Topiaries or small trees are very simple to make and are perfect in any corner of your home, as well as at events and celebrations. There are many materials with which a topiary can be made, from sweets for children’s celebrations, to paper flowers, for example. With this step by step you will learn how to make a fabric and lace topiary.
A topiary is a very effective decorative resource for those of us who are crazy about plants. I don’t usually like too much artificial plants in which you can tell from afar that they are made of plastic, so I thought of making this topiary that combine natural elements with fabric. In this way, although it is artificial, it has its charm.
Materials needed to make a fabric and lace topiary
The materials that I have used to make the topiary have been:
– Burlap and lace fabric ribbon. You can also create your own ribbon using scraps of fabric. To do this, strips of about 4 or 5 centimeters wide are cut and a lace ribbon of lesser width is sewn on top.
– branches. Several not very thick branches will be necessary, to get them it is enough to walk around the park or the field, on the ground we will find all the raw material we need.
– A ball of porexpan. An alternative option is to make our own ball with newspaper, advertising brochures or magazines.
– flower arranging foam. Paper balls can also be used.
– plant pot. I recommend that it be somewhat weighted so that the topiary does not tip over, although another option is to place some stones inside to provide weight.
– String. Better if it is natural (jute, esparto grass, cotton…).
– Hot glue gun or silicone gun.
Step by step to make the topiary
Keep in mind that the topiary consists of three elements: cup, trunk and pot. Each of these parts requires a few steps that I detail below.
How to make and place the flowers for the top of the topiary
First of all, you will have to do the fabric flowers With which we are going to decorate the top of the topiary, to do this, cut a strip that is approximately twice as long as it is wide.
Next, the strip is folded in half and a drop of hot glue is placed to fix it. Next, each of the corners is folded outwards and they are also glued in the center. Finally, the two corners are joined and fixed with glue.
The truth is that in writing it seems much more complicated than it really is, that’s why I’ve prepared a video so you can see in detail the entire process of how the fabric flower is made.
The next step will be to stick the flowers to the porexpan ball with the silicone gun.
Trick: if the glue is too hot you will damage the porexpan ball and the flower will not fix properly, so try to use a gun that allows you to regulate the temperature.
Keep in mind that a small hole must be left to insert the trunk of the topiary.
How to make the trunk of the topiary with branches
For make the trunk of the topiary I used the branches that I had left over when I made the heart for Valentine’s Day (you can see it at this link).
First of all, it will be necessary to cut them so that they all have approximately the same dimensions, except for some of them (2 or 3) that are left a little longer to insert them into the ball. They are then tied with a rope at different points so that they are well secured.
Then press the longest branches over the hole you have left in the ball until they are inserted into the porexpan. If you used a ball of paper, you should make a hole with a cutter deep enough to embed the branches and fix them later with hot glue.
How to place the topiary in the pot
First of all, it must be taken into account that although the topiary itself does not weigh much, it needs a base that provides stability and ensures that it will not tip over with a draft, for example. For this reason I recommend using a clay pot or filling a plastic one with stones that give it weight.
I have used a clay pot that I painted gray to continue with the range of neutral tones.
First I filled the inside of the pot with foam for flower arrangements and then I inserted the trunk. To fill in the holes inside the pot and ensure that the trunk is well fixed, I have also inserted some balls of paper.
Finally I have placed some scraps of cloth to cover the paper balls.
Summarizing…
So that nothing is left in the inkwell, I leave you the summary of all the steps that must be taken:
– The necessary materials are bought or we recycle what we have at home to adapt them.
– The fabric flowers are made with the help of the hot glue gun.
– The flowers are placed around the cup.
– The trunk is made by tying fallen tree branches.
– One end of the trunk is inserted into the porexpan ball.
– The interior of the pot is filled and the other end of the trunk is introduced.
Have you ever made a topiary? If not, I encourage you to make one since it is simpler than it seems. If you also want it to have a natural inspiration, you can make a fabric and lace topiary Like the one in this step by step, it will be perfect for decorating your home as well as any event or celebration.
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