Topiary Topiary handmade) is a decorative tree of happiness, a symbol of wealth and prosperity in the home. Used in interior design, common in European countries. The structure of a topiary is a pot, a trunk and a ball: no restrictions on techniques or materials! However, we recommend following general rules for composition, color combinations and proportions. The following details show how to make a tree of happiness and what materials can be used.
Collection of topiary master classes
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New Year's topiary
Berries in the snow
New Year's topiary “Berries on the Snow” is suitable for both beginner needlewomen and experienced craftswomen who will gain new ideas and inspiration! Tree of happiness on a foam ball d=12 cm, base - halves of walnuts. The main decor is small foam apples and sisal balls.
The crown is also decorated with plastic snowflakes, sugar and smooth foam berries, and bouquets of stamens. The finished topiary is treated with artificial snow in a can. The master class is available in video format and in a step-by-step article with photos.
First snow
New Year's tree of happiness made of dried chestnuts, acorns with caps, walnuts, as well as sisal and rattan balls, star anise, cinnamon sticks, plastic snowflakes, a garland of beads and foam berries.
The crown is on a foam ball with fabric wrapping. The topiary is planted in a restored old pot, filled with plaster and crushed stone. Master class from Alena Tikhonova in video format, as well as step-by-step instructions with photos.
Coffee topiary
Garden of Eden
A tree of happiness on a foam ball with bronze paint, a crown of coffee beans glued in even rows with the core facing up.
The main composition runs diagonally and consists of layers of white petals, branches of alder cones, foamiran and paper roses, stamens and bonsai grass. Also, 2 doves made a nest from sisal on the crown. Master class on topiary from coffee and roses in video format, as well as in an article with step-by-step photos.
Spices of the East
To decorate the topiary, exclusively natural materials were used (except for felt for the leaves and satin ribbon for the bow). Coffee tree of happiness on a foam ball with a diameter of 8 cm in a brown ceramic cup. The trunk is a curved branch of corilus, painted bronze.
A crown of coffee beans, a central composition of dried citrus slices, bay leaves, felt leaves, and a “button” of salt dough. Small decor: peppercorns, cloves, cardamom, corn, dried peas, bows and stars pasta.
Dew drops
Topiary made of coffee beans with bronzed crown and trunk. Decorative tree in a dark brown cup made of unfired clay, with a polished corilus branch as a trunk.
The crown of coffee beans is decorated with a composition of fabric and foamiran flowers with satin ribbons. The image is complemented by a colorful butterfly on the reverse side. There is a luxurious scattering of pearls all over the coffee tree of happiness.
Coffee dreams
A small topiary made from coffee beans is a typical example of a simple and quick production. The simple design and available materials do not require any preparatory work. Thanks to this, the craft will take 1.5-2 hours, taking into account the glue drying. Moreover, almost all elements are interchangeable and easily accessible. We offer a master class on how to make topiary - in video format and in an article with step-by-step photos.
Topiary with artificial flowers
Heavenly Harmony
The “Heavenly Harmony” topiary is made on a synthetic padding ball, planted on plaster in a plastic flower pot, the trunk is a curved wooden branch. The tree of happiness is decorated with homemade flowers made from viscose napkins, sisal balls, berries and fabric roses.
At the base there are sisal balls, a pot with lace, satin ribbons and flowers. The composition is completed by a double satin bow tied under the crown on the trunk.
Awakening of Spring
The flower tree of happiness “Awakening of Spring” is a colorful and wildly blooming meadow, personifying sunny May days and warmth. We used homemade flowers from napkins and felt, ready-made foamiran and fabric roses, sisal balls, stamens, leaves and small inflorescences. There is a decorative butterfly perched on the crown, and a cute foam bird at the base of the topiary. The tree is mounted on plaster in a tall flower pot with a perforated border.
The master class is presented in photo and video format with subtitles, tips and recommendations from the author.
Charm
Purple-white topiary from flowers is made quite quickly, but labor-intensively - buds from cardboard egg trays are formed in several stages: cutting out blanks, painting and assembling, gluing felt or organza leaves.
We offer step-by-step master classes in video (FullHD 1080p) and text format with photos.
The scent of spring
A wedding tree of happiness in white tones with green splashes in the form of artificial leaves, which are in harmony with light green sisal and a large green apple at the base, refreshing and enriching the composition. Topiary on a ball made of newspapers, a crown made of apricot kernels, the main decor is prefabricated flowers from cardboard trays for eggs.
An elegant thin trunk of a curved shape is a branch of Corilus. The decorative tree is planted on plaster in a low ceramic cup. The main elements are painted rich white - in Provence style. The master class is available in photo and video format with detailed step-by-step instructions.
