Clear Bubble Wreath

This project has been one of my most favorite, but also the most tender. My dear friends lost their baby girl a week ago today. Ellie was a darling 15 month old and though she suffered with numerous health problems due to her genetic disorder, she was alert and active and so cute. The times I got to see her, she let me hold her which I found to be extremely lucky thing because of her anxiety towards unfamiliar faces. I felt lucky to know her.

I wanted to make an arrangement for the viewing to celebrate the life of this beautiful little girl. I wanted to create something that would be lasting and playful, and bring a smile to her family at such a difficult time.  Inspiration came from the fundraiser started by her family and friends called "Bubbles for Ellie". I wanted to create that same lightness and playfulness of bubbles in the wreath to honor her.

See below for options to donate to this family to help with  medical and funeral expenses. Any amount big or small will make a world of difference.

1- Ellie's Auction and Raffle Hurry! It ends Monday, September 8 @ 5:00 pm Mountain Time
2- To Donate through Paypal Click Here and send to scottnrachel@gmail.com
3- Through Utah Community Credit Union (UCCU) under the name of Ellie Murray
4- Take photos of your children blowing bubbles and use the hashtag #bubblesforellie to spread the word.

To create the wreath I headed to Hobby Lobby in hopes of finding some clear globes. Since it was the beginning of September I wasn't sure I would be able to find any clear Christmas ornaments. I will never complain about Christmas decorations being put out in stores in summer because I found EVERYTHING I needed and more.

Here is what you need:
1- Floral Pins (in the floral section of course, and I bought the value bag with 1 lb worth of pins to use for other projects)
2- 14" White Styrofoam Wreath Form (in the craft section of Hobby Lobby, by the t-shirts paints, etc.)
3- 4 Large Artificial Flowers
4- 1 Large Letter (in the wood section)
5- 4" Wired Ribbon in a coordinating color
6- 9 qty - 4" Clear Plastic Globes
7- 9 qty - 3" Clear Plastic Globes
8- 9 qty - 2-2.5" Clear Plastic Globes
9- 72 (or 6 - 12 packs) 1.5" Clear Plastic Globes
10- Hot Glue Gun

Instructions:

Begin by painting the letter (since it takes the longest to dry.)

If the clear ornaments have a wire base then glue around the base and loop area of the ornament to keep them from pulling apart later. (See blue areas.)

Starting with 6 of  the largest 4" globes, loop a floral pin through the bottom loop of the ornament and secure into the foam. Space them evenly around the form. (You will have 3 remaining that you will use later.)Make sure to keep one section clear to put the flowers and letter. (See pink area on wreath above.)

Next Pin the second largest 3" globes next to each of the 4" globes, and then repeat the same with the 2.5" globes so you have 6 sets of 3 globes in 3 largest sizes.

Keep one section clear for the flower. Fill in the other spaces with the remaining larger bulbs. This is where you use a little artistic placement to your liking. Once all your larger bulbs are placed, trim the stems of your artificial flowers to 4". Arrange by sticking the stem into the foam and once you have the right placement put a dab of glue around the base of where the stem enters the foam. Then fill in the remaining space with the smallest globes.  (A helpful tip: cluster 2-3 globes on a pin to help the cluster tighter so that you can cover up the other pins so only globes are showing. 

The globes tend to shift so where they meet put a very small dab of glue to secure them to each other. (See the blue areas, but continue to attach all of them together)

Cut 36" of the wired ribbon and loop it through the wreath about a 1/4 of the way from the top of the flowers. Tie in a square knot leaving plenty of ribbon for tails. Shape and bend the tails as seen below. Hang the wreath up and then see how you want to position the letter once you know how it hangs.

Does it look like the most bubbly bath is popping up around the wreath?  I love it. Every time I look at it, it makes me smile. With any project I am working on for the first time, I second guess myself a million times. This is good and bad. Its good because I look at the criticisms and concerns I have and by anticipating them I can prevent problems from popping up. Its bad, because sometimes when I am in the thick of a project, I am tempted to give up for fear of failing with the final product. So if you are like me on that account persevere, don't give up, and make it beautiful!  Thank you Ellie, for being my inspiration!