Let’s talk wreath making tools. With so many different tools and gadgets available today, what do you need? What do you not need?
After 3 years of wreath making, below is my curated a list of must-have tools that both new and seasoned wreath makers should have to make beautiful, designer-quality wreaths.
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Must-Have Wreath Making Tools
1. Scissors
The first must-have wreath making tool on the list is a great pair of high-quality scissors.
While any sharp pair of scissors can get the job done, The Original-Handled scissors made my Fiskars are the best I’ve tried. I especially like how the handle is contoured to the shape of your hand and after a long day of wreath making – ergonomics matter!
These won’t break the bank and work extremely well cutting ribbon, tags and packaging with ease. The key is using the right tools for the job and in order to keep your scissors nice and sharp, avoid cutting things like hard plastic floral stems and wire. Instead use wire cutters, more on those later.
2. Rotary Cutter
Another time saving tool I use time and time again is a rotary cutter.
Originally these were designed to cut fabric, but they also cut both deco mesh and burlap in a fraction of the time all while minimizing the inevitable fraying.
Just like cutting wrapping paper with scissors, you know how jagged the edges can get and the same happens when using scissors to cut deco mesh. Do yourself a favor and use a rotary cutter instead. You’ll get a clean cut every time!
3. Cutting Mat
Of all the tools listed on this page, a cutting mat is arguably one of the most important given it’s multiple uses.
Aside from protecting your work surface and extending the life of your rotary cutter, this 24″ x 36″ Fiskars self-healing cutting mat also has a grid which also helps with measuring strips of deco mesh, bow loops and ribbon tails on the fly.
I especially like the extra-large size of this mat because it helps to contain the inevitable mess we often make and when pairing that with it’s flexibility – clean up is a breeze!
4. Wire Cutters
Another wreath making tool that you should invest in is a good pair of wire cutters.
While we’re not going to be doing any electrical work, wire cutters are essential for cutting florist wire and excellent for cutting floral bushes and sprays that have hard plastic and wired stems.
I use Dewalt’s 10-inch wire cutters and the diagonal blade makes it easy to get in those tight spaces between branches on floral bushes. After using these for years now, they are still as sharp as when I first bought them.
5. Hot Glue Gun
Glue guns are essential when it comes to wreath making as they are needed to attach florals, greenery and other elements to both grapevine and deco mesh wreath bases.
When choosing a glue gun, you’ll want to avoid the small glue guns that look like their for children and instead choose one that’s professional grade. Professional grade glue guns tend to be larger, thus easier on your hands when using them for extended periods of time.
This is the one I’ve been using for a while now. Don’t forget to pick up some Gorilla Hot Glue Sticks while you’re at it!
6. Glue Skillet
I’ll admit, I was a little late jumping on the glue skillet bandwagon but once I did there was no looking back!
Throw some glue sticks into the skillet, turn it on and wait for them to melt. Once ready, dip your floral stems in the glue and then add them to your wreath. It’s really that simple!
While it does come down to preference on whether to use a glue gun or a glue skillet, if you’re working on a project and need a lot of glue fast, a glue skillet is a time saver!
Here is the skillet I use. Don’t forget the Gorilla Hot Glue Sticks!
7. Staple Gun
Most wooden signs come with only one hanger on the back and some don’t include a hanger at all. How do you attach pipe cleaners (or florist wire) to the back of a sign in order to secure it to your wreath? A staple gun!
I’ve been using this Dewalt staple gun for years.
One thing to keep in mind is the length of the staples. Most signs are very thin and you’ll want to avoid using a staple gun that requires long staples – they’ll poke through the front of your sign!
8. Metal Hole Punch
We discussed above how to attach wire to wooden signs, but let’s say you need to attach a metal sign to a wreath. How do you do it? A metal hole punch.
This handy tool allows you to quickly add holes to a metal sign so you can wire it to your wreath base.
Make sure you buy one that punches small holes that can be hidden by other elements on your wreath. Here’s the one I use.
9. Florist Wire
Another essential when it comes to your wreath making toolbox is florist wire.
Florist wire has a lot of different uses, but typically when it comes to wreath making its primary use is to attach signs, ornaments, bows and other elements to a wreath frame.
It also comes in several different gauges, I’ve found 22 gauge florist wire is sufficient for most projects.
10. Floral Tape
Floral tape comes in handy when you’re adding wooden floral picks to stems.
Floral tape comes in a variety of colors to help you camouflage the mechanics of your wreath. I picked up this combo pack which includes various shades of green, brown and white. The color you use will depend on the color scheme of your wreath.
11. Wood Floral Picks
Whether you need to add some length to a floral stem you cut too short or “bulk up” floral stems that are a little too thin, look no further than wood floral picks!
Wood floral picks come in a variety of lengths, 2.5″ – 3″ works well for most projects.
Also, to save time when you’re in a pinch, make sure to get the picks with wire pre-attached!