Don't Toss Paper Bags: The Rustic Wreath That's Easy To Make

If you have DIY skills and want to make the cutest fall wreath, there are any number of interesting projects worth trying. From pumpkin-shaped creations to rustic wreaths made of artificial or real foliage, wreath-making is a project that allows you to personalize your seasonal home decor. In a tutorial shared on his YouTube channel, Dave from Dave's Wreaths and Things wraps a metal form in a cut-up brown paper bag and decorates it with burlap ribbon and burnt orange fall leaves, creating the perfect rustic wreath for fall.

This DIY wreath requires just a few inexpensive supplies, including items that may have otherwise ended up in the trash and items you can pick up at Dollar Tree. For this particular project, Dave chose a square metal wire wreath form, like this Utalind Metal Wire Wreath Frame, to use as a base, although you can use a circular form instead. Dollar Tree sells a Floral Garden Metal Wreath Form for just $1.75.

If you wanted, you could even DIY a basic wreath form using a kitchen essential you already have on hand: a large cooking pot! For the paper bags, you can use grocery store bags kept out of the trash or even this pack of 30 Brown Paper Lunch Bags that Dollar Tree sells for $1.50. You'll also need glue (such as hot glue or school glue), scissors, ribbon, and artificial fall leaves. The ribbon will be used to make a bow for the wreath. While Dave used 2-inch burlap ribbon, you can use whatever type of ribbon you have on hand.

Ready to use paper bags to make the cutest home decor gem? It's certainly better than throwing the bags out! Plus, you get to bring a rustic vibe to your front door. To make this wreath, start by cutting out 3-inch-wide strips from the brown paper bags and crumpling them up to give them a crinkled texture. Wrap the paper strips around the wire wreath form, making sure that any writing on the bags is facing inwards so that only the brown paper shows. Glue the paper strips in place as you work your way around the form. The paper rips easily, so have extra strips on hand to cover any areas where the paper has torn. Continue this process until the entire wreath is wrapped in brown paper; you shouldn't be able to see the wire wreath form at all.

The next step is to take your burlap ribbon and create a large bow. Use ribbons in multiple textures and colors to create a full, layered look. You can also make the bow as big as you wish. When you're finished, glue the bow to upper left side of the wreath if using a round wreath form or the top left corner on a square wreath frame. Once the bow is secure, start adding the artificial fall leaves, gluing them underneath the bow and moving outwards along the ring on either side of the bow to create a gorgeous, perfectly balanced cascade of foliage.

If you want to customize your wreath, consider using more colors or adding unique finishing touches. Right now, the brown paper bag is like a blank canvas. "If you stain that paper with brown shoe polish and [let] it dry, it will look like leather," wrote one commenter on the Dave's Wreaths and Things video. Similarly, you could color or texture the paper strips with acrylic paint before wrapping them around the wire wreath form. When choosing colors for your wreath, it really depends on the look you're going for. If you want to stick with a rustic theme, combine different shades of brown with dark greens and oranges.

Beyond painting or otherwise coloring the paper, you can also switch up the embellishments on the wreath. While Dave kept things simple with a large bow and artificial fall leaves, you could add dried flowers, acorns, or even pinecones to the wreath. Or you could try reducing the nature vibes by leaving the botanical off entirely and adding lots of small bows instead. The single large bow acts as the focal point of this wreath. If you're not skilled at making bows with ribbon, you could always buy a pre-made bow that fits your aesthetic. You can find pre-made bows at craft supply stores like Michael's and Hobby Lobby. Even Dollar Tree has a lot of options, including this Christmas House Red and Black Buffalo Check Bow for just $1.50.