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April 27, 2015 by: Ashley Greenwood

DIY Cotton Wreath

When I was first planning our Southern Gentleman’s Home Office Update I made a list of things that reminded me of Honey.

College football.

Rufus the deer.

His collection of engraved flasks.

Cotton.

The first three items on this list are fairly common but cotton may make you cock your head in confusion.

You see Honey’s family owns a farm where there are rows and rows of cotton. So I envisioned a wreath made with cotton straight from the farm. Just a small little wreath to hang beside Rufus.

Unfortunately there are projects that look fabulous in my mind but life isn’t always high cotton. My plans for a DIY Cotton Wreath definitely didn’t come together quite like I wanted.

Back in the November I asked Honey to bring me two things home from his latest trip to the farm: antlers and cotton. The antlers were already hanging around the barn and our oldest son was more than happy to tromp out into the cotton field to bring his mama some cotton branches.

The cotton branches were so pretty that I quickly arranged them into a rustic Christmas display for the front porch.

Simple Front Porch Rustic Christmas Door with Cotton Branches, Beech Logs, Pine Cones, and White Lights by 3 Little Greenwoods

After Christmas the cotton branches were stored in my disaster of a craft room until last week when I decided I make a DIY Cotton Wreath for the home office. They were not as pretty as I remembered them but I was determined to transform them into some DIY home decor project.

DIY Cotton Wreath with Cotton Branches by 3 Little Greenwoods

A small wreath from the thrift store was exactly the right size for the space beside Rufus.

DIY Cotton Wreath with Cotton Branches by 3 Little Greenwoods

I quickly got busy snapping apart the cotton branches and poking the cotton bolls into the grapevine wreath.

DIY Cotton Wreath with Cotton Branches by 3 Little Greenwoods

The first thing I noticed was that the cotton bolls were too big for the 16″ wreath. The non-uniform cotton flopped this way and that not staying where I wanted.

I decided the rule of three should be applied and added two more bunches of cotton. It was still not looking exactly like I wanted. At this point I could have run to find the glue gun but I was already doubting this DIY Cotton Wreath would make it on the wall.

DIY Cotton Wreath with Cotton Branches by 3 Little Greenwoods

Seems like all that time hanging out in my craft room had dried out the cotton. Instead of being pretty and fluffy they looked raggedy.

Then Tootsie came home from preschool. She squealed with excitement at Mama playing with “her cotton balls”. Turns out she had gotten in my stash and had a little party with the cotton branches.

Well that explains my messy looking cotton!

DIY Cotton Wreath with Cotton Branches by 3 Little Greenwoods

I rolled my eyes and continued to apply all the cotton to the small wreath. In the end the DIY Cotton Wreath was lopsided and way too disorderly than I had originally planned.

But maybe that’s the point.

Maybe life isn’t always supposed to be about living in high cotton.

Maybe life is more about letting little girls play in Mama’s craft supplies than making the perfect home decor piece.

DIY Cotton Wreath with Cotton Branches by 3 Little Greenwoods

The DIY Cotton Wreath is resting peacefully in my craft room upstairs. It’s waiting to see if I will start all over or be happy with its imperfections.

You know the more I look at it the happier it makes me. Maybe it will get a place of honor next to Honey’s prized deer.

If I can keep Tootsie’s little hands off of it.

Want to catch up on all of the Southern Gentleman’s Home Office Update? Here’s links to all the DIY home decor…

How To Make No-Sew Curtains
DIY Curtain Rods & Finials
Navy Lamp Upcycle
Easy Vintage Wood Bookcase
DIY Sweater Lamp Shade
DIY Brass Pineapple
Most Confused Room in Our Home
Thrifty Office Artwork
DIY Leather Footstool
Previous

Have you had any DIY disasters lately? Make a do-it-yourself Mama feel better and tell me all about it in the comments!

Your comments totally make my day! 

They give me huge motivation to keep creating and having fun with my 3 Little Greenwoods! 

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Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and/or is a sponsored post. I may receive compensation in the form of monetary compensation or product compensation in exchange for my review. I take pride in reviewing only products that fit my brand and will be beneficial to my readers. And while this post is sponsored or contains affiliate links, all the opinions are my own. Why do I do this? It will help me keep this DIY’ing Mama crafting for another day! For more on my disclosure policy click here.

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Comments

  1. 1

    Lindsay Eidahl says

    April 27, 2015 at 8:00 am

    I love this and would love a box full of these cotton branches!!!! That is wonderful you have that farm in your family! It turned out beautiful!

    Reply
    • 2

      3littlegreenwoods says

      April 28, 2015 at 9:50 am

      Maybe some day I’ll ship you some cotton!

