Milwaukee City Wire

Donated, Handmade Wreaths/Doorhangers needed for Milwaukee Pets Alive's Spring Wreath Sale & Contest!

Date and Time:

Friday Feb 3, 2023 Sunday Mar 5, 2023

Drop off anytime during normal business hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Tuesdays 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Saturdays 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Sundays 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Location:

Drop off completed wreaths to Bark N' Scratch Outpost 5835 W. Bluemound Rd. during normal business hours

MAKE AND DONATE HANDMADE SPRING/EASTER/VALENTINE’S/ST. PATRICKS/YEAR-ROUND WREATHS OR DOOR HANGERS FOR OUR SALE AND CONTEST! While the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is going on, you tend to not focus on how cold it is outside. But after New Years Eve, did you ever notice, you start to really become aware of how frigid the temperature is out there? That’s why we love getting ready for our MPA Spring/Easter/Valentine’s/St. Patrick’s Online Wreath Sale and Fundraiser – you can go from the happy holidays to jumping right into thinking about warmer days ahead (and forget about the snow and cold that is all around us in between)! Crafting for our Spring sale can help you gloss right over winter (you're welcome)! Milwaukee Pets Alive is seeking donations of handmade wreaths and door hangers of a spring theme or any of the holidays therein (Easter, St. Patrick’s Day – and we’re going to put Valentine’s Day in here, too as Valentine craft supplies are readily available right now - and as always, general-themed wreaths/doorhangers that can be used year-round/all 4 seasons. All donated wreaths and door hangers should be HANDMADE (not manufactured or store-bought, though components used to make many of the completed items obviously will be). We welcome donations of wreaths and door hangers of all sizes – oversized, “standard”, or small! To help you decide what size wreath you may want to make, for a standard, 36” wide, front door, a wreath that is 28” – 30” in diameter will add dramatic impact, whereas a wreath 20” – 24” creates a classic understated look. For oversized doors, a wreath 30” – 36” in diameter will carry the appropriate scale in relation to the size of the door. Don’t forget small wreaths! A small wreath can bring charm to someone's workspace, or a cluster of small wreaths can create big impact on a wall inside the home! We are also looking for donations of handmade door hangers of any shape and size! Think vertical (multiple wreaths connected together or other items attached together into a beautiful door hanging), embroidery hoops, swags (which are so in style right now), decorated frames, wood signs made on your Cricut, etc. You can find craft supplies to make your wreaths/door hangers in craft stores, online (where you will find many craft items that are available in-store, but at a much bigger discount), in thrift stores, at our favorite - Dollar Tree (they have a huge seasonal and craft section - and everything is $1.25! This is an ESSENTIAL place to pick up your wreath forms at a great price), in nature (pine cones, branches, etc. - all FREE), or items you might have in your own home or in your "stash" of craft supplies you already have - the sky is the limit - be creative! While all wreaths need to be handmade, they still need to be well-made and durable. Please give your wreath a gentle "shake" before donating to make sure nothing is loose or falling off (as they need to withstand not only transport to the buyer's home, but years of storing away and normal jostling during handling and hanging...and most will be hung on a moving door that opens and closes multiple times per day). We will only put up for sale those wreaths we receive that are well-made and sturdy. If it’s falling apart or looks like it will, it will not be included. You are donating your time as well as your craft - so please take the time to do it well. Some crafty tips we have learned doing these wreath and craft sales for many years: while we crafters are all obsessed with our glue guns and often view it as the "duct tape" of the glue world, hot glue is not always the best option for the materials you are gluing. Please keep in mind that under temperature extremes, hot glue can fail - so if the wreath is under high heat, the hot glue will melt and what its holding will fall off. If it's under extreme cold, the hot glue can harden to a point that whatever its holding will fall off (these are some of the conditions that wreaths experience if being hung on a front door). We recommend that if hot gluing something large or important, to secure it with a backup method as well (such as floral wire, pipe cleaners etc.). Also, think about choosing an adhesive specific to the material you are using. There are SO MANY adhesives out there that often work better than hot glue for many projects. If you are gluing wood to wood, please use wood glue (it holds wood together MUCH better than hot glue). There are glues that work better on smooth surfaces for a stronger hold - like super glues or E6000. Check out any craft or big box store's adhesive section and select what is appropriate for your project. Or again, maybe glue is not the best method at all to secure something to your wreath - maybe sewing it on or wiring it on is better and will prove a stronger hold. While there are many kids that have crafting abilities even superior to adults and are welcome to craft wreaths to donate to this sale, parents, please make sure they aren't wreaths that only a mother could love (if you know what we mean) and selectively donate any wreaths made by your older children. Again, we will only include wreaths in our sale that are sturdy, of high quality, and that someone can use for years to come. And don't forget to attach