Orange mix
Orange topiary from orange peels is made quickly, but requires preparatory work: drying the orange peel and citrus slices takes 3-7 days. In addition to orange flowers, foam tangerines, berries, satin ribbons and bow-shaped pasta were used for decoration.
We offer a detailed master class in video, photo and text format with step-by-step instructions for making topiary yourself.
Money tree topiary
Abundance
Money topiary “Abundance” is made on a homemade ball with roses from paper bills. On the crown are symbols of abundance and prosperity. On the ball there was a frog, a bunch of grapes and a scattering of coins. The pot is made by hand from plaster, painted in 3 layers with an antique effect, stylized as a wallet with a metal zipper. The trunk - a curved Salex branch - is fixed in a pot with plaster casting.
Spring luxury
Money topiary on a finished foam ball with a curved trunk in a plastic pot. Gypsum casting was used to fix the trunk. Crown decor - handmade roses from paper money, 99 flowers! Sugar berries and stamens, plastic leaves and yellow paper roses are also used.
The Tree of Happiness “Spring Luxury” is designed in fresh and bright yellow-green colors. Topiary is perfect for a gift or to decorate your kitchen interior. We have prepared for you a step-by-step master class with photo and video instructions, as well as a detailed presentation of the finished product.
Sea shell topiary
Lavender sea
Decorative tree made of shells and roses “Lavender Sea” - a beautiful and unusual topiary on 2 trunks in a neat painted pot filled with plaster. The crown is decorated with shells (painted with mother-of-pearl acrylic), delicate roses made of ceramic plasticine and balls of purple sisal. In addition, the tree of happiness is decorated with buttons wrapped in satin ribbon, smooth berries and sisal balls.
Blue Lagoon
Marine topiary "Blue Lagoon" combines the beauty of nature with artificial decor. The shells of the snails, which form the basis of the crown, are painted with ultramarine acrylic paint. The compositional center is half of a large rapana. A pot is a tin can decorated with popsicle sticks, shells and waste material. At the base of the tree, on a scattering of small shells and sisal, a blue decorative bird is planted.
coral reef
The sea topiary is made from a variety of shells with homemade clay roses and sisal balls. The shells are painted in coral, mother-of-pearl and soft blue.
The composition of the tree of happiness is complemented by bright plastic inhabitants of the seas and oceans: crabs, octopus, starfish. The ball is wrapped in twine and sisal, the trunk is sanded, plaster casting is used, and the pot is wrapped in linen rope.
Topiary in the shape of a heart
Sapphire Heart
Coffee topiary “Sapphire Heart” with a foam base 15 cm wide, a curved Salex trunk, planted in a lilac plastic pot on plaster. The heart is thickly covered with coffee beans painted in 2 layers: bronze and white. The crown is decorated with foamiran roses, two types of artificial flowers, green leaves, alder and larch cones, as well as small cones. The barrel is painted white.
On the wings of Love
This heart-shaped topiary combines a textured coffee surface with elegant floral decoration. Roses made of ceramic plasticine in various shades of pink are in harmony with the butterfly and a scattering of pearls with stamens. The tree of happiness is planted in a white ceramic cup, the trunk is made from a curved branch of corilus (salex). The composition is completed by delicate wings made of natural feathers.
Autumn topiary
Walk in the garden
The “Walk in the Garden” topiary is made of artificial fruits and vegetables, flowers and small inflorescences. The trunk is painted with chocolate acrylic; for color support, the crown is also decorated with dried chestnuts. On top there is a nest with quail eggs, and on the other side there is a straw hat with a rapeseed ribbon. A decorative bird perches at the base of a fruit tree. The topiary is planted in a metal bucket, the trunk is reinforced with plaster casting.
Magic Glade
The autumn tree of happiness turned out to be unusual: a successful combination of natural material and artificial decor. Chestnuts, acorns with caps, walnut shells, apricot kernels, sisal are harmoniously combined with berries, fruits and vegetables made of polystyrene foam, artificial flowers and grape leaves.
The composition is complemented by a decorative dragonfly and a snail shell. A dense meadow with well-arranged gifts of autumn, a tree of happiness in orange-brown tones.
Notes of autumn
An original topiary made from chestnuts, acorns with pluses, walnut halves and sisal. In addition to natural materials, decorative elements were used to decorate the crown: artificial rose hips, smooth and sugar berries, and foam stamens.
At the base of the autumn tree there is a composition on decorative moss. The clay pot is decorated with wooden sticks and coffee beans, and the rim is painted with yellow acrylic to tie in with the napkin roses on the crown.
Autumn mood
Fragrant topiary “Autumn Mood” using natural materials: flowers made from orange peel, dried citrus slices, peeled apricot and peach pits, cinnamon, a bunch of acorns, dried flowers. The trunk is a twisted branch, a clay pot filled with plaster (for strong fixation of the heavy tree of happiness).
