Sharing all the Tips & Tricks for How to Make a Wreath using Dried or Fresh magnolia leaves. This beautiful DIY magnolia wreath is easy to make, takes less than 1 hour to create & cost less than $5!
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How to Make a Wreath with Dried or Fresh Magnolia Leaves
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One fabulous way to change up your decor is by using wreaths.
I add wreaths to my farmhouse decor pretty much everywhere…doors, walls, fireplace mantels…inside & out!
Where to Find Magnolia Leaves
If you are fortunate enough to have a southern magnolia tree in your yard like we do you can make beautiful wreaths to decorate your home.
In fact we planted 2 more magnolias just so I could make a magnolia wreath for every room. 🙂
If not find a friend that has a magnolia tree that needs trimming.
When our magnolia needs trimmed or loses it’s leaves I save them rather than sticking them out for recycling.
Supplies & Needed for How to Make a Wreath using Dried or Fresh Magnolia Leaves
• Straw Wreath Form (any size you want) like this one, (FloraCraft Straw Wreaths, 12-Inch Straw Wreath)
• Floral Wire (Paddle Wire 20 Gauge 4 Ounces/Pkg-Green)
• Glue gun and glue sticks (Vastar Hot Glue Gun with 30 Pieces Melt Glue Sticks Melting Adhesive Glue Gun Kit for DIY Small Craft and Quick Repairs in Home & Office, 20 Watt)
• Fresh or Dried Magnolia Leaves (at least fifty or more depending on how big you want the wreath)
The Easy Way to Dry Magnolia Leaves
For dried leaves I usually set the branches in a pile in the yard & wait a month or two then I pick out the ones that have the best color & toss the others.
You can also speed up this process by pulling the leaves off their stem and bringing them indoors to dry out next to a fireplace or wood stove.
Instructions for How to Make a Wreath using Magnolia Leaves Step by Step
The process for how to make a wreath is the same whether you are using dried or fresh magnolia leaves.
Step One – Choosing your Wreath Form & Collecting Supplies
When thinking about how to make a wreath, I almost always use a straw wreath form.
Whether it’s magnolia leaves, clam shells or pine cones. I love the the wreath form looks finished & pretty in the spots it might be exposed.
Step Two – Adding Floral Wire to Hang your Wreath
When you are thinking about how to make a wreath it’s important to think about how to hang it when your wreath is finished.
The floral wires does double duty, first by helping keep your magnolia leaves in place & later as a strong wire you can use to hang the wreath to the wall.
Wrap your green floral wire twice around the wreath & twist it to itself to secure the wire to the wreath.
You will continue to wrap the wire around the wreath as you attach the leaves.
Step Three – Lay out Your Magnolia Leaves by Size
Start laying out your leaves & divide them up by size.
Start placing the big ones in the back & small ones in the front.
Step Four – Wrap Your Wire & Glue Around the Magnolia Leaves
Wrap the wire at the base of the stem & glue gun it as well to give it extra support.
Continue wrapping the wire & gluing the stems as you add more leaves until done.
The wire creates a built in hanger.
You can now use it to hang the wreath at any angle you would like.
Here is a picture of my new fresh magnolia wreath in my dining room.
All I need now is some pumpkins & acorns & I am ready to decorate for fall.
How Long will a Magnolia Wreath Last
A fresh Magnolia wreath only lasts a few weeks but the dried magnolia wreath will last years!!!
Perfect if you don’t have time to make a new one every month.
I made one in less than an hour with my kids home 🙂
* Updated 12/2015 – I wanted to share a picture of what my DIY magnolia wreath looks like 1 & 1/2 years later & talk about how it has been holding up!
As you can see the dried magnolia leaves aren’t quite as glossy as they first were when I made the wreath.
I still think our magnolia wreath looks fabulous… especially at Christmastime & will last for many more years!
BTW, You can find the DIY of how to make these cute Cedar houses (HERE)
I hope this inspires you & answers all your questions about how to make a wreath using magnolia leaves!
by Tara Lehman
Don’t forget to save & pin how to make a wreath with magnolia leaves!
Some More How to Make Wreath Projects you Might Enjoy
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Book Page Wreath Shaped like a Heart
Do the fresh leaves that are dried turn completely brown? Or does the green stay a little bit? Debating on drying leaves, or buying faux! Thanks!!
Hi Ashley, I added an updated picture of my magnolia wreath that I took today to the bottom of my post. The magnolia leaves are definitely not as glossy as they once were but they are definitely still green:).
LOVE the Before & After!!!
Thanks you very much Missy! Have a great weekend!
Oh, I just love it!
Thank you so much!
Your wreath is just gorgeous! Thank you so much for linking it to Grace at Home. I’m featuring you this week!
Hi Richella! Thank you so much for featuring my wreath and for the party! It was incredibly sweet of you to stop by! Take care, Tara
Beautiful!
How do you preserve the Magnolia leaves to maintain color?
Thank you!
Thanks so much for stopping by Tricia! I didn’t preserve the Magnolia leaves other than using ones that had already dried naturally from my yard. The leaves of my dried magnolia leaf have lasted a long time. I currently have the wreath displayed on my family room mantel and added a picture above to show you how it looks now 1.5 years later:). Happy New Year, Tara
Very beautiful!!
How do you preserve and dry the Magnolia leaves ?
please explain step by step.
very very thank you.
Hi Reza! Thanks so much for commenting on my how to make a magnolia wreath post. I didn’t really do anything to preserve the magnolia leaves other than leaving them out to air dry before assembling the dried magnolia wreath:). Take care, Tara
Hi Tara,
I am thinking of spraying the dried leaves with hairspray. I did that with a cotton wreath that I picked (in the south) . The cotton balls lasted a long time.
Hi Kay! Thanks so much for commenting on my how to make a wreath using magnolia leaves! I think hair spray sounds like a great idea, I hope it works well for you. Take care, Tara
great looking wreath!! I have a magnolia tree in my new yard, jus purchased this home and the tree was already there..blessing for me! I hope mine comes out as good looking as yours did!
Thank you so much for stopping by and for your sweet comments about my magnolia wreath Rose! Best wishes for making one in your new home!
Spritzing or painting the leaves with diluted Mop & Glo Floor Wax keeps them looking pretty and shiny much longer. Or dip them in it for complete coverage on both sides and lay in the grass on a sunny day to dry.
Thanks so much for your tips Linda! Mop & Glo does wonders for my tile floors and I will have to try this next time I make our magnolia leaves. Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting on our blog.
Love how your wreath turned out Tara! Looks fabulous! Will have to give this a go. Thank you for the tutorial 🙂
Thanks so much for your sweet comments about my Magnolia Wreath Sam! It really is simple to make and I hope you will give it a try :).
Wow, I love it! I can’t wait to try and make one. I love how it looks over your fireplace. Stunning!
Thanks so much for your sweet comments about my Magnolia wreath Carolann!
Love the wreath, even when it’s dried! So gorgeous and natural. Have you tried taking it down and storing it? I’m wondering how one would do so without breaking any of the leaves. They seem pretty fragile once dried. Thanks!
Thank you so much for stopping by and for your sweet comments about my magnolia wreath Allie! We keep ours up all year but the leaves do become very fragile over time so you definitely be careful when handling it.
Can you use clear spray paint to help to preserve a natural magnolia wreath for outside use to prevent it from turning brown? Thanks!
Thanks so much for stopping by to see how I made my magnolia wreath Alicia! I don’t see why you can’t spray paint the leaves. If you decide to make a magnolia wreath of your own, I would love to hear about it.