EASY DIY FAUX TOPIARY AS CENTERPIECE

Are you looking for an easy DIY faux topiary?

Are you ready to introduce a little Spring into your home?

Please check our Spring Hop with several other Spring projects after this tutorial.

INCLUDING GREENERY INTO YOUR HOME DECOR

I am ready for Spring to arrive!

I like to bring the outdoors in as part of my home decor through plants. To me, it adds life and movement to a room.

And by mixing both faux and natural plants scattered throughout, I find the natural plants make the faux plants more believable, and the faux plants are easier to care for.

It’s a win-win!

WHAT ARE TOPIARIES?

Topiary is the art of ornamental gardening. Gardeners train plants into shapes and sizes. Some outdoor topiaries are large and groomed into life-size figures, whereas others are small enough to sit on your kitchen table. Here is an interesting article that goes into more detail here.

While on my search, I discovered topiaries to be more expensive than potted plants, and to be honest, I have a hard time keeping them healthy.

But, I like the height, the structure, and the decorative elements of the topiaries.

So, follow along and see how I made a faux tabletop olive tree topiary and introduced a little Spring into my kitchen.

If you enjoy topiaries, here is another tutorial you may like, How to Make a Heart-Shaped Topiary

HOW TO MAKE A FAUX TOPIARY

Some of the links below are affiliate links.

SUPPLIES NEEDED

• Decorative Container
• Floral Foam
• Floral Moss
• Floral Tape
• Branches – Outdoors
• Faux Stems
• Raffia
• Hot Glue Gun

FAUX TOPIARY TUTORIAL

STEP ONE

Once you have determined the container you are using, cut floral foam to fit snugly inside your container.

• It is also recommended to cut small pieces of floral foam to fit in the sides, for added strength.

STEP TWO

Next, place your stem in the middle of the floral foam, making sure it is as straight as possible. Remember, nature isn’t exact.

• The sticks should be at least double the size of the container in height.
• Make sure the sticks are sturdy enough to hold the weight of the leaves you have chosen, here I used several sticks.
• Place hot glue at the insertion site of the floral foam and stem.
• If you can’t find sticks, a small diameter dowel can be used and paint brown.
• Willow branches can also be used and cut to size.

STEP THREE

Choose your branches, I used olive branches, but anything can be used, as long as they can stand upright without flopping down.

• I put three branches with leaves together with floral tape and I made three seperate bunches.
• Remove the leaves at the bottom of the branch, so the floral tape can easily secure onto the stem.
• The number of branches may change with the type of leaves used, if they are extra full, only one or two may be needed.
• Hold your choice to the top of the stem to decide how many leaves you need for the prefered fullness.

STEP FOUR

Tape each bunch of branches onto the top of the stem.

• Again use floral tape to secure each of the braches to the top of the stem.
• I taped three bunches to the stem.
• Secure branches to the top 2-3 inches of the stem.
• This will make sure it is not top heavy and be floppy.

STEP FIVE

Once the branches are secure, it’s time to cover the floral tape.

• Wrap an individual strand of raffia and criss cross wrap around the floral tape covering as much as you can.
• Try not to use more than two strands of rafia to avoid looking bulky.
• Whatever floral tape is visibly left, hot glue floral moss to it, this will cover the tape and gives a more natural look

STEP SIX

Hot glue the floral moss onto the floral foam within the container, hiding the mechanics of the topiary.

• I have also used wood chips to cover the floral foam.
• Adding other decorative elements can be added at this point.
• Adding a raffia bow to the top or the bottom of the stem using hot glue.
• Hot glue a few leaves and olives to the top of the floral moss as if they natually fell off.
• Hot glue a small bit of floral moss to the stem itself.

These are a few ideas to customize your topiary to your home decor.

If you enjoy working with flowers and greenery, check out these posts….

Sweet Christmas Topiary

Creating a Rustic Spring Basket

Two Fall and Winter Wreaths

No-Sew Pillow Cover

NOW! WELCOME TO OUR SPRING HOP!

If you’re coming from Mary Anne and her beautiful tablescape, and after my project, please head to JJ from Thriving with Less and her amazing Energizing Herbal Bath Salts.”

https://thrivingwithless.com/energizing-herbal-bath-salts/

https://onestepwoman.com/2022/03/01/meet-the-farmhouse-a-spring-tour/

https://houseofmar.com/spring-table-scape/

Stay tuned for more upcoming projects on the blog that are sure to make you smile.

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