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super simple coffee cardboard recycled wreath tutorial
It's Wreath Week over at Dollar Store Crafts! Great timing, as just a few days ago, in a burst of Christmas decorating, I made a wreath of my own... using the cardboard sleeves from disposable coffee cups.

I hate the waste of disposable coffee cups. But coffee is also an essential part of my morning commute, and sometimes I forget my stainless steel coffee thermos. I started to collect the coffee sleeves in a drawer of my desk at work - partly to remind myself how much waste builds up over the course of a year - and partly to reuse them at a later date in some craft project that I'd eventually dream up.

The variety of colours and textures that these things are made of is actually quite lovely. Like little swatches of cardboard.

I also have a bit of a history with cardboard coffee sleeves: a couple of years ago, I made a whole quilt out of coffee sleeves.

I didn't take any step-by-step photos while I was making the wreath, but it is super easy to make. Here's how...

Posted by Siobhan from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Published See Siobhan's 2 projects »
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  • Step 1

    Plug in your glue gun!

  • Step 2

    Cut out a ring of cardboard from the back of an old cereal box. I used two bowls to outline the circles before cutting. You really don't need to be very precise though, as the circle will be totally covered when you're done.

  • Step 3

    Take your cardboard coffee sleeves, and cut out leaf shapes. You don't need a template for this either. Try to vary the sizes of the leaves, so you can tuck some little ones in among the larger leaves.

  • Step 4

    With your glue gun, put a dab of glue on a leaf, then stick it down onto the ring. You want to glue onto the "advertising" side of the cardboard (ie. where it says the name of the coffee shop), so the finished wreath is plain cardboard.

  • How to make a paper wreath. Coffee Cardboard Recycled Wreath - Step 5
    Step 5

    Repeat with all the leaves, gradually layering them. Vary the angles of the leaves to create an organic, branchy look. Also mix up the sizes, colours and textures of the leaves as you go.

  • How to make a paper wreath. Coffee Cardboard Recycled Wreath - Step 6
    Step 6

    Tie on a ribbon, and you're good to go!

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Comments

Steph.
Steph. · Reading, England, GB · 212 projects
Oh, it's a shame I don't drink coffee Tongue But it does look really lovely - you did a great job on it Happy
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JennBunny
JennBunny · Hudson, Florida, US · 1 project
Very nice...You did a great job!
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Maria K.
Maria K. · New York, New York, US · 2 projects
I love this! Who knew coffee cup warmers could be so beautiful! Happy
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Shannon L.
Shannon L. · Ottawa, Ontario, CA · 14 projects
this is beautiful! modern recycled chiq.
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Siobhan
Siobhan · Vancouver, British Columbia, CA · 2 projects
Hi Scarlet-Begonias

The number of sleeves you need really depends on how big you want the wreath to be. I made a small one, so I probably used bits and pieces from maybe 5 sleeves. You'll need to pick them up from a few places to get the mixture of textures though.
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Scarlet-Begonias
Scarlet-Begonias · Everett, Washington, US · 15 projects
About how many sleeves did you use? I'd like to know about how many I should collect so I can finish it all at once. Happy
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cindi r.
cindi r. · Rio Dell, California, US
I love this! It's a great way to use those "throw away" sleeves and it's stinkin' cute to boot. Great job.
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DIS.AR.RAY
DIS.AR.RAY · Las Vegas, Nevada, US · 32 projects
thats amazing. The different cardboard patterns makes it look really magnificent. I think that if it was just the same cardboard pieces, it wouldn't be nearly as amazing [its still an amazing idea of course, but the added aestetic affect is really incredible]. Mucho Gracias for the how-to
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Melanie M.
Melanie M.
WOW! Very creative...and lovely to boot.
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CO + K User

Cool! I love the effect of the different colours and textures=)
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