Rally 'round the wreaths!; Handmade wreaths express your household's spirit

A holiday wreath is one of the season's most decorative elementsand can extend your indoor holiday theme and colors all the way outyour front door. This year, make your own wreath and begin a holidaytradition to express your individual style.

"Go wild; be creative when making a wreath," said MaryAnn Lee,Dry Creek Garden plant manager at Dry Creek Garden in Reno, Nev.

The foundation of a wreath is its greenery, and good choicesabound. Anything evergreen will work; juniper, pine and spruce allprovide a beautiful green background. Euonymus works well if youwant a bit of natural color in your wreath. But if it's fragranceand sophistication you seek, go with Douglas fir or eucalyptus,precut into eight- to twelve-inch lengths. And of course, you canalways substitute realistic artificial branches for natural ones.

Michaels, Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts and other hobby stores havean amazing array of items available to customize wreaths, from bowsand ribbons to seasonal fruits and toys. Here's how to create yourwreath:

1. Buy a frame at a craft store.

2. Cut several strips of wire and secure them to your wreathframe. To determine how many strips of wire to cut, measure yourframe. You'll need a wire-wrap every 3 to 6 inches. Each wire mustbe long enough to go around and through the frame, allow room towrap around a bunch of evergreens, then to twist-tie. Every frame isdifferent, so cut a few test wires and do practice wraps before youcut all of your wires to size. Once you're set on the size, wrap thewires around the frame, securing them out of sight in the back.Leave the wires sticking up so they're ready to wrap around thegreenery.

3. Bunch and overlap your greenery. For a lush effect, bunch twoor three of your green cuttings together and place them on theframe, positioning the largest cutting on the bottom. Wrap pre-secured wires around the bunch to hold it in place. Position yournext greenery bunch so that it overlaps the first, hiding the wires.Do this until you have covered the frame. As you work in yourbunches, look at your wreath from the side as well as from thefront.

4. Add extras. For a traditional wreath, Lee suggests Christmastree balls, silk poinsettias and red berries. Try grouping yourelements in threes and avoid placing them in a row, Lee says. Also,stay away from scattering them willy-nilly across the wreath.Instead, try angling elements to the side and grouping them. Thefinal touch usually is a bow, which anchors the wreath and tells theonlooker what's top or bottom.

5. Hang your creation. Add a wire hook to the back and you areready to hang your wreath.

Wreaths last longest outdoors on a shaded front door. Evergreenwreaths can last up to two weeks indoors, but expect them to dry outfaster in highly heated rooms. Never put them over a fireplace; theycan catch fire.