We offer a step-by-step master class on the natural tree of happiness: text version, photos and full video MK in FullHD quality with subtitles. Choose the format that is convenient for you!
Seasons
The Tree of Happiness is an unusual format: a series of master classes in the same style, but with a different set of materials. Autumn theme - acorns, pine cones and orange flowers. New Year theme - with larch cones, red stamens and artificial grass. Spring theme - with pink foamiran roses, pine cones and bonsai branches.
Each topiary is planted on a plaster cast in a metal bucket, the trunk is 2 curved branches of corilus (salex). A foam Christmas tree toy with a diameter of 4 cm was used as a ball.
Birdsong
A topiary of chestnuts, acorns and nuts with decorative doves and a ladder is planted in a small clay pot on plaster. The crown is decorated with piles of acorns with pearls and prefabricated decor: satin bows with white sugar berries. The curved trunk and ladder are painted bronze; at the base, on sisal flaps, doves nestle in a twisted nest. The pot is decorated with satin ribbon and lace.
Elements of topiary design
Crown
The basis of the tree of happiness in 9 out of 10 cases is a ball: the spherical shape is ideal for forming a crown. Other original shapes are also used to make topiary: heart, horseshoe, dollar, voluminous wreath, star or egg. You can buy foam blanks in craft stores, however, it is very easy to make a ball yourself: from pressed newspapers, padding polyester, cardboard or fabric scraps, and polyurethane foam. In addition, you can use any spherical shape, for example, a skein of knitting thread or a children's ball.
We offer a detailed overview that describes the techniques and also shows a variety of ready-made solutions.
In some cases, for example, for coffee beans and corrugated paper flowers, as well as for quickly making decorative wood, it is much more convenient to use a ready-made foam ball.
Trunk
Wooden branches, Chinese chopsticks, long skewers, pencil, wire, thin tube - any durable object of straight or curved shape, suitable in length and diameter for a specific design, is used as a trunk for the tree of happiness.
The choice of trunk for topiary is not limited, but the weight of the crown should be taken into account so that the branch does not break.
Pot and methods of attaching the trunk
Stability of the base, the ability to strengthen the trunk, a shape suitable for the crown design - the main criteria when choosing a container in which to A the tree of happiness grows. In addition, the shape must correspond to the selected crown design; the pot is decorated depending on the design of the specific product.
To secure the trunk, fill it with plaster or fix it with crushed stone and treat it with glue. The filling of the pot is hidden under the decorative composition at the base of the trunk.
We offer a detailed review, with or without plaster: secrets of pouring, recommendations, photos and video master classes.
Materials for making a tree of happiness
Ready decor
To make topiary you will need a wide variety of ready-made materials for needlework:
- Satin ribbons, bows.
- Organza, felt, mesh.
- Flowers from foamiran.
- Sisal and .
- Beads, glue half-beads.
- Corrugated paper.
- Ready-made decorative elements: artificial flowers, fruits, berries.
Popular natural and improvised materials for the tree of happiness are:
- Coffee beans.
- Pasta of various shapes.
- Cinnamon sticks, peppercorns, bay leaf.
- Dried orange, lemon, tangerine - peels, slices.
- Decorative stones, pebbles, glass.
Homemade decor
The basis of the composition of almost any tree of happiness (with the exception of express topiary, on which mostly ready-made elements are glued) is a prefabricated decor from a variety of materials. Most often these are pre-collected flowers.
How to make topiary with your own hands - step-by-step instructions
- Preparation of prefabricated decorative elements.
- Making a ball or using a foam blank.
- Decorating the crown using the chosen technique with previously prepared elements.
- Decorating the pot and securing the trunk - filling it with plaster or securing it with crushed stone.
- Assembling a tree of happiness.
- Final decoration of the topiary.
The proposed step-by-step instructions on how to make topiary are indicative: for convenience, some steps can be swapped or combined.
Symbolic meaning of the tree
The tree symbolizes development, dynamic growth, seasonal withering and restoration, wealth and well-being. The branches mean versatility, variety of choice, and the common trunk is a symbol of unity. In mythology, a tree is a magical, powerful image, the abode of gods and spirits. In Feng Shui practice, the tree of happiness in the home is a symbol of prosperity, abundance and wealth. In addition, a topiary created independently is an original gift, a sign of respect and love, a real surprise for connoisseurs of handmade crafts.
Excursion into history
The etymology of the word “Topiary” comes from the ancient art of cutting garden trees and shrubs - “Topiar” (Topiary material from Wikipedia). From Latin topiaria- gardening art, actively developing in Europe since the times of the Roman Empire. Shrub sculpture was carried out by specially trained slaves - topiaries.
