DIY Chiquita Banana Welcome Wreath

Hi, I’m Vanessa, and I’m slightly addicted to crafting and doing it myself. I have battle scars from my glue gun and remnant glitter specks in every crevice of my house to prove it. When I’m not busy wrangling up a toddler, you can usually find me buried under craft supplies in my mess of a craft room. Creativity has always been a big piece of who I am, ever since my dad introduced me to my first set of watercolors.

When my son Logan was born, it was love at first sight but it was also incredibly overwhelming. I started losing track of myself, I stopped creating. I didn’t know how to be a mother and be myself at the same time. I didn’t know it was possible. It only took me a year to realize that not only is it possible, it’s necessary. A little time spent in my craft room and I’m me again. Crafting is therapeutic and cheaper than therapy. Now that Logan’s a bit older, I’ve enjoyed sharing my passion with him and watching him create.

Heat up those glue guns mamas, it’s time for some “me time”. We’re making a welcome wreath – Chiquita Banana style! It might just inspire you to throw a Chiquita Banana party. You can serve your guests Chiquita Banana Berry Coladas and Cream Cheese Chiquita Banana Turnovers. Welcome to the Chiquita Moms community, I can’t wait to get to know you!

Wreath Materials
Foam Wreath Form (I used a 14 inch wreath)
Blue Yarn

Felt Flower Materials
2 – 8.5×11 White & Yellow Felt Sheets
1 – 8.5×11 Green Felt Sheet
Glue Gun
Scissors
Circle Stencil (I used a soup can)

Welcome Bunting Materials
Yellow Cardstock Paper
Blue Letter Stickers
Blue Yarn (25 inches long)
Scissors
Pen or Pencil

Chiquita Banana Materials
Paper Mache Banana (can be found at your local craft store)
Glitter (Yellow, Green & Brown)
Glitter Glue (I used Mod Podge)
Chiquita Banana Sticker
Sponge Brush

Directions
Step 1: Knot the beginning of the yarn to the wreath, making a loop for hanging purposes. Wrap yarn neatly all the way around the wreath and secure the end to the wreath with a knot.

Step 2: To make the welcome bunting, first draw and cut out a flag template. For the template, fold a piece of cardstock in half and use a straight edge to draw a simple triangle at the fold. Cut out the triangle, leaving the fold untouched, so when you open it you will have a symmetrical flag. Trace the flag template onto yellow cardstock 7 times and then cut out the flags. Fold and glue the flags in half, sandwiching a piece of 25 inch blue yarn in the center of the fold. Add W-E-L-C-O-M-E sticker letters to the bunting flags and tie the ends of the yarn to each side of the wreath.

Step 3: To make felt flower embellishments, trace circles (I used a soup can) onto the yellow and white felt sheets. You can experiment with different sized circles. The larger the circle, the larger the flower. Next, cut spirals into the felt circles, leaving a little circle of felt in the middle. Starting from the outside of the spirals, wrap until you reach the little circle of felt at the end. Place dots of hot glue in between the felt layers. Secure the end of the felt to the bottom of the flower using hot glue. Attach flowers in bunches to the wreath using hot glue.

Step 4: To make felt leaves, cut a leaf shape out of green felt. Pinch the bottom of the leaf in half and add a dot of hot glue in between the fold to add dimension to the leaf. Attach leaves in between flowers using hot glue.

Step 5: To make the Chiquita banana embellishment, add glue to the paper mache banana in small patches using a sponge brush. Add glitter to the glue patches, shake off excess glitter and continue until the entire banana is covered in glitter. I used green and brown glitter at the tips of the banana for a more realistic look. Once dry, attach a Chiquita Banana sticker to the glittered banana using glue. Attach the glittered Chiquita Banana to the wreath using hot glue.

Step 6: Hang on your door and admire.