Top 15 Wreath Making Tools Needed for Beginners
If you’re new to wreath making, it can get overwhelming to know what wreath making tools of the trade you need and don’t need. Here are my top 15 most important tools to buy when you’re first starting to make wreaths. These tools will make wreath making much more enjoyable. This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
My top 15 Wreath Making Tools for Beginners
1. Wire Cutters – Great wire cutters are a necessity for your wreath making tools. They are used to cut wire but they also help to cut thick silk flower stems. I suggest using wire cutters made for electrical work and not using the typical wire cutters used for general work. Electrical wire cutters tend to work better on heavy wired silk flower stems and provide a great angle giving you the exact cut you need. You may have noticed my wire cutters used in all of my DIY videos. Greenlee is my favorite brand and I’ve had these for almost ten years now.
2. Rotary Cutter – A rotary cutter is a tool created for cutting fabric but it can be a tremendous time saver when cutting deco mesh for your wreaths. Instead of scissors, use a sharp rotary cutter which not only saves time but also helps to cut down on the fraying that happens when you cut deco mesh.
3. 1.5mm Metal Hole Punch – Another wreath making tool I can’t live without is a metal hole punch. This tool was designed to help jewelry makers but I love to use it when making wreaths too. It’s job? To make quick holes in metal signs so that I can attach wire to the signs. Brilliant I tell you…brilliant! Before I learned about this tool, I was using the hub’s drill which was a pain. I had to find the right drill bit and then remember how to change them out. This tool is a total game changer!
4. Scissors – Scissors are used to cut ribbon and mesh. Never use scissors to cut your silk flowers and always use titanium so the hot glue and tape will peel right off.
5. Self Healing Gridded Utility Mat – This mat is great for protecting my table when making my wreaths. I also use the ruler for everything from measuring ribbon and mesh to measuring a box I want to ship. I’ve also marked my most frequently used measurements right on the mat with a sharpie for a quick reference. For example, 10” for cutting mesh, 13” for cutting ribbon, etc.
6. High Temperature Professional Glue Gun – Of course you can’t go without a glue gun in your wreath making tools. A glue gun is used to attach flowers to wreaths. Make sure to get a high temperature glue gun and use it liberally so your flowers won’t fall out. There’s really no need for an expensive glue gun when you’re starting out but you do NEED a larger more professional gun, not the small crafters glue guns. I sometimes have 3 of these going at the same time during the busy season since they do take time to heat the glue stick.
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7. Glue Gun Mat – When using a glue gun, it can get very hot. Not only that but it can tip over or drip glue from the end. So in order to protect your table, I suggest using a silicon glue gun mat. This is different than a utility mat noted above. Take it from me, hot glue does not remove from a utility mat and the heat will warp it so use a glue gun mat too. Plus, the little accessories that come in the kit help to prevent glue gun burns.
8. Florist Wire – Florist wire is used for wiring signs and elements into your wreaths. I recommend 22-gauge wire.
9. Greening Pins – Greening pins are great for attaching items like ribbon or mesh to Styrofoam or straw wreath bases. Also when I have styrofoam ornaments, I can attach a wire to the foam using a greening pin. Here’s a tip, once the greening pin is attached, you can put hot glue on top of it for added security.
10. Wood Floral Picks – When floral stems are too thin they won’t stay in a grapevine wreath no matter how much glue you add. Therefore, a floral pick will need to be added. Floral picks are also good for those stems that shrivel up when you add hot glue to the stem or if you need to lengthen a stem that you’ve cut too short. You can watch a video here of me using wooden floral picks.
11. Floral Tape – Floral tape is used for added security when using wooden floral picks and it comes in several colors. I use green for evergreen wreaths, brown for grapevine wreaths and white for flocked wreath bases. Floral tape gets sticky once you stretch the tape and therefore sticks to itself.
12. Bow Maker – Making bows is one of the hardest things to master for new wreath makers. Even though, I’ve never used a bow making machine, lots of newbies swear by this bow maker. No matter if you decide to use a bow maker or learn without one, either way it will take lots of practice to master a pretty bow.
