The number one DIY I wanted to make this year is a DIY Vintage Jewelry Wreath. They’re so festive, sparkly, and fun to create! Especially when you get to treasure-hunt for secondhand brooches and earrings. Maybe you’re even lucky enough to have inherited a box of costume jewelry that would be perfect for this project!

If you’ve always wanted to make your own DIY Vintage Jewelry Wreath, this step-by-step guide will walk you through collecting the pieces, assembling the wreath, and adding those finishing touches that make it shine.

how to make a DIY Vintage Jewelry Wreath

SUPPLIES

• 10″ foam or grapevine wreath
• Ribbon (grosgrain, velvet, lace– anything pretty!)
• Hot glue gun & glue sticks
• Vintage brooches
• Clip-on or pierced earrings
• Twine for hanging
• Optional: bottle brush trees and clay bows
• Pliers (for removing earring backs if needed)

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step 1- Start Collecting Your Vintage Jewelry

The longest part of making a DIY Vintage Jewelry Wreath is definitely the collecting, but it’s also the most fun! Keep your eyes open while thrifting, wandering flea markets, and browsing antique shops.

Look for:

• Brooches
• Clip-on earrings
• Pierced earrings
• Charms & pendants
• Buttons
• Costume jewelry pieces

A few tips:

• Set a budget: I tried to stick to $1–$2 per piece, only splurging up to $3 if something was extra special.
• Think about your color palette before shopping. I wanted mostly metallics with pops of color- plus anything with rhinestones!
• You’ll need a lot more pieces than you think. My 10″ wreath needed over 100 items to look full.

step 2- Prepare the Wreath Base

Start with a 10″ wreath form. A foam wreath works best, but I found a grapevine wreath for $2 at the thrift store and made it work perfectly. It had some embellishments on it so I removed those first.

1. Wrap the wreath with ribbon until the base is fully covered.
2. Secure the ribbon on the back with hot glue.
3. Mix and match textures- I used pink grosgrain ribbon and pink-and-white lace.

Even at this step, the wreath already looks adorable!

step 3- Add Your Foundation Pieces

Before adding any jewelry, glue on your main focal points. For me, this included:

• A big ribbon bow centered at the bottom
• A cluster of bottle brush trees tucked inside the wreath
• A loop of twine at the top for hanging later

This gives your DIY Vintage Jewelry Wreath a sense of direction before you start layering on the sparkle. Plus you don’t want to cover up any broaches when adding these.

step 4- Add the Larger Jewelry Pieces

Begin with your biggest brooches.

• I attached them by pinning them directly into the wreath so they can be removed and reused later.
• Space them evenly around the wreath’s inner edge.

This creates a sturdy base to build on.

step 5- Layer in the Smaller Pieces

Now it’s time to fill every gap!

• Work from largest to smallest.
• For earrings, add hot glue to the back and press them into the ribbon.
• Use pliers to remove clip-on backs if needed—they lay flatter and glue on more cleanly.
• Continue adding pieces until your wreath feels full and sparkly.

I also used a few clay bows left over from another project to finish things off.

As you go, your DIY Vintage Jewelry Wreath will slowly transform into a glittering, vintage-inspired showstopper.

Tips for Making Your Arrangement Look Balanced

As you start adding jewelry, it’s helpful to keep a few design guidelines in mind so your wreath looks full, cohesive, and sparkly (not cluttered!).

Here’s what to keep in mind:

• Mix sizes- Start with larger brooches and layer smaller earrings and charms around them.
• Spread out your sparkle- Place rhinestone pieces in different areas of the wreath so the shine is evenly distributed.
• Use color with intention- Create a visual triangle when working in pops of color to keep the eye moving around the wreath.
• Step back often- Every 10-15 pieces, pause and look from a few feet away to check for balance.
• Rotate the wreath as you work so everything stays centered and even.

A little planning goes a long way toward creating a beautifully balanced DIY Vintage Jewelry Wreath.

Alternative Fillers if You Don’t Have Enough Jewelry

If you’re still collecting pieces or want to stretch your vintage finds a little further, mix in other small embellishments. These blend beautifully with brooches and earrings:

• Mini Christmas ornaments
• Pearls or beaded garlands
• Vintage buttons
• Rhinestone appliqués or trims
• Charms from old bracelets or necklaces
• Ribbon or clay bows
• Costume jewelry beads or cabochons

These fillers help bulk out your wreath while keeping the overall look cohesive and charming- without needing 100+ jewelry pieces.

Step 6- Display and Enjoy

Once everything is glued in place, hang your wreath on a door or wall and admire your handiwork. This is going to be so fun to pull out each year- a little time capsule of vintage sparkle and thrifted treasures.

A DIY Vintage Jewelry Wreath makes a beautiful holiday decoration, and it’s especially meaningful when crafted from inherited or sentimental jewelry pieces. Plus, it’s made almost entirely from secondhand materials!

after

I really love how this looks! It’s sparkly and very girly. However, the look could totally change with the ribbon and jewelry you use.

My wreath really blended in with my door so I layered it with another green wreath so it’d pop a bit more. It’s so cute to come home to!

Estimated Time + Cost

I always appreciate knowing what I’m getting myself into before starting a craft, so here’s a realistic breakdown:

• Jewelry collection time: I slowly gathered pieces over 4–5 weekends of antique shopping.
• Cost: I spent about $55 total on the vintage jewelry and the wreath. All other supplies were items I already had on hand.
• Assembly time: Once everything was ready, the wreath took 1–2 hours to assemble. It was pretty fast and very satisfying!

What do you think of the vintage jewelry wreath? Would you try this?

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