Garland wrapped Christmas monogram

November 07, 2008

I love the big monograms that are out this season. I covet these and long ago had an idea to do one with the big honkin' cardboard letters you can find at JoAnns. 

I got my garland and did it in about 15 minutes...(well, more like 30...I'm trying to convince you of how easy this was, OK?)

I started by spray painting the cardboard green, then I just started wrapping like mad...
giant Christmas initial for front door

Admittedly, I should have used a darker green spray paint. ;)

After I was done wrapping I stuck a few berries in there...
large greenery monogram

Then hung it with some extra Christmas ribbon and voila!
monogram wrapped in greenery

That sad ribbon needs some fluffing and I still need to fill in a few spots. I can't decide if it looks good or just like a furry green "S." 

What do you think?? 

It would help if I used expensive greenery, but I'm thrifty:
large Christmas monogram for door Total cost was $5 for the cardboard letter and $7.50 for the greenery. I'll take it for $12 instead of $35 or more (plus shipping!!). Have any of you attempted one of these?
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Comments

  1. I love the monogram. I'm definitely going to make one. I saw a cute one that someone did with leaves for fall (it actually might have been you...I can't remember. lol) and I loved it. I never got around to making it though so I'm definitely going to make this one. I'm not sure what letter to use though because my boyfriend and I aren't married yet. What do you think?

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  2. Oh, I like it! I'm defintely mentally filing this for future projects!

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  3. Ok, I'm asking you to come by.lol, but you have to leave me a comment...I like them too!! I love what you did with the letter, who would have thought!! I'm going to do a big ol M. Laurie

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  4. great idea! Congrats on your SITS day and comment overload :) When you have time, I'd love for you to stop by...

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  5. Congrats on your saucy day! I saw the monogram wreaths over at Kimba's too and fell in love...so glad you figured out how to do it for me! I think yours looks pretty dang good! I'll have to stalk charmingdesigns up there too, 'cuz I'll be rockin an M as well.

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  6. I just scheduled a post about these and now I have to go and edit it to add your tutorial! You are amazing!!

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  7. Wow. Well, I'm a little new in town; and I love your place! A woman after my own heart. You really live up to your name and I look forward to stopping by often. As in daily, most likely.
    My [virtual] door is always open if you're ever in the neighborhood.

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  8. Hi...I took the cheap way out...at Christmas I just put one of those gold letters in my wreath (I think it was about $7 at Restoration Hardware), but I've always loved the initial ones like you did. Now, if you get a minute over the weekend, come by & pick up a little award!

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  9. I saw the original one over at Kimba's and I was trying to figure out how to make it work... I was going to put my husband to work on making a wire form. Thank you for makeing it SO easy!

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  10. WHAT A COOL IDEA! I MAY HAVE TO DRAG OUT SOME GARLAND, BERRIES, AND MAYBE EVEN SOME LIGHTS! OR IS THAT A BIT "NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION" OF ME?!

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  11. This is SO going on my to do list for Christmas decorations to make. Very clever AND reasonably priced! LOVE it!

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  12. I looked at your comment count to see what you were talking abouta nd it's at 167! What??!!! And it's not even a mistake. I've seen them in the 60s before, but this? Wow! Send some over my way!LOL. Hey, I love the "S" and my last name starts with an S too so now I can see what it will look like. No, it doesn't look weird, it looks really nice. I'm going to make one. I see greenery at the Dollar Tree every year, but only early when they get their Christmas decorations in. It sells out fast so I'm going to go there to get some.

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  13. That looks fantastic.

    I love it!

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  14. You are sooooooooooo clever!
    I never would have thought to make it myself.
    I'm the schmuck who would have bought it & had it shipped!!!

    Fabu idea!!

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  15. Hello, I found your blog through SITS! I love it!!! I will be back again. I love the monogram! I had been thinking about ordering one I saw in Ballards...but I can make it now! Thanks! Hope you have a wonderful day. Nancy

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  16. That is so dang cute- I think I'll try it!

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  17. Good grief! I love it! You are right, I have drooled over them in catalogs but am not willing to pay stupid amounts money for them! I will be copying your brilliance!

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  18. Monogram looks great...I think I will be doing this.

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  19. Oh I love that! and that's one I could do! AND our last name starts with an "S"- so I can totally copy that! LOL

    ~Tidymom

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  20. My monogram will be an "S" too, so when you get done with yours, just mail it to me - LOL! You could add a red cardinal bird kto spruce it up some. Looks great! And feel free to stop by my blog when you have time - I love visitors and comments!

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  21. I love it! And congrats on the feature and all the comments! :)

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  22. Love the monogram and the fact that someone else is as excited about decorating for Christmas as I am! I would love to do this for our home, but our last name starts with a 'L' and L's never hang right unless flat against a wall. You ought to add a Santa or snowman pick to just add a little something to the monogram. Let me know if you think of a way to do this but with a L.

