orchids, or follow along with the colors I chose… It’s up to you!

In the photo below, there are the three shapes needed to create the orchid. The first yellow shape that has three prongs (called sepals) is the base of the orchid, the second yellow shape are the orchid petals, and the orange shape is called the lip. We’re crafting and learning! Anyways…

First, add a drop of glue to the center of the orchid base. Then, take the petals of the orchid and lay it on top of the glue, centering the middle of the pedal piece with the drop of glue, as shown below. Next, add a second drop of glue in the center of the pedals (as shown below) and place the lip of the orchid on top.

They look beautiful.

Step Six: Create the Hibiscus Flowers

There will be enough material to create three hibiscus flowers in this kit, as shown below. I took the flowers and laid them out in different color combinations to remind you that you can create your flowers in whatever color combination you wish, just remember to choose your design before you glue.

To create the hibiscus, take the smaller flower and add glue to the back of it. Next, gently place the small flower onto the larger flower and align the two layers to match one another. This creates the look of having two shades of color on one flower. To finish the hibiscus, take the bottom tip of the pistil (the small piece that looks like a stick with circles on the top) and add a drop of glue, as shown in the bottom left photo. Then, place the pistil in the center of the hibiscus and gently press down on the bottom of the pistil to help the glue hold its place. Continue the same steps for the other two flowers.

Now I used my finger nail (as shown above) to press down on the pistil, but that isn’t safe and you may get burned with hot glue so use something like a pencil or dowel to press down on the pistil.

Step Seven: Create the Pineapple

First, add strips of glue on the yellow piece in the rows of felt between the triangle cutouts, as shown in the left photo below. Once the glue is added to the yellow piece, carefully lift it with two hands and place it over the green base making sure the two pieces are aligned. Finally, lift up the outer edges of the yellow piece and add glue between the yellow piece and green base. Doing this secures the entire pineapple together.

Step Eight: Create the Parrot

Again, I always advise that you lay out your design first, before gluing anything together. A photo of the finished parrot can be found in step nine.

To create the parrot, simply add glue to the bottom of each piece and carefully position it into place onto the red base, as seen below. *Something to note: glue the two eye pieces together before adhering them to the parrot, this will allow you to play with different positions for the eye.

Step Nine: Attach all of the Accessories to the Wreath

Now that you have everything made and dry, it is time to finish this beauty!

I recommend laying everything onto the wreath first. Go ahead and play with different designs and placements.

Once you are happy with the placement of your attachments, carefully lift each piece and add glue too adhere it to the wreath. Then, lay the piece back down onto the wreath and gently press it down to be sure the glue will hold it into place.

It’s gorgeous! Like a tropical dream come true.

Hang your newly made Tropical Wreath somewhere away from weather exposure, take out your lawn chairs, lather that sunscreen on (safety first), get yourself a sun hat, grab some Pina Coladas or smoothies, teach your kids the hula, turn on the sprinkler to mist and pretend it’s the ocean waves breaking on the shore, next thing you know BOOM tropical paradise. You didn’t even have to leave the house.

Have a safe and fun summer!

As always, thank you for crafting with me!

If you are interested in any other of my craft kits available for purchase check out my Etsy Shop HERE.