      {big hugs}

      Reply
  2. 3

    Alli says

    April 27, 2015 at 10:49 am

    I love it just the way it is! Oh, the memories – my grandpa had acres of cotton and tobacco when I was a little girl. He passed away some years ago, but I still remember walking in high cotton! Leave that beautiful wreath alone. It made me smile and brought back some great memories. There’s not a thing wrong with it!

    Reply
    • 4

      3littlegreenwoods says

      April 28, 2015 at 9:48 am

      Aww… that’s so much Alli! My childhood was filled with cotton and tobacco fields too. #SouthernGirlsRock

      Reply
  3. 5

    Cat @ therusticwillow says

    April 27, 2015 at 12:32 pm

    I love the lesson that shines through in this post–you’re right, life isn’t always about living in high cotton. I actually think with a pop of color or a little bit of flowers that this wreath would be super cute… in the meantime, may your daughter have fun with her cotton 🙂

    Reply
    • 6

      3littlegreenwoods says

      April 28, 2015 at 9:47 am

      Thanks so much for the suggestion, Cat! My little cotton wreath does need a little something else. 😉

      Reply
  4. 7

    Cindy @ DIY beautify says

    April 27, 2015 at 1:45 pm

    What a sweet post Ashley! I love your perspective!! My sis-in-law lives next door to a cotton field and I’ve already asked for several branches….so I’ll be trying my hand at a DIY cotton ball wreath soon.

    Reply
    • 8

      3littlegreenwoods says

      April 28, 2015 at 9:46 am

      Oh, I can’t wait to see your DIY Cotton Wreath!

      Reply
  5. 9

    Kirsten says

    April 27, 2015 at 7:33 pm

    What a beautiful wreath! I love when people are able to use nature to create such amazing things. I am so not that person. Loved reading the story behind it too.

    Reply
    • 10

      3littlegreenwoods says

      April 28, 2015 at 9:44 am

      Thanks so much Kirsten!

      Reply
  6. 11

    winifred jac says

    April 27, 2015 at 9:56 pm

    I love this post. I’m right there with you; the imperfections make it so cute. You could use the cotton for a Christmas wreath for sure!

    Reply
    • 12

      3littlegreenwoods says

      April 28, 2015 at 9:43 am

      Oh! That is a great idea! I will definitely keep my cotton for a Christmas project.

      Reply
  7. 13

    Chrystal @ YUM eating says

    April 28, 2015 at 12:34 pm

    None of my crafts turn out well by my standards. But, I still do them. I think Pinterest is dangerous sometimes. I really liked the wreath with the handful of bundles on there. It’s really rustic and charming.

    Reply
    • 14

      3littlegreenwoods says

      May 1, 2015 at 12:38 pm

      So happy that you love my DIY Cotton Wreath! It is growing on me!

      Reply
  8. 15

    Emily @ Table & Hearth says

    April 28, 2015 at 3:09 pm

    I love your story behind this wreath and I love it in all it’s rustic, lop-sided glory! I have been wanting to do a cotton project (it’s all over here too) and would be so proud to have a wreath like this hanging up 🙂 Pinning for next cotton season!

    Reply
    • 16

      3littlegreenwoods says

      May 1, 2015 at 12:38 pm

      Thanks so much, Emily! Good luck getting some pretty cotton for your project!

      Reply
  9. 17

    Karissa says

    April 29, 2015 at 11:10 pm

    I really like it. What a great wreath.

    Reply
    • 18

      3littlegreenwoods says

      May 1, 2015 at 12:32 pm

      Thanks so much, Karissa! My DIY Cotton Wreath is growing on me too!

      Reply
  10. 19

    Angela, Blue i Style says

    May 3, 2015 at 11:41 pm

    It can be so hard when we have one vision in our mind and it just doesn’t come together quite that way, but I really think it’s lovely just the way it is! Thanks for sharing it with us at The Creative Circle!

    Reply
    • 20

      3littlegreenwoods says

      May 4, 2015 at 12:13 pm

      Thanks so much, sweet friend! My DIY Cotton Wreath is growing on me!

      Reply
  11. 21

    Kathy says

    May 6, 2015 at 10:35 pm

    I don’t think it’s a disaster at all. It’s stunning in it’s own natural and rustic beauty. Love it. Thanks for sharing at The Creative Circle!

    Reply
  12. 22

    Kim~madeinaday says

    July 23, 2015 at 1:21 pm

    Martha Stewart made one of these years ago and i always loved it, but was unable to find the cotton to make one! Not fair you have a whole farm of it!! Love that! Thank you so much for sharing this pin on the P3 party Board! We loved your pin and it will be featured this Friday on Made in a Day! So expect a little traffic from me on Social Media tomorrow.
    Kim

    Reply
    • 23

      3littlegreenwoods says

      July 24, 2015 at 8:25 am

      YAY! Thank you so much for featuring my cotton wreath!

      Reply

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