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  23. I love the monogram!! I am glad you found a cheap way to do it!! I have decided since this is my first christmas married I want to do a monogram theme!!! Those wreaths inspire me!!

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  24. in love...i am a lover of all things "e" for our monogram and i look for al sorts of creative things to do with it. this is a great idea!!!

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  25. I think your monogram looks great, not furry! ;) I'm with you on getting the "thrify" garland. That stuff can add up. Why pay more when you don't have to?!

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  26. wow! you did get a lot of comments! I'm just hoping one day my blog will grow up to be like yours and I'll make it to 10! lol I'm pretty boring so I don't see that happening. ;) You on the other hand, my friend, are great about getting your creative little self going on your projeccts. (me, not so much) Love your 'S' but I would put some 2/2.5in ribbon on it and make it pop!

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  27. I am so copying this! I have got to go get me a letter and then I am going for it!

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  28. Love your monogram. I'm not so nuts about a "B" so I won't be doing this one. . .but other ones look so cool. I agree, better to do the look for less. LOVE your Goodwill tips below as well. I've found awesome things at ours. . and I do dig! Haven't been back in quite a while. . .but I can see I may be making a treck back there soon. I've been reinspired:)

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  29. I love the monogram! I am so gonna have to make one. I'm always looking for something new and cool. Thanks for the idea!
    I agree with gas prices rocking! For me, paying less at the pump means I can use all my money for fun things like food, and crafts. :)

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  30. Sarah, I really like the monogram. It looks good on your door!! is AnNicole around blogland?? Did she start a blog??
    I agree about the gas prices. I just haven't been driving much lately since I'm trying to heal. I haven't worked for over a month. I may decide not to go back to work.
    Have a great weekend!!
    Hugs, Terrie

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  31. Just found your blog...love this idea, much more reasonable than the ones I have been eyeing at Ballards! Hope you will come by and visit when you have time!

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  32. Your ideas are fantastic! Love the monogram idea and I just "happen" to have lots of faux greenery lying around. :) Please stop by and say hi on my new blog! Comments ARE fun, aren't they??

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  33. I love the monogram S. I am inspired and planning to try it.
    I really love your blog.

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  34. Wow, thanks for the tutorial on the Christmas Monogram wreath. I think I'm going to try it!! I think it looks GREAT.

    Blessings,

    Sher

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  35. Love the letter! I'm def. going to make one for our family. It will fit right in as my whole front entry is decorated in "G"s. : )

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  36. Your "S" looks fantastic! I think I might try this using some gawdy (and by that I mean..wonderfully shiny and pink) tinsel! I feel like being a Diva this year for Christmas!

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  37. It's official: You've got a link on my website. I love all of your crafty ideas and if I ever have a free weekend to myself to do anything I'll TOTALLY try some of your projects.

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  38. I love your "S"!! I would make one too but "K" seems a harder letter to wrap with. I would go to the dollar store and get some pretty little wrapped present ornaments, bells, etc to make it a bit more decorated but still inexpensive to make.

    You have great ideas!!!! Thank you for taking so much time to share with all of us!

    I'd love to have you over to my blog this week...I've got a great giveaway!!!

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  39. you have a great blog and i recently added you to my reader, I love! how you keep things inexpensive. It's fun to see a creative blog that keeps crafts reasonably priced to do. Keep it coming! :)

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  40. LOVE your door "S"! Might try that since my initials are BFS!!! GREAT idea! GREAT blog!

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  41. What an idea to do the monogram Christmas wreath. I like it! I'm so jealous of creative minds!!!

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  42. I LOVE this! I saw these letters today at Hobby Lobby and at the thrift store the other day, they had bunches of garland for less that a dollar! I showed this to my husband and he thought it was really cute too. I'm excited! Hopefully by the middle of the week, I'll have some of my projects posted with pictures. I've been getting crafty lately -- you inspire me :)

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  43. OH MY STARS...i'm adding you to my blog roll...thrifty... YES I GONNA HAVE TO READ YOU EVERYDAY!! Come see me if you want!

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  44. I am sooo Christmas crazy as is my whole family. Love to decorate every inch of the house for it, inside and out. But my one condition is I have to do it thrifty so I am soooooooooooooooooo
    glad I found your site. An early thanks for all the christmas decorating ideas!!

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  45. Just came across your blog. Love the monogram. Great idea to use the letters from Joannes. i was trying to figure out how to make me one-now I know.
    I know you don't know me-but I think that the "s" would be super cute with some ornaments and such. OUr dollar store has some awesome christmas decor-super cute, fuzzy, silvery ornaments, all kinds of snowflakes and such. So you could still stay on budget. After all, what the point of doing a craft if it can't be cheap and cute!!!
    Love your blog, thanks for sharing your ideas. Please, stop by and say hello. Love to make new friends!! (espescially ones that have great ideas that I can copy!)

