Just six months until Christmas... which means it's time to start your DIY holiday decor now! 😂🎄🥳
But seriously, it's no secret that we absolutely love Christmas around here. And it really does pay off when you start your crafting, wreathing, and DIY gift making early. Getting started now alleviates the time crunch in late November, it spreads out expenses so your credit card doesn't take a big hit all at once, and it's just plain fun!
Keep in mind that some of the best holiday creativity takes place in the summer. Did you know that "The Christmas Song" (otherwise known as "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire") was written in July on a blistering hot summer's day? Clearly, Robert Wells and Mel Tormé had the right idea dreaming about the holiday season while sitting by the pool. 😎☀️
So kick off those flip flops, pour yourself a mojito, and ease into some relaxing festive crafting...
Christmas in July: Make a Plan
Now is your chance to create your vision for this holiday season. Maybe you'd like to establish a theme this year, with an emphasis on angels, or gnomes, or reindeer, or Santa and Mrs. Claus. Or maybe you'd like to unify your overall style aesthetic with a rustic or modern look or with a unified colour palette. The DIY holiday decor possibilities are endless and when you plan ahead, you actually have the time to execute that big vision without feeling rushed or running out of time.
BOARDS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Top row - Character Board, Cross Board, Large Board. Bottom row - Rail Board, Triangle Board, Large Board
DIY Holiday Gift Ideas
A gift made with your own hands truly comes from the heart. Your loved ones will appreciate whatever it is you make for them, but by planning now you have the luxury of time to consider what you'd enjoy making for them. And of course, at Unique in the Creek we're obsessed with DIY wreath making!
A handmade wreath makes a wonderful piece of home decor for both outdoors and in. Plus, our wreath making system makes the Christmas wreath making process so easy and fun. You’re going to love that DIY feeling!
So start making that list and checking it twice:
Wreath Themes
- Traditional Wreath
- Christmas Tree
- Angel
- Gnome
- Reindeer
- Santa Claus or Mrs. Claus
- Elf
- Snowman
- Poinsettia or other flower
- Cross
Additional Considerations
- Style (traditional, rustic, modern)
- Colour palette
- Destination (indoors, outdoors, on a door, fence, etc.)
- Storage until the holidays
- Materials needed
For your materials, consider what you already have that could be upcycled and integrated with new materials to create a gift that's beautiful, cost effective, and sustainable!
BOARDS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Top row - Triangle Board, Character Board, Character Board. Bottom row - Oval Board, Rail Board, Triangle Board
DIY Home Decor starts with UITC™ Wreath Boards
Christmas wreath making, crafting, and DIY gift making all starts on our UITC™ Wreath Making Boards. Our wreath boards are the base for all your holiday wreath creations. You'll love how they make the whole Christmas wreath and Christmas crafting process an absolute breeze!
These boards are where the DIY holiday decor magic really starts. All of our boards are made from 100% recycled plastic. They’re also weather-resistant, made to withstand all kinds of outdoor conditions. This is very important in the cold and snowy late fall and winter months! You can even re-use our boards if you’d prefer to make another design. They are durable and constructed to last!
Browse Our Wreath Making Boards
This is where the planning really gets to be fun and creative, because each theme can be made using various types of boards.
Of course, there's nothing like a traditional Christmas wreath. You can use our classic Large Wreath Board, Small Wreath Board, Ring Wreath Board, or Oval Wreath Board. The Large and Small Boards also make the base for beautiful poinsettia or other flower designs.
Our Christmas tree, angel, and gnome wreath designs all use our Triangle Board. These are some of our most well-loved Christmas designs and it's no wonder why Laurie's original Christmas Tree Wreath went viral on Pinterest and is still wildly popular.
Add an adorable Santa, Mrs. Claus, or Frosty the Snowman face to your wreath by using the Character Wreath Board. These boards can also be used to add other imagery like a holiday greeting or cozy winter scene available as vinyl decals. That same imagery also works beautifully with our Rail Wreath Board to create a dynamic and festive piece of DIY home decor.
If you're new to wreath making and looking for the perfect Christmas in July kickstart, grab a UITC Starter Pack to fire up your creative juices!
Anyone at any skill level can do it!
You don't need any experience to start your Christmas in July wreath making. The same basic wreath making steps apply no matter which type of board you use. In the following examples, we've used the Triangle Wreath Board to show how to make Laurie's viral Christmas Tree Wreath but it's the same idea no matter which design you're making.
First, load the board with zip ties.
Then use the zip ties to attach your mesh or other materials to the board.
Before long, you'll have a gorgeous wreath to give as a gift or to hang in your home or on your door.
Here's an example using the Character Wreath Board. In this case, you add your festive vinyl decal first.
Then add your zip ties and start attaching your mesh and other materials.
You'll be so pleased with how it all comes together!
Free Wreath Making Tutorials & Live Replays
We have hundreds of live replays and DIY wreath making tutorials to give you inspiration and guide you through the wreath making techniques. Here are just a few videos from our Christmas Wreath Playlist on YouTube.
Featured Maker: Laurie Franklin
In our blogs we often post a featured wreath maker. For our Christmas in July blog, we figured what better creator to feature than Laurie herself from Unique in the Creek! After all, she was the first maker to create so many iconic designs like the viral Christmas Tree, Gnome, Angel, and others.
Also, Laurie is the innovator who came up with our unique patented wreath boards to make DIY wreath making a snap. That's why every single wreath that you see in today's blog was made by Laurie herself. 👏👏👏
If you love DIY holiday decor and Christmas as much as Laurie does, you're going to have so much fun with Unique in the Creek! So be sure to join our community! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and join our Unique Creators Facebook Group!
Before you start your DIY home decor, we unfortunately need to give a little attention to knock-off boards. They’re out there, and we’ve been seeing them more and more. These boards are lower quality, are typically made overseas, and won’t work with our replays.
Authentic UITC™ Wreath Boards:
👍 Always have the UITC™ logo embossed on the back.
❤️ Are weather-proof and durable, made to withstand the elements.
👍 Have the holes laid out in a clear pattern.
❤️ Have clearly numbered rows of holes.
👍 Are the *only* boards that will work with #MakeitlikeLaurie replays & tutorials.
❤️ Are made here in North America!
Remember, when in doubt, genuine UITC™ Wreath Boards can be purchased through our online shop or through one of our Authorized Distributors. When you purchase your boards one of these ways, you are guaranteed to be “authentically unique!”
We hope you have a wonderful time with your Christmas in July decorating. Be sure to share your photos on social media and tag us in your finished designs! #uniqueinthecreek