Decorative trees made from artificial materials are an ideal option for decorating a home or office. They will fit perfectly into the design of any interior, creating a cozy atmosphere in the room. Such hand-made crafts do not require special conditions and careful care compared to living plants. From this article you will learn how to make artificial trees with your own hands in different versions.
Artificial pistachio tree
You will need:
- Gypsum;
- Pot;
- Pistachio shells;
- Gold spray paint;
- Wire.
How to make a tree with your own hands from pistachio shells:
- Using a drill, make a small hole in each shell;
- We cut the wire into pieces 15-20 cm long and attach one shell to each of the pieces. Next, we twist the wires and get blanks;
- We connect several leaves together by twisting the wire. Thus, a branch is obtained;
- We make several branches and twist them together - we get a tree trunk;
- We wrap the branches and stem part with FUM tape. Instead, you can take thread or rope;
- Let's paint the craft;
- Let’s prepare the base: prepare a pot suitable for the craft, fill it with plaster and insert our “golden” masterpiece into it;
- Let's wait until the plaster dries. Finish the pot with paint;
- Additionally, we decorate the finished craft with coins.
Similar ideas for hand-made crafts can be found in the article.
Master class on making decorative poplar
Such a beautiful “poplar” is a great decoration for your home or street.
Required materials:
- Candle;
- Glue;
- Needle;
- Matches;
- Thin and thick wire;
- Pot;
- Gypsum or cement;
- Gray and green threads;
- Green plastic bottle;
- Scissors.
Step-by-step master class with photos:
- We use wire cutters to separate 3 identical pieces from the thick wire and connect them to each other by twisting them. We wrap the ends of the blanks on one side;
- We dilute the fixing mixture, pour the solution into the pot, and place a “poplar” trunk with curved ends there. We are waiting for the mass to harden, and at this time we are making artificial branches;
- We cut squares of different sizes from the bottle and cut out leaves from them. Heat a needle over the flame and make holes in the upper part;
- We insert a thin wire into them, fold it in half, and twist it. We connect three branches into one and make several identical blanks;
- Next, to make crafts for the home interior, we take several blanks, which consist of three branches, and connect them together;
- We close the wire part with gray threads and secure the ends with glue. We leave the lower part of the branch free, which we attach to the trunk;
- Using the same method, we make the entire “poplar”, wrapping its stem part with gray thread;
- To imitate grass, cut green threads of the same size and fold them in half. We lubricate the bend points with glue, and attach the workpieces to a cement or gypsum base.
Thus, we get beautiful artificial trees in pots that can easily stand both at home and on the street - they are not afraid of rain or bright sun rays.
Artificial home apple tree
It is advisable to place such decorative artificial trees only in enclosed spaces, because their flowers are made of yarn.
You will need:
- Glue;
- Wire cutters;
- Cardboard;
- Hook;
- Scotch;
- Wire;
- Pencil;
- Cement or plaster;
- Scissors;
- Brown and green fabric;
- Pot;
- Red and brown threads.
Stages of work:
- Using wire cutters, we cut off six wire blanks of 30 cm, five of 25 cm, and twenty-two of 4 cm;
- Attach 3 small ones to a large wire branch with tape. We make several preparations. The branches can be wrapped in fabric, such as velvet or fleece;
- Cut strips 2 cm wide from brown fabric. We wrap the branch blanks (several pieces) with them, leaving 3 cm free at the bottom. We fix the ends of the material with glue;
- We collect the blanks into a single “apple tree”. We cut a strip of 3 cm from the fabric, wrap it around the fabric and branches connected to each other. We also secure the fabric ends with glue;
- To make the decorative apple tree further, we place it in a container with a narrow neck. If such containers cannot be found, then to fix the “plant”, pour cement or gypsum mortar into the container. We straighten the branches and begin to decorate our craft;
- Now let’s cut leaves of different sizes from green material and scorch their edges over the flame, not bringing them too close to it so that they don’t spread;
- We glue the leaves onto the branches and begin to create fruits, which are made from. Cut out 2 circles from cardboard, 3 cm in diameter. Draw a smaller circle inside and cut it out, we get 2 cardboard rings;
- We connect them into a single piece and wrap a red thread around it using a hook. The yarn should completely “hide” the workpiece. We cut it from the outer edge, lay a brown thread and use it to tighten the resulting pompom;
- We cut out leaves from green material and glue them onto a brown thread;
- We hang the finished “fruits” on the branches. You can also decorate the pot as you wish.
Volumetric tree on the wall
This unique 3D decoration can be made with your own hands on the wall (and even on part of the ceiling) without any problems. To create a real masterpiece, it is not necessary to have the knowledge of a sculptor or artist.
Important: This decor requires a lot of space.
