Make a Dr. Seuss / Cat in the Hat Inspired Wreath

Hiya everybody! It's been way too long since I posted something so today I am delighted to share a Dr. Seuss / Cat In the Hat inspired project with you! It's my part of the Smoothfoam Design Team and Designer Craft Connection Blog Hop in which all participants were given a few Smoothfoam wreaths and challenged to come up with a project. Sometimes it takes me a long time to come up with an idea, but this one came to me immediately! I think it's because the ruled markings on the wreaths (which help with even spacing of decorations) reminded me of big stripes. In my head Big stripes = Cat in the Hat. I also used two wreaths - the smaller blue one and the larger striped one - which together work really well to frame the fish in the center. I am so happy how this turned out! I might just have to cook up something with Green Eggs and Ham!

(Oh! Don't forget to continue along on the Smoothfoam Wreath blog hop for more fun ideas!)

Here's how:

Make a Dr. Seuss / Cat in the Hat inspired wreath

Materials:

Tools:

Beacon 3-in-1 Glue
Proxxon Tabletop Hot Wire Cutter
Hot Wire Foam Engraving Too
Acrylic paints - orange, red
Paint pens - black, white
Wood skewer
Sharpie
Paint brush
Picture hanging hook
Scissors

Instructions:

1. Wrap blue yarn around the 12" Smoothfoam wreath. To hide the ends of the yarn, add a drop of glue to the yarn end before you start and poke the end into the back of the wreath with a wood skewer.

2. Wrap the 14" wreath with red and white yarn in alternating sections. Use the markings on the wreath to help you measure the sections evenly.

3. Wrap a little bit of black yarn at the joins between the red and white yarn. This makes it look really Seussy!

4. To make the fish and bow tie, I actually went online and found images from "The Cat in the Hat" and printed them to use as patterns. Do a Google search to find some then print, cut out and trace them onto the sheet of Smoothfoam.

5. Use the hot wire tool to cut out the fish and bow tie. (I love this part!)

6. Paint the bow tie with red acrylic paint and paint the fish orange.

7. Refer to the print outs and add details to the painted bow tie and fish with the paint pens.

8. Attach the fish to the blue wreath with a wood skewer. You might have to shorten the skewer with the scissors.

9. Glue the red and white wreath on top of the blue wreath. Glue the bow tie onto the center front of the top wreath.

10. Glue a picture hangar to the back (or make a little loop out of wire or a paper clip if you haven't got a hangar).

Fun, huh?! I'm thinking it would be fun to make two little matching wreaths with Thing One and Thing Two. There's always room for a little mayhem in the house!

Don't forget to follow along on the Smoothfoam blog hop to see other fun ideas for working with the wreath forms! Here's the link:

http://designercraftsconnection.blogspot.com

Enjoy!