This year I wanted to make my own wreath, which I had never done before.  I started out by going to Trader Joes and buying a plain wreath that I could build on. Then I went to a local garden shop here in Chicago, Gethsemane Gardens, to get a few goodies. They were nice enough to give me the left over pieces from the tree stumps (see below how I used them).  I also purchased dried green sponge mushrooms to add a variety of color and texture.  The rest of the items I used, I already had at my apartment.