#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--PATRIOTIC TOPIARY TABLE TOPPER

This Patriotic Topiary first appeared on the blog in May of 2010 as the inaugural post. Since then we've had many followers join us, and being that this is one of my favorite craft projects from the blog (because it was the first), I thought it was time for a repeat performance. Besides, since Independence Day falls on a Tuesday this year, we've got a 4-day weekend. Technically, we're off today. Hence, the golden oldie. 😀

One of the great thing about this design is that it requires no sewing. I love using it as a centerpiece during 4th of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day BBQ's, but if you don't care for the red, white, and blue color scheme, you can swap out the colors to match any room in your house. 

Patriotic Topiary

Materials: 

metal, wood, or ceramic container or clay pot, approx. 6” x 6” x 6”
15” long 5/8” wooden dowel
6” white Styrofoam® ball
1 yd. 1” wide blue print ribbon
3” x 45” piece blue gingham
scraps of red, white, and blue fabric
floral foam, enough to fit inside container
straight pins
green excelsior
hot glue gun and glue sticks
tacky glue

Note: Use hot glue for all gluing except where tacky glue is indicated.  Model shown made with red glitter metal container purchased from crafts store.

1.  Insert dowel halfway into Styrofoam® ball.  Remove dowel.  Dispense glue into hole in ball.  Reinsert dowel.

2. Glue floral foam inside container.  Insert dowel into center of floral foam.  Remove dowel.  Dispense glue into hole in floral foam.  Reinsert dowel.

3.  Apply a thin coat of tacky glue to dowel.  Wrap ribbon around dowel to cover.

4.  Tear fabric into 1-1/2” x 6” strips.  Place two strips wrong sides together and tie a knot at center.

5.  Insert a straight pin into knot.  Dip pin in tacky glue and quickly insert into Styrofoam® ball.  Repeat until ball is completely covered.

6.  Glue excelsor over floral foam inside container.

7.  Tie blue gingham strip around container.

#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--PATRIOTIC TOPIARY

Next week we celebrate Independence Day. This Patriotic Topiary first appeared on the blog in May of 2010 as the inaugural post. Since then we've had many followers join us, and being that this is one of my favorite craft projects from the blog (because it was the first), I thought it was time for a repeat performance. 

One of the great thing about this design is that it requires no sewing. I love using it as a centerpiece during 4th of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day BBQ's, but if you don't care for the red, white, and blue color scheme, you can swap out the colors to match any room in your house. 

Patriotic Topiary

Materials: 

metal, wood, or ceramic container or clay pot, approx. 6” x 6” x 6”
15” long 5/8” wooden dowel
6” white Styrofoam® ball
1 yd. 1” wide blue print ribbon
3” x 45” piece blue gingham
scraps of red, white, and blue fabric
floral foam, enough to fit inside container
straight pins
green excelsior
hot glue gun and glue sticks
tacky glue

Note: Use hot glue for all gluing except where tacky glue is indicated.  Model shown made with red glitter metal container purchased from crafts store.

1.  Insert dowel halfway into Styrofoam® ball.  Remove dowel.  Dispense glue into hole in ball.  Reinsert dowel.

2. Glue floral foam inside container.  Insert dowel into center of floral foam.  Remove dowel.  Dispense glue into hole in floral foam.  Reinsert dowel.

3.  Apply a thin coat of tacky glue to dowel.  Wrap ribbon around dowel to cover.

4.  Tear fabric into 1-1/2” x 6” strips.  Place two strips wrong sides together and tie a knot at center.

5.  Insert a straight pin into knot.  Dip pin in tacky glue and quickly insert into Styrofoam® ball.  Repeat until ball is completely covered.

6.  Glue excelsor over floral foam inside container.

7.  Tie blue gingham strip around container.

#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--COTTON CORD #TOPIARY

In January I featured a Jute and Button Clay Pot Flameless Candle Holder on the blog. In March I repurposed it into a WinterTopiary.  Today I’m once again repurposing that decorated clay pot to create another topiary. Can you tell I love to craft topiaries?

Materials

Jute and button decorated clay pot from January 26thblog post; floral foam; 9” length 1/4” diameter dowel; 8” Styrofoam cone; 1/8” diameter jute cord; white cotton cord; tacky glue; excelsior

1. Decorate the clay pot following the directions from the January 26^th blog post.

2. Glue floral foam into clay pot.

3. Wrap the middle 3” of dowel with jute cord, glueing in place. Allow to dry.

4. Poke a hole in the bottom of the cone. Glue one end of the dowel into the hole and the other end into the center of the floral foam. Allow to dry.

5. Beginning at the top of the cone, glue cotton cording spiraling around cone.

6. Glue excelsior into pot.

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA-- ESPRESSO BEAN TOPIARY

Today I’m repeating one of the crafts that appeared last year when the blog was in its infancy and had far fewer regular readers. The Espresso Bean Topiary is a quick and easy craft that produces a finished product that looks anything but quick and easy. Try substituting dried beans for a slightly different look and color scheme or make several topiaries using a variety of different sized pots and foam cones. -- AP

ESPRESSO BEAN TOPIARY

Materials: 3” x 6” craft foam cone; 6” cinnamon stick; dk. brown acrylic paint; satin finish acrylic sealer; ¾ cup espresso beans; tacky glue; 3” clay pot; floral foam; Spanish moss; 1” foam brush; 4 strands raffia in color of your choice.

Note: Allow paint, glue, and sealer to dry between steps.

1.  Poke a hole for cinnamon stick in bottom of cone.

2. Paint cone with dk. brown paint.

3.  Glue cinnamon stick into hole in bottom of cone.

4.  Beginning at bottom edge of cone and working up, glue beans side by side in rows around cone.

5.  Apply sealer to beans.

6.  Glue Spanish moss over floral foam.

7.  Tie raffia into a bow and glue to front of pot.