You will need:
- Master OK;
- Bucket;
- Marker and scissors;
- Acrylic paints and brushes;
- Scotch;
- A bag of dry plaster;
- A large sheet of cellophane film.
Progress:
- Let's draw a contour mirror image on the cellophane film with a marker, and when we cut out the drawn middle, we should get a stencil;
- We stick it on the wall with tape;
- Pour water into a bucket and spread the plaster;
- Using a trowel, carefully fill the empty stencil space;
- Remove the film after the mixture has dried;
- We apply several more layers of gypsum, making the last one round;
- When the solution has dried thoroughly, paint the sculpture with acrylic-based paints.
You can choose a wide variety of palettes. A “natural” image would look great in the living room, or a fabulous tree, unusually painted, on the wall in a children’s room.
Decorative tree made from branches
To decorate the interior of your home, you can make large artificial trees with flowers.
Necessary materials:
- Hot glue gun;
- Twigs;
- Sea pebbles;
- Square flowerpot;
- Decorative flowers (can be paper);
- A piece of foam.
How to make a decorative tree yourself from ordinary branches:
- We fill the bottom of the flowerpot with sea pebbles and put polystyrene foam on them, and insert the prepared branch into it;
- Sprinkle it again with sea stones for good stability, insert moss on top;
- Now we decorate the branch. To do this, we glue decorative flowers randomly to a branch using a glue gun;
- After completing this procedure, such a decorative craft will rightfully serve as a decoration for your home or apartment.
On the Internet you can find many photos of trees made by yourself, choose the option that suits you and create your own masterpiece based on it. For another interesting idea for creating an artificial tree, watch the video below.
Video: How to make an LED tree with your own hands
Topiary came to us as one of the areas of landscape design, when trees and shrubs are given a beautiful shape. This art dates back to time immemorial, and it developed equally in both Europe and Asia. And today, topiary is very popular in Russia, not only as a fancifully trimmed shrub, but also as a decorative tree, made from a wide variety of materials.
You can make such a craft with your own hands as a gift, or you can keep it for yourself for good luck, because it’s not for nothing that this fancy tree is called the tree of happiness. By the way, knowledgeable people say that such a tree must be in every home.
Making such a cute craft - a tree with your own hands - will not be difficult, but how nice it is to admire such a small work of art every day. And it’s even more pleasant to please your loved ones and friends with these unusual gifts.
How to make a tree of happiness with your own hands: master class
To make a decorative topiary tree with your own hands, you will need the following materials:
- polystyrene foam ball;
- wooden stick or pencil;
- decorative pot;
- glue;
- invisible.
Depending on what you'll be decorating your tree with, you may need either packing tape, coffee beans, artificial flowers, or colored crepe paper. In general, they use everything to make a beautiful tree with their own hands.
Ribbon tree
Bright flower topiary
Tree with flowers made of corrugated paper
This tree differs from the previous one in that we do not take ready-made artificial flowers, but make them ourselves from paper of different shades. Here are detailed photo instructions for making such colorful flowers.
Paper rose topiary
Such a delicate tree is made using the same materials, and for decoration you will need pre-prepared paper roses, which are not at all difficult to make.
Sweet candy tree
On New Year's Eve or any other holiday, a candy topiary would be an excellent gift. We will need a standard set of a ball, a pot and a stick. And also a lot of delicious candies, preferably mint ones, so that the tree not only pleases the eye, but also smells incredibly delicious. And to decorate the pot we use glass pebbles, which also look like sweet candies.
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The famous coffee tree
For such a topiary you will need a pot of a “delicious” brown color, a stick of the same shade and a lot of coffee beans. We glue them to the ball with glue, and use the same coffee beans to decorate the base of the tree. You can add small brown bows. This tree will especially appeal to avid coffee lovers.
Ecology of knowledge. Interior design: Do you want to decorate your house or garden in an original way? Try to make a topiary with your own hands - a decorative miracle tree in the form of a whimsical fantasy ball on a high leg, also called the tree of happiness.
Do you want to decorate your house or garden in an original way? Try to make a topiary with your own hands - a decorative miracle tree in the form of a whimsical fantasy ball on a high leg, also called the tree of happiness.
Domesticated artificial topiaries are relatives of living topiary sculptures. Trimming the plants in your summer cottage to shape requires a lot of skill, but absolutely anyone can grow their own tree of happiness.
Buying a ready-made tree, and even in the most luxurious design from amethyst, citrine, coral or crystal, will not be difficult, but is it really possible to buy happiness?It's in our hands! It is with them that we will “sculpt” our happiness.
They create topiary from a wide variety of natural and decorative materials - fresh and artificial flowers, coffee beans, beautiful shells, pebbles, dried flowers, paper, sweets, cocktail umbrellas...