something to hang the wreath by - a loop or hook of some sort. Every year, many of the wreaths that are donated to our sales don't include this important feature and our small group of volunteers are scrambling to find materials to use as a hanger that match the materials you made your wreath with - which is really tough on our small group. Please take the time to put this finishing touch on your wreath. It can't be hung without it. Wreaths are so welcoming – whether that be welcoming guests…or welcoming YOU home at the end of the day. It’s a simple, easy decoration to put up. Most everyone puts a wreath up for Christmas – but most don’t for the other holidays or seasons! We can change that! Let’s make sure there’s not a naked door in our community this spring…all while helping the special needs and considerations animals rescued by Milwaukee Pets Alive (and making our community a little more pretty)! And we need your help in this mission with your donated creations! We can use more creativity and beauty in our world, and the animals’ need for help in this community is ongoing. This is a great opportunity for crafters and makers to contribute to both! Craft early and often – the more wreaths we have donated, the more money we can raise to help our animals with veterinary care, specialist care, monthly medications, food, and supplies! And please tell other crafters and makers you know about this opportunity to craft for a cause! YOU CAN DONATE YOUR COMPLETED WREATHS AT ANY TIME BETWEEN NOW AND SUNDAY, MARCH 5, 2023 to our good friends at Bark N’ Scratch Outpost, 5835 W. Bluemound Rd., Milwaukee (Bluemound and Hawley Rd.), Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Tuesdays 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. YOU DO NOT NEED TO WAIT UNTIL MARCH 5th TO DROP OFF YOUR WREATH (in fact, we appreciate when not everyone waits until the last day) - WE NEEDED TO CHOOSE A DATE TO CREATE THIS "EVENT" TO SHARE SO CHOSE THE LAST DAY TO DROP OFF. BUT WE REPEAT, YOU CAN DROP OFF ANYTIME BETWEEN NOW AND MARCH 5th! Please bring your donated creation to the counter and hand to one of the friendly staff – tell them it’s for MPA’s wreath sale fundraiser! We will hold the wreath sale online on our Facebook page starting Monday, March 13th – Saturday, March 18th. Purchased wreaths will be available for pick up at our wreath pick up event at Bark N’ Scratch the following week. For extra fun and motivation to craft a wreath or door hanger for this fundraiser, the Facebook sale will also double as a wreath contest, where our supporters can “vote” for their favorite by “liking” the one that they are most drawn to. The creator of the wreath with the most “likes” during the Facebook sale will receive some Milwaukee Pets Alive “swag” and a “Best MPA 2023 Spring Wreath” trophy (and bragging rights, of course). PLEASE BE SURE TO ATTACH YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS SOMEWHERE ON THE WREATH (SO WE KNOW HOW TO GET A HOLD OF YOU IF YOU WIN THE CONTEST!). Wreaths that do not have contact information attached will not be eligible to win the contest. 100% of the sale of each donated wreath and door hanger will benefit Milwaukee Pets Alive to help our very special rescued animals! Any donated wreaths not sold during this Spring online sale will be put up for sale at craft events throughout the year and any still not sold at these fundraisers will be held for sale at next year’s Spring Online Wreath sale. Milwaukee Pets Alive (MPA) is an all-volunteer, No Kill, 501c3 special needs and considerations rescue that focuses on saving those local animals that have been passed over by, would not be accepted into, or would be killed by other rescues and shelters because of their needs and considerations and would have no other option for life except for through our organization. These animals may be shy, scared, under-socialized, injured, aged, differently-abled, have medical needs, or need extra resources - all deserve the chance to be loved and cherished. And all deserve time, understanding, patience, and good, comprehensive veterinary care to help them get happy, healthy, and reach their highest potential. Their lives are important. Our mission, through our work aforementioned and through comprehensive programs and resources to educate and help community members help the animals in their own lives (thereby preventing more animals from entering the shelter system), is to end the killing of homeless companion animals in southeast WI. The population we rescue comprises those that continue to die in the greatest numbers in our community. Our vision is for southeast WI to be one of the safest communities in the United States for companion animals. We couldn’t help these special animals of our community that we do if not for the wonderful people who volunteer their time and talents! We are all about Milwaukee, building community and relationships, and all that is unique and one-of-a-kind (as represented by the special animals we rescue!). Donating a one-of-a-kind wreath is a unique way to help the unique animals we serve! Milwaukee is a city of art and craft and our residents who appreciate this great part of our Milwaukee culture, when looking to decorate their homes, look for something special, unique, and not something everyone else will have - no one wants to have the same wreath on their door their neighbor has. We can ensure they have a one-of-a-kind piece for their front door and help the animals in our program at the same time through this fun fundraiser! On your mark…get set…start making those wreaths!!! Craft, have fun, and do good by donating handmade wreaths to Milwaukee Pets Alive for our Spring/Easter/Valentine’s/St. Patrick’s/Year-Round Wreath Sale and Contest! Woof! Meow! Thank you! www.milwaukeepetsalive.org

Original source can be found here.