So you may or may not have noticed that Sara does all the little crafty tutorials on our blog. That is because I am not crafty. When I was little, I took sewing classes and the teacher told me I was literally the first person she’d ever taught that “failed” the first day. Crafts are messy. They take a long time. They require some kind of spatial understanding that I don’t seem to possess. For me, they almost always end in sadness and regret.
However…if a craft is cheap and easy enough (quiet, all of you who snickering dirtily right now), I can be convinced, even excited, to be crafty.
I saw this wreath on my friend Liz’s blog, who found it on her friend Lindsay’s blog, who, incidentally, posted about our balloon wreath in the same post! Small world, right? Anyway, I would (and still will if you ladies want–just email me!) link to their blogs, but they are their family blogs and I don’t want to invade their private space if they don’t want us to and it was too late to email them. But here are some pictures of their amazingly adorable creations:
Believe me, if it can inspire me to want to not only buy the vilest Easter candy on earth, but to make a craft with it, it’s gotta be somethin’.
In case you haven’t guessed it, those little colorful things are Peeps. As in sugar-covered marshmallows. Even my kids thought they were disgusting (albeit adorable). Ladies (and a few gentlemen), I give you the very first Our Best Bites Peep Show:
Ooh la-la!
Sorry. I couldn’t help myself.
Any-who. For this super easy craft, you’ll need…
-Peeps (I REALLY wanted the bunnies, but they cost more at my friendly neighborhood Walmart and didn’t come in as many colors). Unless you’re getting a tiny wreath, I would plan on at least 6 packages (each package has 3 boxes).
-A straw wreath (I got a big one because I figured hey, the bigger the better, right? Wrong. Don’t follow my foolish, foolish ways).
-Toothpicks and/or hot glue. Your call. I ended up using both when things started going badly I decided to be safe rather than sorry.
-A wide ribbon for wrapping the wreath (optional, but it really did help minimize the mess. Unless I wasn’t supposed to unwrap the wreath from the cellophane, something everyone probably knows and I will henceforth be mocked for my lack of crafty knowledge).
-An hour. Dead serious. In fact, I made this wreath while these rolls were rising and baking and we only had a few minor disasters.
-Some baby wipes or wet washcloths are not the worst idea in the world. Believe it or not, sugar-encrusted marshmallow barnyard babies are super sticky.
I started by wrapping the wreath in what has turned out to be the everlasting spool of ribbon–seriously, I bought this at Costco during the 2002 Olympics.
I secured it with toothpicks because hey, they were there.
Then all you need to do is stick your Peeps onto your wreath however you want. I started by impaling a Peep with a toothpick
and then sticking it where I wanted. Once I got a better feel for how deep the toothpicks needed to be and how far they needed to be spaced, I stuck the toothpicks directly into the wreath and then popped the Peeps onto the toothpicks.
I actually really love how Liz and Lindsay did lots and LOTS of peeps all over the place. I, however, bought too big of a wreath and too few peeps, so we had to spread the love a little.
When you have your Peeps where you want them, add a ribbon or a bow and then hang it up! Mine will not be going outside because I’m pretty sure it will attract every insect in the state of Louisiana, but it looks super cute on the door in my dining room!
Great idea on the spray paint seal I was actually thinking of something like that as I typed my last comment in so glad some of u tired it n posted that tip 🙂 I am soooooo making this ASAP! 🙂
I love, love, love that wreath but would be completely afraid it would attract ants :-/ did anyone make it n have problems? It’s so adorable!
I love this – am going to make it this weekend. I had a Peep bunny pinned to my cubicle wall for 2+ years..they last forever! I was devastated when a co-workers small child popped him off the wall and bit his head off. Rest in Peace, Peep!
I love this idea and will be trying it soon!! I used clear spray paint to seal my valentines hearts, so I am sure that clear matte finish spray paint would be perfect to seal these suckers too!!