Topiary can serve as an imitation of a real plant, or take on completely fabulous shapes and colors. The sizes of topiary range from miniature dwarf compositions a la bonsai to the size of large indoor trees. An excellent gift option is fresh fruit topiary. But such a masterpiece cannot boast of durability. Topiaries made from aromatic plants are very popular, serving not only as an excellent interior decoration, but also filling the air with wonderful aromas. Learning to make topiary: the “anatomy” of the tree of happiness Mastering the art of creating homemade topiary is not difficult. Even a beginner in handmade crafts can cope with this task perfectly. In addition, all the materials necessary for topiary are affordable and can always be found on sale.
To make topiary you will need:
Potty
The diameter of the pot should not exceed the diameter of the crown ball. You can purchase a ready-made pot or make it yourself from a container of the desired shape, and then paint it, cover it with fabric, or decorate it in some other original way. In fact, choosing a pot that is suitable for the style and color of the product is not an easy task, so if you first purchased a pot, most likely you will have to come up with a composition to match it.
Crown ball
To create a crown you will need a plastic or paper ball. You can make a paper ball from crumpled paper or newspapers, and then coat the ball with paste or wrap it with thread. Rubber balls are more difficult to use because they lose their shape when pierced. If the decorative elements will not be glued, but stuck in, a foam ball will be perfect for floral arrangements.
Stick for the trunk
A branch or any suitable stick, for example, a stick from blinds, which is subsequently painted or wrapped with ribbons, will do. It is advisable to choose a longer stick, because it will be attached almost to the base in the pot and a ball will be placed on it. A trunk that is too short can ruin the entire composition.
Glue
Any all-purpose glue will work fine. For individual elements you may need super glue, a glue gun or liquid nails.
Cement, gypsum, alabaster
We seal the hole in the bottom of the pot. Having prepared the solution, quickly stir it, pour it into the pot and immediately insert the stick-trunk until the solution hardens. The cement will prevent the crown ball from outweighing the pot. But if the pot is already quite heavy, the cement can be replaced with polyurethane foam.
Pebbles, sand, shells, colored salt, beans...
Glued on top of the mortar at the base of the tree.
Accessories for decorating wood
Dried flowers, artificial flowers, shells, pebbles, pine cones, bows, cocktail umbrellas, coffee beans, beans, pistachios, shells, corrugated paper and anything else that comes to your mind.
Photo master class:
- Necessary materials:
- 100 grams of roasted coffee beans in a sippy cup (available at an office supply store)
- wash brush for whitewashing (can be bought at a hardware store, hardware store or market)
- 1 plastic ball, 8-9 cm in diameter (such balls are widely used in children's playrooms and are sold individually on the market)
- scissors
- spool of brown thread
- 2 rubber bands for money
- universal transparent glue
- clear super glue
- a glass of sand, cement or gypsum
- wooden stick or branch 20 cm long and 1.5-2 cm thick
- twine rope 50 cm
How to do:
1. Using scissors, we carefully make one hole in a plastic ball, where a little later we will insert the “trunk” of our tree.
2. We take a whitewash brush and pull out a strand of sponge from it, or, after removing the ropes, we completely disassemble the brush.
3. Using a money elastic band, secure the sponge thread at one end of the branch. Lubricate the branch with universal glue and spirally glue the future “trunk” with thread. From the other end of the branch, we again fix the thread with a money elastic band and insert the “trunk” into the ball, which will play the role of a crown.
4. Using universal glue, we glue the ball with brown threads to greatly facilitate and speed up the process of gluing the coffee beans. To paste over the ball, you can also use strands from a whitewash brush, but using threads is much better and easier.
5. Now we proceed to pasting the ball with the first layer of coffee beans. For this we need transparent super glue. It is advisable to glue the grains in different orders - with the groove down, then up. Apply glue directly to each grain. You should use super glue very carefully, since it leaves white spots on dark grains, quickly sticks firmly to your hands and has a pungent odor, so it is advisable to “grow” your tree of happiness in a well-ventilated area. You can also use a glue gun or liquid nails.
6. One layer of grains will not be enough, so be sure to make a second one. To give the surface texture greater relief, do not forget to alternate the smooth side of the grains with the one with the groove.
7. It's time to start creating an original pot for our tree of happiness. First of all, cut off a little bast from the brush, the length of which should be slightly larger than the diameter of the bottom of the glass. Then we lubricate the bottom with universal glue and place it on the prepared washcloth. We cut off the threads protruding beyond the edges of the bottom.
8. Now we cut the washcloth from the brush so that it is 3 cm longer than the height of the glass. Apply universal glue to the side surface of the glass, 2.5-3 cm short of the top, and gradually cover the glass with the prepared washcloth. We tie the glued glass at the bottom with twine and trim off the excess edges. We trim the ends and the top so that the threads are approximately 2 cm above the edge of the glass.