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  46. beautiful letter deco!! Chrismtas already woooot!

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  47. Looks fab, and I am so trying this!

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  48. Now this I love! Very clever idea and I think it's much better than the standard wreath. I'm off to find cardboard letters. Awesome!

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  49. What an awesome idea! I love the letter and how great it looks on your door!

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  50. After my first comment I got to thinking about this. How would it look to hang the letter by the braided tassle that comes wrapped on a bolt by the yard?

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  51. I've subscribed to your blog...well, because your so great at what you share with us. Great ideas, tips and projects! I would love for you to visit me, but I know you must have tons of request. I'm trying to better my blog...now that's a work in progress. Hope to hear from you!

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  52. What a great idea! I'll definitely be copying this one. Ooh, it could be cool covered in moss too...of course I've been dying to cover something in moss :). Keep the ideas coming. You're very inspiring.

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  53. I love the monogram! I have a "retired" fake Christmas tree sitting in my garage that I've been supposed to trash for a year. I think I'm going to take short snips off of it, use a styrofoam wreath shape, and stick those twigs in to create a new wreath (or many!) to use in the house.

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  54. Well, aren't you pretty with your new photo/hairdo??? Not that you weren't before, you just look like you're going somewhere special!!! Do tell....NYC maybe???

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  55. Love the monogram "wreath" & I am soo making a C for me! Nice blog!

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  56. This seems like a project I might actually be able to accomplish. I don't know if my current owl wreath will work for Christmas :) Love the ideas here, I found you originally throught TCB and was so excited to see you featured on SITS as well. Craft on!

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  57. Love the "S"! It looks a lot more expensive than $12.00. Nice work! Iknow I paid 20 for half a tank the other night. Gas is down to $2.39 here.
    Come visit my blog. I love decorating too.
    Tammy

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  58. Hey, thanks for stopping by to see me again. Your blog is so cute & I love your new monogrammed garland wrapped letter. That's a great copy idea, I was just looking at those in Ballard's...the too expensive catalog that I drool over too.

    Hope you'll come back & see me often.

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  59. I linked to your blog in my post today!

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  60. I love your idea,I am going to attempt to make one. Ever since I have found your blog I have doing little projects around my home. Thanks for the ideas.

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  61. I love your idea,I am going to attempt to make one. Ever since I have found your blog I have doing little projects around my home. Thanks for the ideas.

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  62. Super, super cute. I think I'll do that too. I think I might wrap some letters for my girls too, but wrap them in a feater boa. Oh man, gotta go back to Hobby Lobby.

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  63. Hi, Thank you so much for stopping by my new blog! You're always welcome. :)Love your initial wreath. It's so pretty and creative! ~Warmly, Melissa

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  64. Love the lettering...totally going to try it myself. Love your blog.

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  65. Love the big monogram! I don't have a JoAnn's - I'll have to hunt for an R.
    Thanks for visiting my blog!

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  66. Thanks for visiting me and your nice compliments! I love your HoHoHo project. How clever!! I also love the garland covered letter. I might have to try that! I will have many more christmas decorating pics coming up,and I'm definitly going to put you on my following list so I don't miss any of your great ideas! Kristen

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  67. I SO love this!
    Nice Blog!

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  68. I love it! I so wish we had a Joanne's here because I can't find that large of letters at the craft stores in my town.

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  69. I'm so going to be doing this! Love it! Thanks for the tutorial!

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  70. I will totally show you the feather boa monograms if I can ever find some letters! This stupid little town totally stiffles my creative self, lol. I need a Jo-Anns nearby.

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  71. oh so cute! I am totally trying this letter... or you can send me the "S" and I won't have to make one ... hehehehehe .. no really I will try it because I have so much garland I don't use anymore, but won't throw it away 'cause my daddy gave it to me.

    Thanks for the inspiration!

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  72. LOVE THIS!!! So would it be cheesy to hang it on the outside?

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  73. I love that! Thank you so much for taking the mystery out of how to create something so fun!! I am saving this idea!! To make of course!
    Sincerely ~ Tricia Anne

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  74. I'm so glad I stumbled upon your blog. I love it! Thanks for the DIY instructions for the monogrammed door wreath. I have shared the information with my readers. Feel free to stop by any time!

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  75. Soooo cool!
    I'm totally inspired to try this now!
    It's meant to be that I found your site since I have extra garland sitting around anyway....woo hoo!!!

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  76. For the ribbon "fluffing" try using a heavy gauge fishing string for the actual hanging. Then do the ribbon in place, it will look like it is hanging from the ribbon without putting any stress on the ribbon.

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