Let the Holiday Wreath-making Begin

Every year, I make candy holiday wreaths. This year is no exception. Yup, I can be a regular Martha Stewart around the holidays. So, right now, I'm up to my elbows in ribbons and candy. The picture above is of one I did last year in the spring. It's not my greatest wreath, but it will give you an idea of what they look like when they're done.

These are actually really simple to make, just a bit tedious and time-consuming. I've outlined most of the steps with pictures here. There's also an illustrated catalog of needed supplies here.

The basic supply list is as follows:

• 1 small child-sized, easily bendable, wire hanger. Target and other stores sell ones coated with different colored plastic, including red and green, in packages of 12 for about a dollar or two. These are perfect for wreath making. (You can use a regular full-sized wire hanger, but they tend to be harder to bend, and take longer to make.)



• Curling ribbon of choice (Lots of stores sell 4-color rolls in seasonal shades for about two dollars. One of these should be enough.)



• Scissor for cutting and curling the ribbon(large or small, blunt or pointed, makes no difference)



• Approximately 5 pounds of wrapped candy. These should be candies with the wrapping twisted on at least one end (like the ends of Tootsie Rolls). Otherwise, the type of candies and colors are totally up to the wreath maker.



• 1 medium-sized bow or other decoration for the top of the wreath.



• 1 cheap children's scissor to attach to the wreath. (Makes it easier to get the candy off and eat it.)

Helpful, but not entirely necessary supplies:

Sandwich-sized zip-lock bags for sorting and storing candies and ribbon pieces so they don't end up all over the place and/or used as cat toys.

Waste basket to put the wrappers from the candies that somehow bypass the wreath-making process entirely and end up in your stomach instead.