The ancient art of topiary was brought to this country by the early colonists. You can carry on the tradition with these easy projects. They're perfect projects for the garden club and take only about an hour to make. Materials: 4" clay pot (or any size you want)
Two 4" plastic foam balls (or appropriate size to fit the pot)
Green spray paint
Serrated kitchen knife
10" stick from the yard (or a stick twice the height of the pot plus 2")
Low-melt glue
Little Dipper glue pot
Dried boxwood branches cut 3" to 5"
Variety of dried flowers
Wood floral pick
Spanish moss
2 to 3 yards each of two colors of 1/8" ribbon
U pin
- Using a serrated kitchen knife, slice off one of the 4" foam balls approximately one-third of the way down. If you're having difficulty slicing through the foam, run wax over the blade of the knife. Push the ball down into the clay pot with the flat sliced side up. If desired, hot-glue the ball in place in the pot. You may add small stones to the bottom of the pot to add weight and stabilize the pot, but it is usually not necessary.
- Push the stick into the center of the foam so it stands straight up. Apply a little low-melt glue (which won't melt the foam) around the stick to hold it in place.
- Spray the second 4" foam ball green so it won't be seen through the boxwood branches. Make a hole in the ball by pushing it onto the stick; remove the ball.
- Place your left index finger in the hole and, holding the ball with your left hand, use the wood floral pick to make small holes in the ball to hold the boxwood branches.
- Dip the boxwood branches into hot glue in the Little Dipper glue pot, and place them in the holes of the ball. Continue until the ball is covered.
- Add a variety of dried flowers, balancing colors around the ball. Dip each flower in hot glue, and glue in place among the boxwood branches. There's no need to punch additional holes in the ball.
- Push the boxwood-and-flower-covered ball onto the stick in the pot. You could apply a little hot glue to the stick to hold the ball in place, but it isn't necessary.
- Apply a little hot glue around the bottom foam ball in the pot, and add small pieces of Spanish moss to hide the bottom ball and create a finished look.
- Make a small bow by looping two colors of 1/8" ribbon together, then secure to the upper ball with a U pin.
Variations A heart-shaped wreath can be created the same way with a heart-shaped foam base. Add dried fruit and cinnamon sticks to a cone-shaped piece of foam for another topiary look. It makes a wonderful centerpiece.
RESOURCES :
Little Dipper glue pot
Adhesive Technologies Inc.
Hampton, NH 03842-1995
Phone: 603-926-1616
Fax: 603-926-1780
Email: cs@adhesivetech.com
Website: www.adhesivetech.com
Crafty Magic Melt
Adhesive Technologies Inc.
Hampton, NH 03842-1995
Phone: 603-926-1616
Fax: 603-926-1780
Email: cs@adhesivetech.com
Website: www.adhesivetech.com
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