Looking for a Halloween wreath that’s a little spooky, a little vintage, and completely unique? This DIY Edgar Allan Poe Halloween wreath is one of my favorite projects! I made it a few years ago during the pandemic, but never got around to sharing the full tutorial here on the blog. So, I’m finally giving this gothic Halloween wreath its own spot on Michelle’s Party Plan-It!
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I love creating Halloween decorations that are a little different from what you’ll find in stores. For this wreath, I combined inexpensive Dollar Tree tulle with black branches, feathers, skeleton hands, eyeballs, and handmade paper embellishments. I even made my own Edgar Allan Poe canvas sign using printable transfer paper!
One of my favorite details is the custom ribbon and butterflies I created using Edgar Allan Poe-inspired scrapbook paper from Michaels. I also pulled out my Xyron Creative Station to laminate the paper embellishments and give them a little more structure.
If you love gothic Halloween decor, vintage-inspired crafts, or making something unexpected with your craft supplies, this one’s for you!
How to Make an Edgar Allan Poe Halloween Wreath
This wreath is all about layers and texture. I started with a simple metal wreath frame, added lots of black tulle, and layered a decorative branch wreath over the top. From there, I added the canvas centerpiece and filled everything in with spooky oddities and handmade embellishments.
What I especially love about this project is how the different crafting techniques come together. It’s part wreath making, part paper crafting, and part mixed-media Halloween decor!
Supplies Needed
- Metal wire wreath frame
- Black decorative tulle or mesh from Dollar Tree
- Black pipe cleaners (chenille stems)
- Black decorative branch wreath
- Canvas hanging sign with wooden slats
- Edgar Allan Poe portrait image
- Printable transfer paper compatible with canvas fabric
- Edgar Allan Poe-inspired scrapbook paper from Michaels
- Xyron Creative Station and laminating cartridge
- Black feathers
- Decorative ravens
- Mini skeleton hands
- Decorative eyeballs
- Additional spooky embellishments
- Scissors
- Paper trimmer
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Since I originally made this wreath several years ago, some of the exact supplies may no longer be available. You can substitute similar gothic scrapbook paper, black branches, and Halloween embellishments to create your own version.
Step 1: Make the Black Tulle Wreath Base
Start with a round metal wreath frame and black tulle or decorative mesh from Dollar Tree.
Gather the black tulle into loose loops and secure it to the wire frame using black pipe cleaners. Continue adding sections of tulle around the entire wreath until the frame is covered.
I like using black pipe cleaners for this because they’re easy to twist around the frame and blend right into the black tulle. They also make it easy to adjust the fullness as you go.
Don’t worry about making every loop exactly the same size. The different shapes and textures help give this wreath its spooky, slightly messy appearance.
Step 2: Layer the Black Branch Wreath
Once the tulle base is finished, it’s time to add the branches!
I used a decorative black branch wreath and layered it directly over the tulle-covered frame. The twisted branches instantly give the wreath a darker, more dramatic look.
Position the branch wreath over the tulle and use additional black pipe cleaners to attach it securely to the metal wreath frame.
Work your way around the wreath, securing the branches in several places so they stay in position.
I love how the branches extend over the tulle and create that spooky, overgrown appearance. They’re also perfect for tucking in feathers, paper embellishments, and other Halloween decorations later.
Step 3: Make the Edgar Allan Poe Canvas Sign
For the centerpiece, I wanted something that would really set the theme for the entire wreath. And what could be more fitting than Edgar Allan Poe?
I created my own canvas sign using a vintage Edgar Allan Poe portrait and printable transfer paper.
I printed the portrait onto the transfer paper and applied it to the canvas sign following the transfer paper instructions.
The canvas sign has wooden slats along the top and bottom with metal rivet details, which give it a vintage hanging scroll appearance. It was perfect for this project!
The sepia-toned portrait also coordinates beautifully with the aged paper and darker embellishments.
Tip: Be sure to use transfer paper that’s compatible with your canvas material and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for printing, pressing, and peeling.
Step 4: Attach the Canvas Sign to the Wreath
Once the canvas sign is finished, position it in the center of the wreath.
Turn the wreath over and use black pipe cleaners to attach the wooden sections of the canvas sign to the metal wreath frame.
Twist the pipe cleaners securely around the frame to hold the sign in place.
Before moving on, turn the wreath back over and check the position of the portrait. Make sure it’s centered and that the branches frame the sign without completely covering it.