13. Heavy Duty Stapler – When attaching wooden signs to your wreaths, use a heavy duty staple gun to attach a pipe cleaner or florist wire to the back of the sign. Make sure to put hot glue on top of the staple for added security. For really thin signs where the staple might go through to the front, you can build it up on the back with ribbon or use a zip tie mounts.
14. Zip Ties – I use zip ties for lots of things including attaching floral sprays to wreaths, signs, floral sprays for lantern swags, and for securing heavier items to wreaths.
15. Steel Pick Machine – While a steel pick machine is not necessarily one of the top wreath making tools for beginners, it does speed up the wreath making process. It quickly attaches a steel floral pick to flower stems. You can choose to use this instead of wooden floral picks. It’s a pricey investment but it does save lots of time and comes in very handy if you decide to do more floral arranging.
I hope these tools will help you on your wreath making journey. Hey, what’s your favorite wreath making tool?
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Julie,
Excellent article. I wished I had had this list when I first started my wreath making business. I had no idea what I needed or why !
Thanks so much !
~ Janna
Thanks for these wreath maker tools. I love your suggestions and your wreaths are such on source of inspiration.
where do I get the bow maker tool
amazon.
Can you use the 1.5 metal hole punch for thin wood signs too?
Yes.
Where can you buy wreath forms I’m looking for a 20” wall tree form please
Where do you get supplies
Several places
That metal hole punch is awesome. I didn’t know why I would ever need it but I use it all the time. I pounce holes in cardboard, thin metal signs, witch hats, and whatever else I need a hole in. Thank you for the tip.
Thank you so much for the tool list.. Needed a few of these items desperately 🙂 Hoping to join your club soon.. Your tutorials have been a blessing to me..
Love all this. I have almost all of it. Hoping I can eventually pay once a month to get in your Wreathing club so I can learn more. Practicing with my probow the hand. Harder than it looks. But watching the videos till I get it. Once I get something I love it. Not fun when in the curves?. Glad afterwards.
Love all you do. Want to learn as much as I can.
I enjoyed getting these tips on the tools to get for wreath making. Thank you for the help
I have seen videos and notice when you glue flowers you have a rectangle pot with glue in it. What is that tool? Where can I buy it?
Thank you,
Lisa
I purchased an electric skillet from walmart and put glue in it.
Love your work! I am starting to sell my wreaths and have heard heard comments about items coming off in cold or hot temps. Horrified! Any special kind of hot glue and/or electric pot?
Thank you,
Kathy
High temperature Gorilla Glue sticks is what I use.
Julie thank you so much for all the info it was so helpful to me. love all your wreaths they are so beautiful. I know for a fact God gave you this beautiful gift to use to put a smile on people. God Bless
Thank you. I love your tutorials. You a great teacher and your work is exquisite!
Hi Julie, I discovered your website and tutorials recently and have found your tutorials intriguing, so much so I’m considering giving it a try. I love all the beautiful pieces. I especially appreciate your list of supplies for beginners. I found this so useful. I, also, noticed in your tutorials that you use a tripod with what appears to be an adjustable peg. Where can I purchase a tripod like this? I look forward to seeing more of you tutorials.
Yes I to was wondering where I can get a tripod like you use also
I’ve looked almost everywhere thank you..
Denise
I give a list of my equipment here http://southerncharmwreaths.com/gear/
Enjoyed the color wheel ….artical
Want to know if there is a good spray sealant for outdoor wreaths and bows….uv and waterproof?
I don’t spray mine but test your product before spraying on a whole finished wreath.
Thinking of selling wreaths and wondering what type of adhesive to use…in your experience are customers bothered if the back of the wreath is unsightly? For instance if there are zip ties, floral wire and whatnot all over the back. Hot glue seems the most aesthetically pleasing, it I just hope it holds up..
Definitely hot glue and the back should not be unsightly if you’re selling to customers.
Hey, Julie do you know what the name of those sticky back attachments you can put pipe cleaners too that you can adhere to metal signs? I can’t remember.
