strike One of my favorite things to make at Christmas is topiaries. I usually sit them on a table somewhere but this year I have a fireplace...actually two so I get to make more! Topiaries are something you can use year round if you just use some greenery or something or you can make them festive to fit the occasion. I haven't made them yet so I don't have a pic of them unfortunately, nor have I taken any in the past that I can think of. Maybe I can find one where you can see it somewhere in the background lol. Anyways, the following are the materials and directions for making a Christmas topiary. Just remember that you can change or add to these to fit your own style or what not. This just what I make and a basis to start with if you would like to try one. Oh...and bear with me on this because I don't know how great I will be at giving directions lol. Get out your hot glue guns!
Christmas Topiary
Materials
small white-pine pine cones. (you'll need a bunch of these so go gather them from your yard...or your neighbors. :x)
2 styrofoam balls small and large
styrofoam disc (cut to fit snuggly just inside the lip of clay pot)
clay pot (top should be about the same diameter as your largest styrofoam ball)
wooden dowel rod
small greenery stems...preferrably evergreen because it stays green looking even dried out. My favorite is boxwood.
hot glue gun
ribbon
something for weight in pot (rocks, sand, whatever...you won't see it)
spanish moss
Instructions
First and foremost if you want to decorate your pot or dowel rod by painting it do this now. Gold and silver would go great with this project. I always leave mine natural though. Make sure they are thoroughly dried before proceeding. Depending on what your using for a filler in the pot to give it weight such as sand you may need to plug the hole in the bottom of the clay pot so you don't lose your filler. You can glue a piece of cardboard over it on the inside or another option is to buy the clay saucer. Fill your pot with your weighted "filler" but leave enough room to put the styrofoam disc in so it's flush with the top of the pot. After adding the filler glue around the outside of the disc and push it down into the top of the pot making it flush with the top. Next push the wooden dowel rod through the center of both styrofoam balls so they kind of look like lollipops. Remove them. This is just so you know where to insert the dowel rod after attaching pinecones so don't cover it up with one! Also, remember once the pinecones are glued on the balls will be heavier making the whole ensemble top heavy so make sure you have a sturdy dowel rod and enough weighted stuff in pot. Now you can glue on your pinecones. I kind of work one side at a time so I can try to keep them even. Just glue the base of the pinecone to the ball with your hot glue gun. They aren't going to fit snugly. You will have gaps in which you see the styrofoam. After you have glued each pinecone and covered the ball go back and fill in the gaps with the small greenery stems. I always remove a few leaves or have a bit of a longer stem (depending on what type of greenery you choose) to be able to insert directly into the styrofoam. Add a bit of glue to the stem for extra security and just push in. Once your balls are done re-insert the dowel rod through your pre-made holes. Next push the end of the dowel rod down through the middle of the styrofoam disc inside of the pot and down into the filler. I always add a little glue around the edge of the hole and they dowel rod. You can cover the disc with spanish moss or decorative colored rocks. Wrap ribbon around pot and tie into pretty bow.
Another alternative is to add red berries as a filler or with the greenery for that little touch of Christmas red in it. You can buy small packs for pretty cheap at craft stores that resemble holly berries.
Alternatives
Valentine's
I've seen this done in a small version using only one styrofoam ball and gluing those little candy hearts with messages all over. But they didn't fit snug, and you could see the styrofoam. They didn't use a filler. Maybe some little redhots candies? Might overlap a bit but it would look fine I'm sure.
Fruit
I've seen this done with fruit as well, lemons in particular. I'm not sure if they glued them or used some other way of attaching it to the ball and I haven't tried that yet. Apples might be nice for Christmas filled in with cinnamon sticks and cloves? Might have to try this one out.
If you try this let me know how it turns out! Especially if you use different items or a different theme or something. Send me a pic link too.  Enjoy! | |
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