9. Using universal glue, we paste long strands of sponge around the funnel in a circle and screw the tree trunk into it.
Topiary (“tree of happiness”, “European tree”) is a small decorative tree that decorates interiors and exteriors, and is also often used for. Topiaries are good because they look very beautiful, and you can make them with your own hands in literally 1 evening from scrap materials.
- This means that you can make several decorations at once, for example, one pair for the New Year's table setting, another for the Easter table, and a couple more for the mantelpiece.
In this material you will find 1 basic instruction on how to make a topiary with your own hands for beginners, as well as 3 step-by-step master classes in addition to it and 45 photo ideas for inspiration.
Basic instructions for beginners
Topiaries of even the most complex designs are made according to approximately the same principle. Having mastered the basic manufacturing technology, you can create a wide variety of topiaries, changing only the materials for decoration.
So, to make a mini-tree with your own hands, you will need to create it:
- Crown;
- Trunk;
- The base of the tree.
Step 1: Design Planning
Topiary can be different not only in design, but also in service life. Before you start work, think about why you need a “tree of happiness” and where will it live? The purpose and future location of the topiary will determine its style, color scheme and even the materials for its creation.
If you want to make topiary for, then materials that are not too durable can be used - paper, napkins, sweets, fresh flowers, fruits. If you want to make topiary as a gift or for interior decoration, then it is better to use more reliable decor - pine cones, artificial flowers, coffee beans, ribbons, organza, etc.
In the following selection of photos you can get ideas for designing themed and festive topiaries.
Sweet topiaries made from candies for a children's party
Halloween decoration with candies in a pot
Halloween decorations made from pumpkin seeds, ribbons and candy in tea cans
Easter trees made from eggs, artificial flowers, satin ribbons and moss
Christmas topiary made of artificial holly leaves and berries, pine cones and ribbons with a branch trunk
Candy tree for the holiday table
Topiary for a festive table setting made of artificial flowers, natural branches, dry moss and satin ribbons
And here is a selection of photo examples of the design of exclusively interior topiary (scroll through!).
Step 2. Preparing materials
To make your own topiary you will need:
- Foam ball with a diameter of 8-12 cm(available at many office supply and art stores) or a floral foam ball (available at gardening and flower shops).
If desired, you can make a ball yourself from polystyrene foam, the same floral foam, polyurethane foam, papier-mâché, etc. However, the base of the crown can be not only in the shape of a ball, but also in the form of a heart, star, number, letter, animal figure, etc. etc.
- Decor for the crown - depending on your idea, use flowers, satin ribbons, organza, coffee beans, banknotes, etc.
- Trunk - it can be made from a dry and clean branch, a simple pencil or any other stick. In addition, the trunk and pot can be replaced by a tall candlestick.
- Decor for the trunk– the barrel can at least be coated with matte varnish or painted. And at the most, wrap it with one or two ribbons.
- Flower pots – it’s most convenient to pour the mixture into a clay pot, but any cute cups, mugs, vintage buckets, etc. will also work.
- Fixing mixture– the best choice for making topiary with your own hands is a mixture of alabaster, as it hardens quickly, hardly cracks and is cheap. You can also use cement-sand mortar, gypsum or putty. However, not only binding mixtures can fix a tree in a pot, but also the same polystyrene foam, floral foam or stones.
- Everything for mixing the mixture– container, water, stick, etc.
- Decor for masking the fixing mixture– to create an imitation of soil cover, it is best to use natural materials: dry moss, small pebbles, expanded clay, sisal fiber. Artificial moss and rocks will also work. Pots of “edible” topiary can be filled with candies and jelly beans.
- Glue gun and several glue sticks– if necessary, it can be replaced with glue like “Moment”, but it is best not to do this, since glue in a gun is more convenient, and most importantly, it allows you to remove random “cobwebs”.
- Scissors or cutter.
- Tailor's pins with a very small head(optional, used in addition to or instead of glue, for example, for fastening beads).
- Side cutters or nippers for trimming the trunk or any decorative elements.
At the preparatory stage, divide the decorative parts for the crown into groups - for example, large, medium and small. This will make it more convenient for you to alternate the decor and distribute it evenly across the ball.
Step 3: Creating a Crown
First, you need to apply markings to the ball - mark the place for attaching the barrel and mark a boundary around it, beyond which you do not need to go for some time when gluing the decor. Thanks to this technique, in the future you can easily fix the barrel in the ball without spoiling the decor.
As soon as the glue warms up, start shaping the ball in the following order: “trying on” the part without glue – applying glue to the desired place – fixing the part. Remember that you need to act quickly so that the glue does not have time to absorb into the foam. That is why it is better to apply and try on the decor first.
