The assignment? Create a simple Christmas wreath that anyone can make at home to save money this season. And Dernell Browne of Francilia Interiors did not disappoint.
You may know her as the talented curator of those whimsical show windows at Norman Centre. We got the opportunity to witness her magic first-hand when she came into the Shopping Sense studio for this fun DIY.
This DIY Christmas wreath ticks all of the boxes when it comes to sustainability (while still being effortlessly glam!). Win!
What You’ll Need 
- Glue gun
- Wreath ring
- Craft wire
- Pliers
- Mod podge
- Gold spray paint
- Green leaves (Dernell got hers from a hedge in King George V Park!)
- Casuarina
- Baby’s breath
- Red solidago
- Pinecones
Pull it Together
- Paint some of the leaves with Mod Podge. It helps preserve the greenness plus gives it some festive sparkle.
- Spray some of the leaves with gold spray paint.
- Stick some green and brown leaves together using the glue gun and assemble around the ring, keeping the leaves facing outward.
- Apply leaves in a diagonal position to fill in the inside. Add some of the baby’s breath inside the leaves.
- Use craft wire to apply bunches of the casuarina to the wreath ring.
- Add the solidago and pinecones to complete the wreath.
Voila! Your very own Christmas wreath! Will you try this! Take a pic and share it with us on Instagram, using the hashtags #ShoppingSenseMag and #BTLifestyle.
Need to Know
Dernell is an accomplished interior designer, having studied at the prestigious New York School of Interior Design. What started as a one-time job decorating the Christmas tree for the show window years ago has turned into a fledgling side hustle, and she now decorates the windows every two months! We quizzed her about this year’s theme for the window, and it’s all about hope and comfort in these trying times. We can’t wait to see how she puts her spin on the theme!