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Craft Stick Christmas Wreath with Sage Green and Cream Ribbon
Make a simple Christmas wreath from wooden craft sticks, a cardboard ring, and a little ribbon. This craft stick Christmas wreath alternates natural wood with muted sage green, creating a sunburst around an open center. A small cream bow and three red felt berries add a festive finish without covering the handmade structure.
The project suits older children working with an adult, or anyone who enjoys straightforward holiday decorating. Painting and arranging the sticks takes most of the active making time. There are also pauses for paint and glue to dry, so plan to work in short sessions rather than expecting to hang the wreath immediately.
- Difficulty:
- Easy to medium
- Recommended age:
- 7+ with adult supervision
- Time needed:
- About 40–50 minutes of active making, plus paint and glue-drying time
- Main materials:
- Wooden craft sticks, cardboard ring, sage-green paint, cream ribbon, red felt, craft glue
- Finished craft:
- A rustic Christmas wreath for an indoor door or wall
Materials You Will Need
- About 24 jumbo wooden craft sticks, approximately 15 × 1.8 cm; have a few spares for spacing adjustments
- One sturdy cardboard ring, approximately 22 cm across with a 14 cm opening
- Matte sage-green paint suitable for wood and appropriate for the maker's age
- About 60 cm of cream woven ribbon, approximately 2.5 cm wide, for the bow
- About 20 cm of narrow cream ribbon for the hanging loop
- A small red felt scrap for three berry circles
- Two small cardstock scraps to reinforce the hanging ribbon on the back
- Craft glue labeled for wood, cardboard, ribbon, and felt
- Scrap paper to protect the table while painting
With 15 cm sticks positioned at a 7 cm inner radius, the planned outer diameter is approximately 44 cm. Actual size depends on your stick length and placement. The tutorial photographs illustrate the arrangement rather than a measured cutting pattern. Leave small, even gaps between rays and adjust the stick count in natural-and-green pairs if needed.
Tools You Will Need
- Pencil and ruler
- Two round objects, or a compass, to trace the ring
- Scissors suitable for ribbon and felt
- Paintbrush and a small paint container
An adult should cut the cardboard opening. If scissors cannot cut it comfortably, the adult can use an appropriate craft knife on a cutting mat; keep that tool away from children. Check wooden sticks for splinters and discard damaged ones. Use adhesive and paint according to their labels. Hot glue is not necessary for this version.
How to Make the Craft Stick Christmas Wreath
1Step 1: Prepare the Cardboard Ring and Supplies
Trace a 22 cm outer circle on sturdy cardboard, then trace a centered 14 cm circle inside it. Cut out the ring so the supporting band is about 4 cm wide all the way around. Keep the ring flat and check that it does not bend easily.
Sort the sticks into two similar groups. Set the ribbon, felt, and reinforcement scraps aside. Before painting, arrange a few sticks on the ring to check the fit: each inner rounded end should sit close to the opening edge, while the stick extends outward across the cardboard band. There needs to be enough contact for the glue to hold.
2Step 2: Paint Half the Sticks Sage Green
Protect the table with scrap paper. Paint about half the sticks sage green, keeping the coat thin and even. Leave the other half natural wood. Let the painted sticks dry separately so their edges do not stick together.
Paint any visible edges if you want a more even finish, but avoid thick paint buildup. Follow the paint label before handling or gluing. If your adhesive requires a bare contact surface, keep the small underside section that will touch the cardboard unpainted. Drying time is additional to the active making estimate.
3Step 3: Begin the Alternating Stick Pattern
Dry-fit the whole circle first. Alternate natural and green sticks with their inner ends following the opening and their outer ends forming rays. Keep the gaps similar. A pencil mark at the top and bottom can help you judge the two halves.
Once the arrangement works, glue the left half in place, working from the top around to the bottom. Apply glue only where the underside of each stick touches the ring. Press gently and let each stick stay still while you move to the next. The right half of the cardboard remains bare in this stage.
4Step 4: Complete the Wreath and Prepare the Decorations
Continue the same alternating pattern around the right half. Adjust the spacing before the glue sets so the final gap looks similar to the others. The cardboard may show between the sticks; it is the supporting base and can remain part of the rustic design.
While the wreath rests flat, tie the wide cream ribbon into a small bow. Make two loops, tie them together as you would shoelaces, and adjust until they look balanced. Trim the tails short enough to suit the wreath. Cut three felt circles; if you begin with larger rough circles, trim them to about 1.5–2 cm for the finished berries. Prepare the narrow ribbon as a hanging loop.
5Step 5: Add the Bow, Berries, and Hanging Loop
After the stick adhesive has cured enough to handle, glue the bow at the bottom of the wreath. Place the three felt berries just above the bow knot in a compact triangle. Use small amounts of glue and keep the circular opening clear.
Turn the wreath over carefully, supporting the cardboard rather than lifting by a stick. Glue the two ends of the narrow hanging ribbon to the back at the top, with several centimeters of contact. Glue a cardstock patch over each end to reinforce it. Allow these joints and the decorations to cure completely according to the adhesive label.
Before hanging, hold the wreath over a soft surface and gently check the loop and stick joints. If anything lifts or shifts, repair it and allow more curing time. The finished wreath belongs indoors, where cardboard, paint, and ribbon stay dry.
Helpful Tips for Making This Craft
Use similar-sized sticks so the outer edge looks balanced. A dry fit is especially useful if your sticks are narrower or shorter than the suggested jumbo size. Change the count in pairs to preserve the two-color pattern.
Avoid moving the ring while gluing. Wet adhesive can let the sticks slide and change the spacing. Keep the wreath flat during curing, and use a glue intended for the actual surfaces instead of assuming every school glue will hold wood and fabric equally well.
Easy Ways to Customize the Craft
Try deep forest green instead of sage, or keep every stick natural and change the ribbon color. You could also replace the red felt berries with three small white felt circles for a quieter winter look.
For a smaller wreath, use shorter sticks and reduce the ring diameter together. Check the overlap before gluing; simply shrinking the ring without considering the stick width can make the center crowded. These are optional variations rather than the supplied design.
Where to Use or Display It
Hang the wreath on an indoor wall, a cupboard door, or an interior door using a hook suited to its actual weight. Avoid a frequently slammed door that could shake the glued joints. It also makes a handmade gift when fully cured and packed carefully.
Store the wreath flat in a shallow box with space around the outer stick ends. Keep heavy items off the bow and avoid damp storage areas, which may soften the cardboard.
Final Thoughts
1Step 1
This craft stick Christmas wreath combines a simple repeating pattern with a soft ribbon finish. Take time to dry-fit the sticks and cure the glue, then enjoy displaying a holiday decoration you assembled yourself.
