If you haven’t already noticed, I have a not-so-slight obsession with wreaths.  I just love ’em!  They’re such an easy way to add some spunk to your home and celebrate any occasion.  They are also super simple to DIY….just check out my Project Gallery to see all the ones I’ve made so far.

For some time now, I’ve been pondering the idea of creating a year-round wreath that I can display, well, year-round, or at least during those in-between times that don’t really have or warrant a specific wreath (I’m looking at you August!).  I also happen to love — and I mean LOVE — color (much to my boring-beige-loving-husband’s chagrin), so I whipped up this colorful polka dotted wooden wreath…..and now we can have a festive door, no matter what time of year it is!

 

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Year-Round Happy Everything Wreath: A Coton Colors Knock Off!

Supplies

• 17.5-inch scalloped wooden wreath
• White spray paint
• Vinyl in various colors
• Silhouette Cameo & 12″ x 24″ cutting mat
• Transfer paper and painter’s tape
• Twine and glue

Note: While I used my Silhouette and vinyl, you could very easily hand-paint all the elements.  I have terrible hand-writing so I took the easy route!

 

My Inspiration

I have been a big fan of Coton Colors ever since I first discovered them several years ago.  I stumbled upon their University of Kentucky mini sign (also known as a tag along) that served as inspiration for my UK basketball ornament wreath, and my admiration for their colorful and whimsical designs was born!

Since I knew that I wanted my year-round wreath to be full of both of those things (color and whimsy, that is), I looked to their Happy Everything collection for inspiration.  When I saw their Welcome wooden wreath, I knew I’d found it!

It also doesn’t hurt that my knock off version would be made with supplies I already had on hand….much cheaper than the $60 price tag of the original….when they were still carrying them, apparently.  All the more incentive to make my own!

 

Prepping the Wooden Wreath

A few years ago, I purchased some scalloped wooden wreaths…..and they’ve been sitting in storage ever since.  I know, I’m terrible.

Well, I actually started making one….I sanded it and primed it, but then set it aside once I found out I was pregnant.  I just had too much other way-more-important stuff on my plate.  I also hadn’t yet discovered the wonderful world of my Silhouette Cameo, so my crafting possibilities were still limited (especially since I have terrible handwriting…..just check this out for proof).

So to prep this wooden wreath, I gave it a couple coats of white spray paint then let it dry completely.

 

My Design

Here’s the design I came up with in Silhouette Studio.  I combined the Coton Colors Welcome wreath with their Happy Everything vibe, and this is the result.  Colorful and whimsical, right?  Not to mention all-inclusive on what we’re celebrating….just what I was after!

 

Cutting Out the Elements in Vinyl

Since I have a strong aversion to cleaning paint brushes (and to cleaning in general), I decided to cut the polka dots out in vinyl along with all the wording.  Once again, you could very easily hand-paint all this on if you don’t have or don’t want to use a Silhouette and vinyl.

I cropped some of the polka dots that fell along the edges so they would align perfectly with the wooden wreath’s scallops, then positioned all the elements onto my 12″ x 24″ cutting mat.  This was so I could cut them all in one pass….work smart, not hard.

I then finalized my Silhouette‘s cut settings:

• Blade: 2
• Speed: 4
• Thickness: 9

 

Next, I headed to my handy dandy vinyl storage organizer and pulled out some scraps or sheets of vinyl in corresponding colors (this is why I love having variety packs on hand….you never know what colors you’ll need!).

Then I trimmed them all to size and positioned them on my cutting mat so they matched their digital counterparts….bless you grid squares.  Then I loaded the mat into my Silhouette and got to cutting!

 

A few moments later, my vinyl cuts were ready!  And looking rather Pac-Man-esque….

 

Applying the Vinyl

For the polka dots, I skipped the transfer paper and just applied them by hand….I know, livin’ on the edge!

I referred back to my mockup and first added all the ones that went along the sides….

 

….then added the perfectly round ones in the middle.

 

Next, I applied the two words with the help of some transfer paper and the hinge method (which you can read about here if you’d like).

 

Once all the pieces were nice and securely applied, I peeled off the transfer paper and then gave everything a quick blast with some clear sealant, just so everything had the same finish (the white paint was flat but the vinyl was gloss).  All that was left was gluing a strand of twine to the back and then this beauty was ready to hang!

 

The Final Year-Round Happy Everything Wreath!

And here’s the final wreath!  Not too shabby, eh?  I LOVE how it’s so bright and colorful and polka dotty, and as its name implies, it can be hung year-round….hooray for decorations you can get mileage out of!

 

If You Enjoyed This….

Check out some other wreaths I’ve made, like these that also used wooden cutouts!

Patriotic USA Wooden Door Hanger

 

Valentine’s Day Red Burlap Heart Wreath with Couple’s Monogram

 

Dual-Sided Valentine’s Day Door Hanger

 

Make sure you check out my Project Gallery for all of my other creations, including lots of other wreaths and Silhouette projects!  And I also have a Pinterest board dedicated to all things WREATHS!

Follow Christine at Where The Smiles Have Been’s board Wreaths! on Pinterest.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!