EXPERTS TIPS For the beginner crafter

Here are tips for wreaths from experts and homeowners:
Use only fresh pine cones. Those on the ground will rot faster. If you prefer not to climb a tree, look for fresh cones knocked to the ground just after a storm.
Tight, light material is best for outdoor wreaths.
Dried material is available at craft and garden supply stores.
Add cedar, pine, magnolia and berries for a wreath that lasts through the holidays.
Ornamental grasses lend interesting shapes and textures to wreaths.
Preserved sheet moss, available at floral supply stores, lasts far longer than dried.
Keep foliage pliable for years by treating it with a mixture of 1 part glycerin to 2 parts water. This works well for magnolia, beech and some oak leaves. Cut the stems at an angle and leave the stems in the glycerin mixture. When the leaves have a supple, leathery quality, they're ready.
Mix textures for best effect: smooth leaves, nubby acorns and rough pine cones, for example.
Dried mushrooms offer texture and interesting shapes. Simply leave the mushrooms exposed to air to dry them.
Pick river oats when green, and they will dry green. Pick them when brown and they'll stay brown.
For longevity, hang wreaths in protected areas, out of direct sunlight. Wreaths with delicate components should stay inside. Southern or southeastern exposures will make outdoor wreaths dry out faster. Glue can deteriorate over time, especially when exposed to sun and wind.
Variety lends interest. While most wreaths take shape without much of a plan, decide at the start whether the wreath will be built around a focal point or if it will have material spaced evenly around it.
Use moss to cover flaws or bare spots.
A hot glue gun is a great tool. Other essentials are good needle-nose pliers, green florists' wire on a spool and wood picks for large, heavy items. Attach items to wood picks with hot glue to avoid putting a hole in them, which promotes decay.
To dry leaves and flowers, put half an inch of kitty litter in a box, place the items to be dried flat on top and cover with an inch of kitty litter. Let them sit for a couple of days (a bit longer for flowers) then carefully remove them. They will be brittle; spray with clear lacquer.
A wreath in the making takes on a life of its own. Just let it flow and things will come together.