Turn A Pool Noodle Into A Stunning Fabric Wreath With A Festive DIY

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For many Americans, winter is far from swimming weather. All the deck furniture and pool toys get stored away somewhere safe until next summer, and the swimming pool is winterized. It's now that crafty DIYers get to swoop in and collect discarded pool equipment ripe for repurposing. There are all kinds of creative Christmas decorations you can make with household items. In this particular case, you can transform pool noodles and green fabric into a show-stopping holiday wreath. It's the kind of festive décor that looks like it cost a fortune but was achievable for far less. If you've got the supplies already on hand, it won't cost you a cent.

If you don't have any old pool noodles lying around at home, locating some is step one of this DIY. They can be challenging to find in-store, so shopping online is probably your best bet. A 60-inch-long Kelinfong Hollow Foam Pool Noodle costs about $4. Next, find some green fabric. If you don't have a stash of scrap fabric at home or the colors aren't quite right, rummage the bins at your local thrift store or visit a craft supply store. You could also dye white or light-colored material using Rit Dark Green Liquid Fabric Dye. It's always best to use the crafting supplies you have on hand where you can. Don't forget a box cutter and some wide Scotch tape.

It's hard to believe you can take a basic pool noodle and turn it into a beautiful Christmas decor with this stunning DIY — but you can, and easily. You simply poke a hole in the noodle and stuff the fabric scraps into it to create a ruffled texture. The foam is hidden beneath the fluffy surface decoration. This design is sometimes called a rag wreath for good reason.

Form the noodle into a ring and join the ends together with Scotch tape. Use the box cutter to poke evenly spaced holes all around the noodle. You can plan these out first using a permanent marker if you prefer. Cut your fabric into small squares about 2 to 3 inches wide. Use a pencil or chopstick to poke each piece deep into each hole. The foam of the noodle should close around the fabric, keeping it in place. But if you want to make sure they stay put, squeeze in a drop of craft glue into the hole before you push in the fabric.

The more fabric squares you poke into the pool noodle, the fuller your wreath will appear. You'd never know this beautiful Christmas wreath was made out of pool noodles and fabric scraps! There are many fun ways to personalize your wreath. Try mixing up the fabric — different colors, textures, and types. You could alternate the fabric squares with chunks of thick Christmas ribbon. Give the wreath a little razzle-dazzle by poking bits of tinsel, wide green and gold deco mesh, or shiny colored cellophane into the noodle every few holes.