The canvas centerpiece is the focal point of the entire wreath, so I wanted to make sure Edgar Allan Poe could still be seen among all the spooky details!
Step 5: Add Feathers, Skeleton Hands, and Eyeballs
Now comes one of my favorite parts: adding all the spooky little oddities!
I used black feathers, miniature skeleton hands, decorative eyeballs, and ravens to give the wreath its gothic Halloween look.
I started by tucking the larger decorations into the branches and tulle, then added smaller pieces to fill in the open spaces.
The skeleton hands look especially creepy peeking out from between the black branches. And the eyeballs add just the right amount of unexpected Halloween fun!
I also used hot glue to secure decorative accents where needed.
Rather than making everything perfectly symmetrical, I arranged the embellishments throughout the wreath so they looked like they belonged among the twisted branches.
Step 6: Make Custom Ribbon with Scrapbook Paper
Here’s where I added a little paper crafting to my wreath!
I found Edgar Allan Poe-inspired scrapbook paper at Michaels and knew it would be perfect for this project.
Instead of using traditional Halloween ribbon, I made my own coordinating ribbon-style embellishments using the decorative paper.
I cut the paper into strips and shaped the ends to create decorative ribbon tails. Then I tucked the pieces between the tulle and branches to add contrast and a little vintage charm.
I love using scrapbook paper this way because you can make your own embellishments to match just about any theme. And it’s a great way to use supplies you may already have in your craft stash!
The aged paper designs really help break up all the black while keeping the gothic look of the wreath.
Step 7: Laminate the Butterfly Embellishments
Another favorite detail is the collection of butterflies I made from the coordinating scrapbook paper.
I used my Xyron Creative Station with a laminating cartridge to laminate the butterfly paper. Then I cut around the individual butterfly designs with scissors.
The lamination adds structure to the paper, making the butterflies a little sturdier and easier to work with.
I love using my Creative Station for projects like this. It’s such a handy way to turn decorative paper into custom embellishments!
Once the butterflies were cut out, I was ready to add them to the wreath.
Step 8: Add the Butterflies and Finishing Touches
With the wreath almost finished, I tucked the laminated butterflies among the black branches, feathers, and tulle.
I positioned them around the Edgar Allan Poe portrait so they added interest without taking attention away from the centerpiece.
I love the contrast between the delicate butterflies and the creepy skeleton hands and eyeballs!
Once everything was arranged, I checked for any open spaces and adjusted the feathers, branches, and handmade ribbon until I was happy with the finished look.
And that’s it! My Edgar Allan Poe Halloween wreath was ready to hang!
Watch the Edgar Allan Poe Halloween Wreath Tutorial
Want to see how I put everything together? Watch my original video below to see the wreath come together, from the black tulle base to the final handmade embellishments!
Tips for Making Your Own Gothic Halloween Wreath
Start with inexpensive supplies. Dollar Tree tulle and a basic metal wreath frame make a great foundation. You can add more detailed embellishments without spending a fortune on the base.
Layer different textures. The combination of black mesh, twisted branches, feathers, canvas, and paper is what makes this wreath so interesting.
Make your own embellishments. Scrapbook paper isn’t just for scrapbooking! Use it to create custom ribbon, butterflies, and decorative accents that coordinate with your project.
Use pipe cleaners for the main construction. Black pipe cleaners blend into the wreath and work well for securing the tulle, branch wreath, and canvas centerpiece to the metal frame.
Don’t cover the centerpiece. When adding branches and decorations, make sure your focal point is still visible.
Display your wreath in a protected area. Because this project includes canvas, transfer paper, and scrapbook paper embellishments, it’s best displayed indoors or on a covered porch away from moisture.
More DIY Halloween Decorations
If you love creating your own Halloween decor, be sure to check out more of my Halloween craft tutorials here on Michelle’s Party Plan-It!
DIY Halloween Wreath Hanger Dollar Tree Craft
Easy Bats & Moon Halloween Kirklands Dupe
DIY Halloween Gnome | Dollar Tree Craft
I can’t believe it took me this long to share this Edgar Allan Poe Halloween wreath on the blog!
It’s one of those projects that combines so many of my favorite things: wreath making, paper crafting, handmade embellishments, and a little spooky Halloween fun.
And I especially love that I was able to create such a dramatic wreath using Dollar Tree supplies mixed with materials from my craft stash.
I hope this inspires you to try something a little different with your Halloween decorations this year!
Happy crafting!