I’d love to make this if I could find some way to preserve the peeps. I also have a crazy Jack Russell that can jump like crazy so she would probably just stand under it, pogoing and nibbling. Just what I need-a Jack Russell all hyped up on peeps!!
What a cool idea! I love this wreath!!!
Cute wreath! I made a wreath out of peeps bunnies last year and used a styrofoam wreath. I just wrapped in ribbon and hot glued my bunnies on. You can always cut the ribbon off the back and reuse the wreath for another holiday. I’m a Louisiana girl and my wreath hung from my front door without bugs or melting away.
I love your wreath and the way you write your instructions! Keep up the good work!
This Is AWESOME! Easter is my Favorite holiday & I’ve been looking for something like this!
if your spray the peeps before hang with a few coats of clear enamel spray paint .they wont be sticky, or sugarry and buggies wont want them 🙂 im def making these! 🙂
I wonder what becomes of a peep that is sealed with a flat-finish clear coat… hmmmm… if it worked then it’d weather-proof, lick-proof, AND ant-proof all in one simple step! (I think I’m going to actually try this!)
LOL! Oh, and “Peep Show”? Too funny!
This is way cute! Instead of the straw wreath try using a pipe cover thing (i wish i knew the technical name – they are at the hardware store in the plumbing section and are used to cover pipes so they dont freeze….) but anyway they are only $1 and foam and you can just cut to size and tape together and it weighs less and is easy to pin into. Plus then you can make it smaller mid wreath if you find its too big…… 🙂
Oh Lord…I have three dogs, a cat, and twelve ferrets…if I made this thing, I don’t think it would last five minutes! lol
OMG this is soooo darn cute! I made a balloon wreath and now Im into making cute fun wreaths for all occasions. The only thing good about Peeps (besides the wreath) is blowing them up in the microwave:) I know its crazy, but its a huge family tradition each EAster with those AWFUL things:)
This is so cute and colorful! I would make it the centerpiece at the Easter buffet, and it wouldn’t have many peeps left by the time dinner was over.
Yes, you leave the plastic on to minimize mess. Your ribbon makes a super-cute background for any open spots, however, so maybe you were being subconsciously crafty 😉
That is so adorable! Maybe you could shalack it and it would keep until next easter too! LOL!
I happen to love STALE peeps, so this would be great…decoration for easter, then a treat for me later!
i used peeps for a door decorating contest. we sprayed them with cheap hairspray. even though i bought unscented, there was still an odor. put them in a shallow box and spray outside. i love the colors but wouldn’t actually EAT a peep. ick
kate,
love the wreath, but love your sense of humor more 🙂
I think this is just adorable. If I try it, I think I would wrap saran wrap around the ribbon colored wreath and use buttercream icing instead of glue to help hold them on (along with the toothpicks). It may or may not work, but on a smaller wreath, I think it would. Thanks for the idea.
I couldn’t do it, we love peeps at my house, and love stale ones even more, so if I made it, there would have to be no glue because EVERYONE would be stealing peeps off the thing! But it’s super cute!
I just moved to Tucson for the summer and it’s already over 95 degrees here almost everyday… would these melt in the extreme heat?
My kids are making a “peeps wreath” right now and are having so much fun!. I also made your frosting today (the one with the cooked flour) and it turned out great! My flour/milk stiff was too thick to push through my fine-mesh sieve so I had to leave that part out. I can’t wait to try the chocolate variation! I read a lot of food blogs and I’m really starting to like yours more than many of the others, thanks for sharing all your great ideas.
i am making 8 of these to hang on the backs of the chairs for our fancy shmancy easter dinner. i too am wondering if i could spray them with something.. hmmm. oh! did the glue work better or the toothpicks?
Finally, a good use for Peeps!
Very crafy and pretty.
kate! THIS IS REALLY CUTE!!!!!! what a great idea!!!
Finally! A reason to buy Peeps….. besides exploding them in the microwave. Too cute!
I need more recipes!!!!!!