HI Julie! I’m new to making wreaths and this was one of the most helpful posts I’ve read. Not only did you tell us what tool, you included why you would need it! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Thank you for the great tiips. I have a question.
Does anyone know where to find round metal wreath signs at wholesale prices . Buying retail is so costly for seliing tje finished product.
Any suggestions are appeciated.
Thank you for the list of tools you need i’m a beginner and had no idea of what i needed. I have been watching you on you tube and have learned alot if you are a beginner can you use deco mess from dollar tree toyou get going are doyou suggest getting somewhere else thanks
Hello I can’t get enough of your videos ❤️❤️❤️
So happy I’ve found you , such an amazing person and teacher your the best thank you ?
Hi Julie,
My favorite is the Greenlee wire cutters! Those suckers let me, with my arthritic hands, cut thru the largest stems! I love them! Before I got those, on your recommendation, my husband had to cu my stems. I thought, with my hands, I would be dependent on him always helping me but these wire cutters set me free! Seriously these though, they are just that good!
Great tips!! Thank you so much. I knew I needed a few of the items this helps me allot. I love reading your testimonies and I can relate to so many especially the fear post. You are giving me the confidence I need. I wasn’t aware others have these fears or had them. Especially someone as good as you are.. I always worry mine aren’t good enough, nobody would want one. Even though my family and friends tell me they are.. Thank you so much again
How easy are the plies type punches to operate? I am worried I didn’t have enough hand strength to operate a plier style punch. I already own the other supplies (and yes, buy electrician wire cutters).
Not too bad for thin tin signs
What is a good size for boxes?
Penny – You may find this post useful: https://southerncharmwreaths.com/how-to-box-a-wreath-for-shipping/
Hi, I am Marj Lee, I watch you every day, and you are teaching me lots. I watched the walkthrough of your space, and I think I really need the whatever you call it that you can hang many wreaths on with an s hook. I would really appreciate your help with this. I have limited closet space, so this wall hanging thing would really work for me. Thanks in advance.
Sinc
Hey Marj Lee – It is called a hanging gridwall.
I recently purchased a pick machine on EBay from some guy in Canada. However, the weight was missing and he offered no help. Where can I purchase parts for this machine or is there an alternative I can fashion to do the job?
I’m not sure. I would report the this as they didn’t sell you the completed machine.
Julie, I am very new at making wreaths but my favorite is floral design with grapevine wreaths. However, I am getting orders for the burlap flowers. I have 2 questions: is it imperative that you use poly burlap mesh or will other types work and if so which? Also what is the white plastic with the little squares in it that you make a circle out of to put on the back of a wire frame? I have already watched your beginner tutorials twice and learn something new each time! Thank you so much!
I do not make the flowers as they are too time-consuming to make for what people will pay and don’t last long when hung outdoors. Therefore, I can’t really answer this.
Excellent information! Thank you Julie
Thank you, Julie for all of your suggestions. I do have all you list with the exception of the pic machine. I’m sure as I move along on this journey, I will invest in one. I’ve been using stems that I’ve cut, taken floral tape and attached to the object to place on the wreath. so far, no problems, but I think the machine would be better. I’m not totally new with wreathing, but definitely need more guidance. Took a class last summer with deco mesh. Fell in love with that and made multiple deco mesh wreaths. I then started playing with grapevines and have really enjoyed that. I recently semi-retired and needed a ‘hobby’ to occupy all the extra time. Well, looks like I have found my hobby, actually, it’s become a passion in wreath making. I’m so inspired and find your creations to be beyond gorgeous!! You have an excellent teaching ability and make everything look easy. Well, I’ve found what you see as easy isn’t necessarily easy when you go to put it together. It’s hard!! Again, thank you for so generously sharing your talents. Looking forward to joining one of your groups.
What size staples do I need to purchase? TIA!
Here is a link to the staples Julie uses in her staple gun: https://amzn.to/2PSOkjb
Julie, you are a Blessing in my life and many others as I read these posts. Your teaching ability & presentation style is so natural, it has to be a gift from God. And to share with us is wonderful on your part. Please keep these magnificent beauties coming on youtube. I love everything you share and Thank You for your kindness and generosity.