Here are a few more nuances:
- You need to stick the decor onto the ball starting from large elements and ending with small ones. For example, if you are making topiary from artificial flowers, then first glue the largest buds onto the ball, then the medium ones, and only then the small flowers and additional beads.
- Some decor can be secured to the ball using tailor's pins and nails. But it is best to combine carnations with glue.
- If some parts have bases made of wire (for example, the same artificial flowers), then you need to leave about 2 cm from their “tails”. Then you can not only glue the decor, but also stick it into the ball.
- To make the white base ball less noticeable in the gaps between the glued parts, it can be painted to match the decor.
Now we need to work with the barrel. As already mentioned, making it with your own hands is not at all difficult from a branch, pencil or any stick.
If you use a branch, then you don’t have to paint it, but just coat it with matte varnish so that the natural beauty of the tree is visible. If you use a wooden stick, then it can only be slightly tinted, artificially aged, etc. If you want to mask the surface of the trunk completely, then you can wrap satin ribbons, fabric, paper, rope around it, or completely paint it.
How long should it be? Since the trunk goes deep into both the pot and the ball, its length can be calculated using the following formula:
- Trunk length = 1/3 of the ball diameter + height of the pot + desired length of the trunk between the crown and the pot.
To attach the barrel, you need to use an awl and a knife to make a hole in the ball with a depth of about 2-3 cm (depending on its size) at the marking site. When the hole is ready, fill its bottom with hot glue and push the crown onto the trunk until it stops. Then continue holding the barrel and gradually fill the hole with glue around the barrel.
- Keep in mind that the hot glue will melt the foam and make the hole deeper. To prevent the trunk from going deeper into the crown by more than 1/3 of its diameter, small pieces of paper can be placed between the layers of glue.
As soon as the barrel is fixed in the ball, disguise the attachment point with decor.
Step 5. Preparing the binding mixture and fixing the tree in the pot
The time has come to “plant” the resulting tree in a pot. To do this you need:
- Stepping back from the edge of the pot about 2.5 cm, put a mark - the mixture will be poured to this level. If there is a hole at the bottom of the pot, you need to close it with tape or hot glue.
- Dilute the mixture according to the manufacturer's instructions and fill the pot with it.
- Level and secure the topiary in the pot, holding its trunk until the mixture hardens.
- Leave the mixture overnight or a day until completely dry.
Hint: As already noted, it is best to use alabaster as a binder mixture. To fill 1 medium pot, you need to dilute approximately 1 kg of alabaster with 600 ml of water. The mixture is kneaded for about 1-2 minutes until the consistency of thick sour cream, and then quickly poured into the pot and the topiary is fixed in it for 2-3 minutes.
Hooray! The topiary is almost ready, all that remains is to create an imitation of soil in the pot and disguise the fixing mixture. If you are using sisal fiber (see photo), shells, artificial grass or moss, they need to be secured with a small amount of glue.
Master class 1. Corrugated paper topiary
Topiary with paper flowers is especially suitable for decorating a holiday table or festive interior design. For example, this rose topiary was made for Valentine's Day.
Materials:
- Base ball with a diameter of 12 cm;
- Corrugated (creped paper) of medium density (in the master class we use corrugated paper in the form of a tape, but you can use regular rolls);
- Floral foam bars and/or any fixing mixture (see basic instructions);
- A flowerpot or flowerpot for the base of a topiary;
- The trunk is about 30 cm long;
- Dry moss for pot decoration;
- Ribbon for trunk decoration;
- Glue gun.
Step 1. Cut the corrugated paper into strips 60 cm long and approximately 4.5-5 cm wide. If the paper is too thick and stiff, knead the strips a little to make them more flexible.
Step 2. Now you need to roll the resulting ribbons into rosebuds. This is done very simply, just a couple of workouts are enough and the principle becomes clear. Take one of the resulting paper strips and fold it 1/3 as shown in the photo below.
Then fold one end of the ribbon diagonally at a 45-degree angle and begin rolling it into a log. After three turns you will have the core of the bud. Now wrap the free end to the outside, and continue to roll the core of the rose - voila, you have the first petal.
Step 4. Once the crown is completely covered with roses, attach the trunk to it (see Basic instructions). In this master class, the barrel was pre-painted white with spray paint.
Step 6. Place dry moss on the “soil” and glue it in some places with thermal glue. Finally, tie a bow on the trunk.
The following selection of photos presents other topiary design ideas that you can make with your own hands using this master class, not only from corrugated paper, but also from satin ribbons, silk paper, etc.
By the way, you can make not only roses from paper, but also lush peonies or hydrangeas. Methods for making such flowers are easy to find on the Internet.