1.31.2011

Boxwood Topiary Tutorial

I have been working on this little project for the master bathroom, and I am excited to be able to share the tutorial with you!  It doesn't require much skill, but it does take a lot of patience and perseverance.

Here's what you will need:
 -5" terracotta pot (spray painted with Krylon and covered with crackle glaze)
-12" dowel or stick
-4" Styrofoam or floral foam ball
-Faux boxwood plant (I used garlands and snipped each piece off at the same length)
-Small cube of floral foam
-Tacky glue
-Moss or other filler
If you are using a white styrofoam ball and/or dowel, these will need to be painted green or brown.  I painted both my ball and dowel.

Step one, take your terracotta pot and floral foam cube.  My pot has been spray-painted with Krylon spray paint in leather and covered with a weathered crackle glaze and ivory paint, like the birdcage redo.  (That tutorial is next on my list.)  Fit the cube inside the pot, like so:
 
My foam cube was a tad bigger than the pot, so I just pushed it into the bottom, and it wedged itself in.  If your cube is smaller, you will want to glue the foam to the bottom of the pot with tacky glue.  Don't use hot glue or super glue, as these will melt your foam.
Step two, stick your dowel into the foam cube, keeping it as straight as possible.  If you are able to easily pull it back out, put some glue down into the hole before replacing the dowel.  I wasn't able to get mine back out, so I ran a ring of glue around the base of the dowel.
 I haven't been compensated in any way for this post by Aleene's Tacky Glue; I just love to use it!  

Step three, push the foam ball onto the top of the stick or dowel:
Be careful here to get the ball as centered as you can.  You will definitely want to glue these parts together well, since you will be handling the ball extensively.  It's also a good idea to let the glue dry between this step and the next.

Step four, start sticking your boxwood pieces into the ball: 
I dipped the end of each stem into tacky glue before I stuck it in, otherwise they didn't stay put very well.  Pack those little pieces in pretty tightly, so you won't be able to see the ball through the leaves.  This part definitely took a good chunk of time.  Give yourself a few hours for this part, and don't give up!  A good movie or book on tape will get you through.
Step five, cover up the foam in the pot:
 I started with a layer of excelsior to fill in the sides of the foam, then topped it off with moss:
I used sheet moss and glued it down with the tacky glue.

That's it!  Now you have a lovely handmade (and inexpensive!) topiary.  I'd love to see your version if you leave me a link in the comments.


 
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10 comments:

Hyde Family said...

Yep, I'll be making this one! Love it!

angie said...

thanks for taking the time to leave a comment on my Wash & Dry letters - i really appreciate it!
love this topiary - it may be going on my to-do list!!

juliemadtx said...

Great project - at first I thought it might be real.

Visiting from Tatertots and Jello.

~The Bargain Babe from *Zucchini Summer Blog* said...

*love* this topiary! You did a wonderful job. :)

(Visiting from Tatertots and Jello weekend party)

driftwoodesign said...

Great tutorial!

Clarkstyle said...

Great tutorial! You really know how to tutor for "rial"! That green ball looks just like mother nature's magic.

(I'm leaving a comment so you'll check out Clark's Crafty Critturs and Cuddly Ciddies Cuties.)

Its So Very Cheri said...

Its amzing how real some of the faux greenery is these days. Great job.

Cheri

Ldewey said...

It looks awesome! Nice work! And thanks for the great tutorial...I made one myself thanks to you!

Check it out here:
http://deweydidit.blogspot.com/2011/02/boxwood-topiary.html

Jaimee @ Havenwood House of Boys said...

This is so pretty!! Great tutorial, too. I need to bookmark this : )
craft-interrupted.blogspot.com

Sam said...

It is a very nice and informative post. Really thanks for this type of post.
Stylish Patio Canopy