Bring the whimsy of spring to the front d

oor By Patty Marsters

pattym@lwsb.com

Officially, spring starts on Saturday, March 20. If you haven’t already, you can now say farewell to winter and welcome the bright colors of the new season. And what better way to announce your fondness for spring than hanging something on your front door? (Or anywhere in your home, really.) Below are some ideas for a fresh wreath celebrating spring.

Seed Packets: After you’ve planted your Mini Farm plot, share some gardening cheer by pinning 12 to 14 empty seed packets to a 12-inch foam wreath. Add a few faux flowers and maybe a bright ribbon, and it’s ready to hang.

Butterflies: Nature- lovers often equate the migration of

Rhopalocera with the colorful season, so adding representations of monarchs and painted ladies to décor feels appropriate here. Glue a boxwood garland to a 12-inch foam wreath, then add imitation butterflies, daisies and maybe some baby’s breath. Loop a long length of ribbon through the top to hang on any door.

Watering Can: Find an old metal watering can or pick up a colorful plastic one at any garden center. Cut some floral foam to fit and secure to the inside bottom of the can. Using wire cutters, trim down the stems of a bouquet of faux flowers and greenery; you’ll want the blooms to peek out the top of the watering can, with maybe some greenery dangling down the front. Or you can wrap a burlap strip around the top of the can’s opening, securing it in place with glue, then tying a rustic bow. For a fun water effect, string some crystal beads to fishing line threaded through the holes of the waterspout. Picture-hanging wire looped around the top of the handle provides an easy way to secure your creation to a nail or hook.

Umbrella Blooms: Use an old hook-handled umbrella, or buy a cheap one in a bright spring palette online. Untie but do not open it, then wrap a coordinating ribbon about a third of the way up from the base to form a vase. To the umbrella folds, add newspaper, tissue paper or used grocery bags, then arrange roughly two dozen artificial blooms to fill out the top. (You can do this with real flowers in aqua tubes also, but you’ll need to replace them as they wither.) Use the handle to hang it on your door.

Bucket or Wall Basket: To protect the woven or wooden base, it’s suggested to line the inside with paper towels or brown craft paper before proceeding. Puncture a couple of holes in the back, then thread through wire to use for hanging. Once that’s in place, fill the inside with floral foam, into which you can set silk flowers and greenery. If there’s room, consider adding a bird’s nest or other sweet touch.

Fairy Garden: Glue moss to a foam wreath (or buy a precovered form), then attach a scene of miniature fairies, gnomes and other fantastical items. Attach a string of battery-powered mini twinkle lights for a magical touch.

Whatever you decide to decorate your door with, make it your own. And if you complete any of the projects above, please share a photo with us by emailing pattym@lwsb.com.